Warm Homes Trust Trustees See Frontline Delivery in Action

Two new trustees of the Southland Warm Homes Trust visited local delivery partner Awarua Synergy this week as part of their induction programme.

Councillor Lisa TouMcNaughton from Invercargill City Council and Councillor Donna Bruce from Gore District Council toured the Awarua Synergy office to see firsthand how warm homes programmes operate across the region.

Awarua Synergy General Manager Sumaria Beaton said the visit provided valuable insight into frontline delivery. "Having trustees take the time to meet local providers and see the realities households are facing is incredibly important. Demand for healthy, energy-efficient homes continues to grow, and strong governance informed by on-the-ground insight helps ensure the right solutions reach the people who need them most."

The Southland Warm Homes Trust has insulated and heated up to 14,000 homes since it started, with support from the Southland Power Trust, local councils, funders, and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Trust Chairperson Steve Canny praised the local delivery approach. "Sumaria and the locally-grown Awarua Synergy team are among the very best in New Zealand. There is no better way for new trustees to understand the real and ongoing need for healthy, warm homes across our communities than by spending time with the teams who deliver this work every day," Mr Canny said.

Awarua Synergy has worked with the Trust for many years, delivering insulation, heating, and healthy home solutions across Southland. The organisation focuses on practical, end-to-end home energy efficiency solutions designed to improve health outcomes and reduce energy hardship.

Beaton said demand remains strong due to ongoing pressures from older housing stock, rising living costs, and tighter Healthy Homes Standards. Community-based delivery models like the partnership with Awarua Synergy continue to be critical in meeting this need practically and accessibly.

The Trust's programmes particularly target households most at risk during Southland's long, cold winters, helping improve housing conditions throughout the region.

"Lisa and Donna both expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage directly with a local provider as part of their governance journey, strengthening their understanding of how trust-funded programmes translate into real-world outcomes for Southlanders," Beaton said.

The visit formed part of the trustees' induction programme, giving them insight into local delivery models, current housing pressures, and the role of trusted community providers in addressing energy hardship.