Cyclone Tam left over 40,000 homes in Northland and Auckland without power, underscoring the need for urgent reforms to New Zealand's tree regulations.

The ongoing issue of trees and branches interfering with power lines has caused numerous power outages during storms, and experts are calling for immediate change.

Tracey Kai, CEO of Electricity Networks Aotearoa (ENA), says the current tree regulations are outdated.

"For over a decade, lines companies have been requesting updates to the law.

The current rules, in place for more than 20 years, are not suited to the challenges of today," she explains.

In 2024 alone, power companies spent over $67 million on tree management, including pruning and removing dangerous trees.

Despite this, major outages continue when storms like Cyclone Tam hit.

Beyond the inconvenience, the financial toll of power cuts is substantial.

Businesses lose thousands in perishable stock, and many homes face disruption with heating, refrigeration, and communication systems going offline.

The ENA has long pushed for changes to the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003.

These outdated rules make it difficult for power companies to remove dangerous trees before storms strike and do not require landowners to take action on hazardous vegetation.

Kai stresses that without updating these laws, the frequency of outages will only increase.

"Severe weather events are becoming more common. The current regulations aren’t fit for the future," she says.

The Government has pledged to improve New Zealand's infrastructure, and ENA sees updating the tree regulations as a critical first step.

If enacted, it could reduce the risk of tree-related outages, keep power prices stable, and prevent future disruptions.

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