Your responsibilities

Under the Electricity (Hazards From Trees) Regulations 2003, trees and vegetation on your property must be kept a safe distance from network power lines. These regulations define specific zones that determine when cutting or trimming is required.

What are the zones?

• Growth Limit Zone: This is the minimum distance that vegetation must be kept clear of power lines, even in windy or stormy conditions. The size of this zone depends on the voltage of the power lines.
• Cut-back Zone: One metre beyond the Growth Limit Zone, this zone ensures vegetation is trimmed back far enough to prevent it from quickly growing into the Growth Limit Zone.
• Notice Zone: Extended one metre beyond the Cut-back Zone, this zone gives property owners more notice to address the risk earlier before it becomes urgent.

What's new?

In October 2024, updates to the regulations increased the minimum safe distances between vegetation and power lines. A new ‘clear to the sky’ requirement has also been introduced for some trees. Learn more about the updates here.

Does this apply to your service line?

The regulations only apply to network power lines - not your service line, which connects your house or building to the power lines on the street.

First Cut or Trim Notice

Centralines will provide the first cut or trim for trees that are within the Growth Limit Zone at our cost, provided the following conditions apply:

1. According to Centralines records the trees have not been subject to a previous cut or trim at our cost
2. The trees do not form a shelterbelt
3. The trees have not been the subject of a previous agreement

If we see a tree on your property within the Growth Limit Zone, which fits these conditions, we will issue a First Cut or Trim Notice. This notice will advise that you need to trim the tree so it sits outside the Growth Limit Zone and when it needs to be done.

Before this work is carried out you will need to complete and sign the First Cut or Trim Notice and return it to Centralines.

Failure to complete, sign and return this notice within seven days may result in you missing out on this first free cut or trim, and you may be charged for any work needed to clear the trees from the power lines.

Please read the back page of the notice as there are several important points about the tree regulations that you need to know.

Ongoing responsibility

Once Centralines has done the first free cut or trim, as the property owner you are responsible for keeping your trees away from the power lines. Contact a local arborist if your trees are too close to power lines. They will get in touch with us before working near the power lines.

Declaring no interest

If you are an owner or occupier of a property and do not want to be responsible for keeping your trees trimmed in-line with the regulations, you can declare no interest (not applicable to shelterbelts).

To declare no interest, the owner or occupier must complete and submit a No Interest Notice to Centralines.

If you have already received a First Cut or Trim notice, you must submit this no later than 10 working days after the date on which you received the notice.

If you need to take No Interest action regarding a tree or trees on your property, you may obtain the No Interest Notice from our office; or request by phoning the Vegetation Management Team at Centralines on 06 858 7770.