HVDC Link Upgrade Programme Community Information

Community information about upgrading the Cook Strait cable.
Ōraumoa / Fighting Bay

In the coming years Transpower plans to upgrade the vital electricity link between the North and South Islands. The High Voltage 
Direct Current (HVDC) Link is a key part of our electricity system and helps ensure Aotearoa’s power supply is reliable, stable and as low-cost as possible.

In May 2026 Transpower held information days in Mākara and Picton for communities near the HVDC cable termination stations in Ōraumoa/Fighting Bay and Oteranga Bay to learn about the project and talk with members of the project team. Below are some of the resources shared at those events, as well as other resources for local communities.