Power line owners can now evaluate whether trees pose a collapse risk to their infrastructure and remove them at their own cost if they do.
Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced the regulations, which build on existing rules governing vegetation near electricity lines.
The changes establish a low height planting zone on either side of power lines in rural areas, excluding forests and shelter belts. Within this zone, new trees must have a mature height shorter than their distance from the line, ensuring they cannot reach the infrastructure if they topple. Landowners will bear the cost of trimming or removing any trees that violate the planting restrictions.
Current regulations already require a vegetation-free corridor around electricity lines. Two years ago, authorities strengthened those rules to create a 'clear to the sky' zone stopping vegetation from overhanging lines.
The Government consulted extensively with forestry, farming, Māori and arboriculture groups, as well as the electricity sector, before finalising the changes.
Brown said "this Government respects property owner's rights and has balanced those with the need to protect communities from avoidable power outages, and protect power lines from costly and disruptive damage".