Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene lent a helping hand to insulation installers Awarua Synergy yesterday – and promised to do what he could to keep Government insulation funding rolling.

The company is one of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority approved insulation installers for Southland.

It was originally set up by the Awarua runaka in Bluff, and still has mostly Maori staff.

Mr Tirikatene said he was impressed a Maori initiative was one of the leaders providing insulation to the whole of Murihiku.

"They are doing a fantastic job ... warm homes, employment, skills development ..."

Under the Warm Up New Zealand initiative customers can get 33 per cent, or up to 60 per cent with a Community Services Card, off the cost of insulation.

The Southland Warm Homes Trust matches the funding, with Awarua, its project manager, doing the installation.

Mr Tirikatene said he would try to ensure the Warm Up Homes scheme continued to receive support.

"It has to happen right the way around the motu," he said. "We've got Third World rheumatic fevers and it's a lot to do with poor housing, overcrowding and poor insulation."

The future of the scheme has been guaranteed for two years, but nothing was certain after that, he said.

Manager Sumaria Beaton said Awarua employed 22 people at the moment, although the number of workers varied depending on demand for insulation.

alex.fensome@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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