What WINZ-approved means
WINZ - Work and Income New Zealand, part of the Ministry of Social Development - provides various forms of housing assistance for eligible New Zealanders. To purchase from a WINZ-approved supplier under an assistance package, the supplier needs to be registered and meet MSD's quality and pricing standards.
We're registered, which means clients eligible for MSD housing assistance can apply for that assistance toward a Smart Housing Solutions build.
Who's eligible
Eligibility is determined by MSD, not by us. Common eligibility paths include:
- Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant (for urgent housing needs)
- Recoverable Assistance for housing-related costs
- Special Needs Grants for specific situations
How the process works
1. Contact your local WINZ office or case manager and ask about housing assistance for your situation. 2. If eligible, your case manager will guide you on what's available and how the funding can be applied. 3. Contact us - we'll work with you and your case manager on the specifics: build size, cost, delivery timeline. 4. WINZ pays the supplier (us) directly for the approved portion of the build cost.
What we contribute
We've worked with many WINZ-supported clients over the years. We know the documentation MSD typically needs, we keep our pricing transparent so case managers can compare options easily, and we're patient with the timelines that WINZ processes sometimes need. We don't push for a particular size or upgrade - we work with what the assistance covers and help you make it stretch.