The New Zealand Government has agreed to amendments to the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003, targeting trees that pose a risk to power lines even when they’re not immediately adjacent to them. The change follows the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam, which highlighted how falling trees outside the existing Growth Limit Zone caused thousands of outages.
“Secure electricity lines are critical to electrifying New Zealand’s economy and delivering the resilient and reliable electricity supply we need to power economic growth,” said Energy Minister Simon Watts. “Cyclone Gabrielle alone saw trees outside the Growth Limit Zone cause power outages that left 68,000 households without heating, lighting, internet, and access to essential appliances.”
What the Current Regulations Cover
The existing regulations set out zones around power lines within which tree growth must be managed. Lines companies are empowered to require property owners to cut, trim, or remove trees that intrude into or are likely to intrude into these zones. The regulations have generally worked well for trees immediately beside lines, but the cyclones exposed a gap: trees at a distance from lines that can still fall across them when uprooted in severe weather.
The Key Amendments
The amendments lower the threshold for intervention by expanding the zone in which trees must be managed to account for their fall radius, not just their growth trajectory. Trees with a height and mass that means they could fall across a line — even if they are currently outside the Growth Limit Zone — will now be subject to management requirements.
The changes also strengthen the process for lines companies to require action from landowners, and clarify the circumstances under which lines companies can act directly if a landowner fails to respond.
Implications for Property Owners
If you own property near electricity infrastructure, the amendments give lines companies a broader basis to require you to manage trees. Landowners who receive a notice should engage with the lines company early — there may be options for pruning or management that avoid full removal.
For contractors working on vegetation management near power lines, the new regulations will expand the scope of work being commissioned by lines companies over the coming years. Understanding the zone requirements and working safely around live infrastructure remains non-negotiable.