The cables form part of the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link, which allows electricity to flow between the North and South Islands. They have been in service since 1991 and are due to be decommissioned, once the new cables are installed as part of a wider upgrade to the link. This upgrade is essential to ensure the link can continue to support a reliable, secure electricity supply for New Zealand and enable the supply of the lowest cost electricity across both islands.
Transpower’s current preference is to remove as much of the existing HVDC cables as practicable once they are decommissioned. There are operational and regulatory factors supporting the removal of the cables, but there is an associated cost to doing so and Transpower wants to hear from stakeholders about what is important to them.
Consultation is open until 5pm Friday 8 May 2026.
Read the consultation document
Submit feedback on the consultation via email to [email protected], or the online survey here.
Transpower will host a webinar on this consultation on Monday 20 April at 2.30pm. To register, please click here.
Related links:
News: Transpower consults on removal of ageing Cook Strait electricity cables at end-of-life, 13 April 2026