Home heating

This section presents an analysis of 2023 Census data on the main types of heating used in dwellings in New Zealand. It focuses on heating types that negatively impact people’s health through outdoor
air pollution (wood and coal burners), the indoor environment (portable gas heaters) and/or lack of heating.  

Home heating, health, and the environment

Living in cold homes—below 18°C—is linked to increased risks of respiratory and circulatory illnesses, as well as dampness and mould [1,2]. In New Zealand, wood and coal fires are major sources of PM2.5 air pollution, contributing to premature deaths and serious health issues [3,4]. Portable gas heaters also emit harmful pollutants that worsen respiratory conditions [5]. In contrast, heat pumps are a healthier, low-emission alternative that help maintain warm, dry homes.

Shifting Trends in Home Heating: Rise of Heat Pumps and Regional Variations

Between 2018 and 2023, New Zealand saw a major shift in home heating patterns, with a significant rise in heat pump use—from 47.3% to 66.8% of dwellings—while the use of wood burners, coal burners, portable gas heaters, fixed gas heaters, and electric heaters declined. The number of homes with no heating source also dropped from 4.0% to 2.4%. Despite the national decline, wood burners remained common in South Island districts like Wairarapa and West Coast, while coal burners, though rare nationally, were still used in 24.3% of homes in the West Coast. Portable gas heater use was highest in Tairāwhiti and Whanganui, and unheated dwellings were far more common in the North Island, particularly in Auckland and Counties Manukau.