National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks

The Government consulted on proposals to prepare or amend national direction, including amending the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission.

Consultation closed on 27 July 2025. The Recommendations and Decisions Report summarising submissions received, officials' recommendations, and the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform's decisions on the proposed amendments is now available.  

View the Recommendations and Decisions Report.

View the Infrastructure, development and primary sector national direction consultation

The Governor-General, on recommendation from the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform approved amendments to the National Policy Statement on 15 December 2025. These amendments came into force on 15 January 2026.

Regulatory impact statement

Regulatory impact statement for NPS-EN

Previous Government review

The previous Government commenced the process to amend the National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission with consultation closing in 2023. 

See the proposals [MBIE website]

The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform* has withdrawn this amendment in accordance with section 51A of the RMA because it is superseded by a new proposal.

*instead of the Minister for the Environment (in accordance with section 7 of the Constitution Act 1986)

The NPS recognises the importance of the electricity network and its role in supporting the well-being of people, communities and the economy and the Government's climate and energy objectives

The electricity transmission network, commonly known as the National Grid, is the high voltage transmission network that carries electricity around the country. It connects electricity generators to major industrial users and substations that feed local electricity distribution networks. These then supply residential and business consumers.

In 2008, the Government developed the National Policy Statement - Electricity Transmission (NPS-ET) to acknowledge the national significance of the electricity transmission network and to ensure there is balanced consideration of the national benefits and the local effects of electricity transmission. Previously, there was no national framework that local government could use when they decided on proposals for transmission lines.

The NPS-ET has been amended and renamed as the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks 2008 (amended 2025)(NPS-EN). This change signals its expanded scope to include national direction for electricity distribution network in addition to the transmission network.

The NPS-EN provides a high-level framework that gives guidance across New Zealand for the management and future planning of the electricity transmission and distribution networks.

It does the following:

• recognises and provides for the national significance of the electricity network, which must be considered in local decision making on resource management
• recognises the wider economic, climate and community benefits we all get from a reliable and resilient supply of electricity
• gives guidance to local decision makers to support route selection processes and the management of the impacts of the electricity network on its environment.
• provides new policy to recognise and provide for Māori interests, including through early engagement where network activities impact sites of significance.
• enables the routine operation, maintenance and upgrade of network assets, to provide certainty that essential work can be undertaken in a timely manner, whilst managing adverse effects appropriately. 
• provides clearer policy to ensure that urban planning processes provide for electricity networks as part of well-functioning urban environments. 
• clarifies protection of the network from the adverse effects of third-party activities, such as under-build, to ensure the safe operation, maintenance, upgrading and development of the network is not compromised.
• ensures engagement between councils and electricity network providers to support long-term strategic and spatial planning processes for key elements of the electricity network.
• updates reference to international guidelines for electric and magnetic fields to align with international best practice.

Decision‑makers must give effect to the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks (NPS‑EN) from 15 January 2026. 

The NPS‑EN applies to all decisions under the Resource Management Act (RMA) that affect electricity networks. This includes the development of new electricity network infrastructure and the operation, maintenance, renewal, and upgrade of existing transmission and distribution networks. 

Although the NPS does not refer to individual network projects it forms part of the national policy framework and must be taken into account whenever electricity network proposals are considered under the RMA.

Transpower, (as the National Grid Owner and System Operator), and electricity distribution businesses must apply the NPS-EN in their planning and consenting processes.

All persons exercising powers and functions under the RMA must apply the NPS‑EN when: 

• determining resource consent applications 
• considering notices of requirement or heritage orders 
• considering applications for water conservation orders 
• exercising other relevant decision‑making powers 
• preparing or changing RMA plans (where permitted). 

When assessing the effects of electricity network activities, particularly in areas with RMA section 6 values, decision-makers must read the NPS‑EN together with relevant national direction and local plans.

Policy 6 (“seek to avoid”) and Policy 7 (“functional and operational need”) set a high threshold for locating electricity network activities in these areas with section 6 values, while recognising that linear infrastructure cannot always avoid all section 6 areas along a route.

In August 2025, the Government introduced a “plan stop” that prevents most plan changes until 31 December 2027, when the new resource management system is expected to commence. As a result: 

• councils will not update their RMA plans to give effect to this NPS‑EN (unless an exemption applies) 
• existing plans and policies that implement the original NPS‑ET remain in force and do not require amendment 
• the NPS‑EN still has immediate legal effect for consent decisions and notices of requirement. 

When applying the NPS‑EN, local authorities must also meet their obligations under: 

• Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 
• the Local Government Act 2002 
• Treaty settlement and iwi participation legislation 
• any Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements with relevant iwi or hapū.

The National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities 2009 sets out the national framework of permissions and consent requirements for operation, maintenance and upgrade activities on electricity transmission lines that were operational on 14 January 2010. The NES minimises the cost to Councils of implementing the NPS-ET and ensures that any adverse environmental effects are managed appropriately. 

For more information see the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities.

The Government consulted on proposals to amend NES-ETA, with consultation closing on 27 July 2025. The proposals included expanding the scope of NES-ETA to cover the electricity distribution network and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Under the proposals, the NES-ETA would be renamed National Environmental Standard for Electricity Network Activities (NES-ENA) to reflect its broader scope. The NES-ENA is intended to be gazetted in the coming months, subject to final decisions and drafting. 

Guidance on risks of development near high-voltage transmission lines

The NPS-EN requires local authorities and decision-makers to manage adverse effects of development located near electricity lines. This includes

• Avoiding development that directly effects the electricity network, such as structures built too close to high-voltage lines 
• Avoiding, as far as is reasonably practicable, development that creates reverse sensitivity effects, for example allowing sensitive activities to establish or expand near transmission lines 
• Ensuring development does not compromise the safe and effective operation, maintenance, upgrading, or development of the network, such as limiting access to towers or restricting essential maintenance activities. 

The forthcoming National Environmental Standards for Electricity Network Activities (NES-ENA), will introduce consistent setback and buffer requirements for the electricity transmission network, as well as regulations to manage effects from third parties on electricity distribution lines. These provisions were consulted on in 2025 and are being finalised for gazettal in the coming months.

• Further guidance on risks of development near high-voltage transmission lines

The NPS-EN incorporates the following material by reference:

• International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection ‘Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric magnetic fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz)’ (Heath Physics 99(6): 818-836; 2010). 
• World Health Organisation monograph Environment Health Criteria (No 238, June 2007)

This incorporated material can be inspected by appointment free of charge from the Ministry for the Environment’s head office at the following address.

8 Willis Street 
Wellington Central 6011
Wellington 
New Zealand 

To make an appointment to inspect the incorporated material, please contact the Ministry for the Environment on:  

Freephone: 0800 499 700  

Phone: +64 4 439 7400  

Email: Info@mfe.govt.nz

Photocopying of incorporated material will not be permitted. The incorporated material can also be sourced online, free of charge, using the links below:

International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines (ICNIRP)

Extremely low frequency fields (WHO)