A warmer houses initiative in Waikato is working towards reducing poverty related illnesses in the region.

The Warm Our Whare project run by the Waikato District Health Board has insulated over a thousand low income homes for free.

Maori Health General Manager Ditre Tamatea says the initiate is about getting ahead of the game and reducing illnesses like rheumatic fever.

He says Warm Our Whare is about targeting those who live in poverty because it's one of the major drivers of poor health outcomes for Maori.