Tall trees may be a threat to power supply

Not only is it potentially dangerous, but trees near power lines are often the cause of power cuts, Powerco network operations manager Ross Dixon said.

He made his comments as vegetation management company Asplundh Tree Expert (NZ) Ltd began work removing trees in danger of touching 33,000kV lines on the southern outskirts of New Plymouth.

Burn marks on the top branches of the pine trees indicated they had touched the lines in windy conditions, causing arcing, Asplundh's Taranaki contract manager Kevin Low said.

"So what we're doing is using special equipment to take the trees right down to stump level," he said.

Mr Low said his team was constantly removing trees growing dangerously close to power lines.

"It's a big problem. Property owners are still planting the wrong types of trees below power lines."

Mr Dixon said there were many smaller trees and shrubs suitable for planting near overhead lines that provided shelter.

These included natives such as flax, akeake and manuka, and exotics such as birch, Japanese maple, camellia and hibiscus.