Cook Strait Telecommunications Cable Replacement Project - COMPLETE

Region Map
Estimated
$15m
Project cost
Work commencing
February
2020
Work completed
April
2020

What are we doing

We need to continually operate, maintain and develop New Zealand’s transmission network – the National Grid – to ensure we meet the ongoing electricity needs of New Zealanders.

We are installing a new telecommunications cable to replacing some of our existing telecommunications cables within the Cook Strait.  These cables are part of Transpower's telecommunications network that helps us to manage our electricity assets, with spare capacity leased to other telecommunications companies.

Why are we doing it?

Routine inspections have shown that the telecommunications cables are deteriorating faster than expected due to the strong tidal forces experienced in the Cook Strait. To mitigate the risks around failure, we are planning to proactively replace them with a new cable and also take the opportunity to remove the redundant telecommunications cables within the Cook Strait Cable Protection Zone.

How it will affect you

There will be no impact on the power supply of consumers during this work, and all the construction activities will be located at either end of our Cook Strait cables - Fighting Bay at the top of the South Island and Oteranga Bay at the bottom of the North Island. Cook Strait recreational boat users are reminded of the no anchoring/fishing rules with respect to the Cable Protection Zone.