Thursday's budget is going to give many homeowners a warm glow. In amongst the grim detail of recession, debt and rising jobless, there will be a home insulation package available to all private homeowners.
It will be in the form of a subsidy - with no income testing. Everyone will qualify and it won't ever have to be paid back.
National is targeting up to 900,000 homeowners, each will be offered up to $1,500 as a subsidy to insulate their house.
And everyone is eligible as long as their house was built before the year 2000.
It is understood that it will cost National between $300 million and $330 million over a period of four years.
National intends spending more than a billion dollars on the subsidies over the next 10 years insulating private homes.
And if you can't afford it, the Government has come up with a new way to help.
Once you take the subsidy, you will be able to pay the balance off through your quarterly rates bill over time or through your monthly power bill.
It is understood the Government is also negotiating with the banks for mortgage extensions, as a way of paying for the upgrades.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee has been working with the Greens in designing the package.
"We've had very good discussions with the Greens and Jeanette Fitzsimons," Mr Brownlee says. "We're very confident it will look very good."
Already state houses are starting to receive insulation upgrades, But National's scheme is different. It is exclusively for those who own their own homes.
"The Government will help many more New Zealanders stay warm and dry and healthy and there'll be more jobs in the building and construction industry," Prime Minister John Key says.
The insulation programme will be one of the centre piece announcements on Thursday, but Bill English warns not to expect too much.
"There won't be anyone finding a lot of money in their bank accounts after the this budget," Mr English says.
So it looks likely that the budget will be just enough to warm your home during a chilly recession - but not much more.
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