Vector Limited

Trees near power lines can cause storm outages in Auckland 🌳⚠️

Around 70% of storm-related power outages happen when trees and other items fall onto power lines. That means what grows near the network can affect safety, reliability, and how quickly power can be restored after bad weather.
If you’re planting near overhead power lines, distance matters.

Vector Limited's planting guide recommends thinking about what you plant within 8m of power lines:

🌿 0–2m: grasses and flaxes
🌱 2–4m: shrubs
🌳 further out: small trees only if they are suitable for the space and won’t grow into the lines over time

And if trimming is needed, don’t do it yourself. Under the tree regulations, work within 4m of a network line is a professional-only zone and should only be done by a qualified and approved utility arborist.

For more information. We’ve shared the link in the comments.

Before you dig, take one step that keeps everyone safe

If you’re digging at home (fence posts, planting, drainage, a deck), the safest step is the one that happens before the shovel goes in.

Underground cables, gas pipes and fibre lines aren’t always where you expect and hitting one can be dangerous and disruptive for you and your neighbours.

These photos are from last week’s safe digging workshop in Auckland, where contractors, network owners and safety teams came together to share practical ways to prevent damage before it happens.

The focus wasn’t complicated, just consistent: plan early, communicate clearly, and always confirm what’s in the ground before any machinery starts.

A genuine thanks to everyone across the industry who continues to invest time in safety education and better ways of working. It’s this kind of collaboration that helps reduce risk, protect critical infrastructure, and ultimately keep communities safe.

If you’re planning any digging, you can request your free plans from beforeUdig before you start.