Poverty Bay

Donation for Gisborne health homes project

A $25,000 donation from the Eastern and Central Community Trust will enable more homes throughout Poverty Bay to be insulated as part of an ongoing nationwide drive to improve the health of people, particularly children, living in cold and drafty houses.

The Healthy Homes Project provides ceiling and under-floor insulation, wraps for hot water cylinders and pipes and draught proofing of doors.

“There are a lot of young families living on the East Coast and this donation is important to ensure the programme of insulating homes continues,” says Mere Pohatu, who is a trustee on the Eastern and Central Community Trust.

“Research shows that those in insulated homes have fewer visits to the doctor, fewer days off work, admissions to hospital are reduced and so are the family power bills,” she says.

Providing healthy, warm homes was particularly important for families with young children with respiratory problems, such as asthma and for elderly people susceptible to health problems, she said.

Houses built before 1977 when insulation became mandatory and low income households are high priorities for retrofitting. Studies show more than 30 per cent of New Zealand homes are significantly below the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard for indoor temperature, which is 18˚ Celsius.

The Community Trust donation will leverage further contributions for insulation in a greater number of homes.

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