Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Telecommunications Act 2001

Networks - Maintenance of networks - Interference with lines

132: Removal of trees, etc, in emergency

You could also call this:

"Removing trees or plants that endanger phone or internet lines in an emergency"

Illustration for Telecommunications Act 2001

If a tree or plant is causing danger to a line, or might cause danger, the network operator can enter the land or road where the tree or plant is. You can think of a line like a big cable that helps people communicate. The network operator can do work to remove the danger, like cutting the tree or plant.

The network operator should tell the person who lives on the land, or the local council, that they plan to enter the land and do work. This is so the person knows what is happening.

If the network operator cannot tell the person beforehand, they must tell them as soon as possible after they have done the work, and explain what they did, you can find more information about this by looking at the Telecommunications Act 2001 and similar laws like the one from 1987 No 116 s 14(1).

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM127439.

Topics:
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131: Costs of removal or trimming of trees, or

"Paying for tree removal or trimming near phone and internet lines"

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133: Production of authority, or

"Show your ID when visiting someone's land or road for work"

Part 4Networks
Maintenance of networks: Interference with lines

132Removal of trees, etc, in emergency

  1. If a tree, shrub, or plant on any land or road is, or is likely to, cause imminent danger to, or serious interference with, a line, the network operator may—

  2. enter the land or road where the tree, shrub, or plant is rooted or overhangs; and
    1. do work in respect of the tree, shrub, or plant that is necessary to remove the danger or serious interference, or likely danger or serious interference.

      1. The network operator must, if it is possible in the circumstances, notify the occupier of the land, or the local authority or other person who has control of the road, as the case may be, of the operator's intention to enter the land or road and carry out work under subsection (1).

      2. A network operator who is unable to give notice to the relevant persons under subsection (2) must, as soon as practicable after entry on the land, give notice to the relevant persons of the fact of the entry on the land and of what was done.

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