Green Party Welcomes Government Reversal on Insulation

The Greens are welcoming the Government’s decision to bring back home insulation as part of their economic package.

"It is great to see that John Key has belatedly recognised the economic, environmental, health and social benefits of improving home energy efficiency", said Green Party Co-Leader, Jeanette Fitzsimons.

"It seems it took a $2.7 billion programme announced for Australia by Kevin Rudd for the Government to accept that this programme has one of the highest rates of jobs per dollar invested and returns at least 100% on investment in saved costs in the health system, particularly for child asthma.

"The Greens are quite happy for the Government to rebrand this as their scheme rather than the Green Party scheme as long as it is still done properly.

"The important thing is that when you visit a house, it is a huge waste of resources just to insulate the ceiling. There is a package of cost-effective measures, including water cylinders, insulation, pipe-lagging, draft stopping, showers and lights that all need to be done together.

"While the Government’s change of policy is a step in the right direction, they also need to expand their infrastructure programme to provide for social housing in line with the Australian Government's proposal to build 20,000 new homes. With the serious downturn in the building industry and the number of homeless New Zealanders there is a big opportunity to put the construction industry to work and homeless Kiwis into houses."

"We look forward to hearing more about the Government’s ‘new’ housing insulation proposal and urge them to ensure that it provides a range of options for full or part funding depending on need and income, as was the case under the Green Homes Fund," said Ms Fitzsimons.