<p>Insulation is more of a luxury than a necessity in the oceanic climate. If you don't have insulation in a continental climate, you'll die. In NZ, it will be uncomfortable, but you'll be ok.</p>

<p>Dunedin may provide arelevant counter argument. It gets below freezing often there. I don't know about insulation rates.</p>

<p>My second answer is: We're just tough mate. Harden up.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-19T00:53:06.320Z
Your point about Dunedin is especially poignant - as it is a prime example of a city with terribly insulated houses.
dwjohnston
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-11T05:46:26.333Z
Large parts of Europe without a continental climate still have well insulated houses. Note also that people in continental climate zones used to live without insulation in their houses and did not die.
HRSE
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2015-07-17T07:40:34.467Z
On your second point, I wonder how much of it is a cultural thing.
dwjohnston
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2015-07-19T02:08:40.267Z
Roughly, how much does it cost in NZ to insulate an average sized house?
dbm
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2015-07-19T02:15:00.490Z
@dbn Would that be significantly different to Europe?
dwjohnston
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-19T15:34:31.383Z
@dwjohnston, I don't know. I am just wondering if the cost of insulation in NZ can be a factor. I am also just in general curious on how much it cots to insulate a house in NZ.
dbm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-17T05:39:24.883Z
2015-07-17T05:39:24.883Z
Ryan
<p>New Zealand is relatively new country. </p>

<p>It essentially was founded in 1840 in a contract between the native Maori people and the British Government. </p>

<p>For some reason a large chunk of the housing stock in New Zealand is badly insulated and drafty and cold, compared to houses in Europe for example.* </p>

<p>I don't understand how a country that was essentially built in the modern era, has built such bad houses. </p>

<p>What economic factors contribute to this? </p>

<p>*<a href="http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/publications/files/f79b9f69dfa.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Here's a good paper about the subject. PDF.</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-11T05:44:46.623Z
Aside from whether conditions, heating oil prices/taxes should influence this as well as potential government regulations/tax incentives on insulation. This would require a more detailed analysis.
HRSE
<housing>
Why are New Zealand houses so badly insulated?
dwjohnston
# Why are New Zealand houses so badly insulated?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-17)

New Zealand is relatively new country.

It essentially was founded in 1840 in a contract between the native Maori people and the British Government.

For some reason a large chunk of the housing stock in New Zealand is badly insulated and drafty and cold, compared to houses in Europe for example.\*

I don't understand how a country that was essentially built in the modern era, has built such bad houses.

What economic factors contribute to this?

\*[Here's a good paper about the subject. PDF.](http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/publications/files/f79b9f69dfa.pdf)

**Tags:** housing
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Aside from whether conditions, heating oil prices/taxes should influence this as well as potential government regulations/tax incentives on insulation. This would require a more detailed analysis.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-07-17. Score: 1

Insulation is more of a luxury than a necessity in the oceanic climate. If you don't have insulation in a continental climate, you'll die. In NZ, it will be uncomfortable, but you'll be ok.

Dunedin may provide arelevant counter argument. It gets below freezing often there. I don't know about insulation rates.

My second answer is: We're just tough mate. Harden up.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: On your second point, I wonder how much of it is a cultural thing.  
> **username_3**: Roughly, how much does it cost in NZ to insulate an average sized house?  
> **username_0**: @dbn Would that be significantly different to Europe?  
> **username_3**: @dwjohnston, I don't know. I am just wondering if the cost of insulation in NZ can be a factor. I am also just in general curious on how much it cots to insulate a house in NZ.  
> **username_0**: Your point about Dunedin is especially poignant - as it is a prime example of a city with terribly insulated houses.  
> **username_1**: Large parts of Europe without a continental climate still have well insulated houses. Note also that people in continental climate zones used to live without insulation in their houses and did not die.  

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