One NZ to retire HFC (cable) network

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6 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3454529 20-Jan-2026 10:02

Hi. Long time reader, first time commenter.

I've just got the message from ONE nz about the HFC cut-off, retiring our connection by March. I have a few questions:

We don't have fibre to the house, only the TelstrarClear 😀 cable, which is in an underground conduit (we underground the connection during a renovation 10 years ago) [we should have had a 2nd conduit installed at the time for future proofing. Whoops].

Do you think One nz can use this conduit for the fibre cable? Or will they say they can't touch it?

And then, how do the run the fibre cable to a new ONT? Ideally I want them to run it as we have the current cable, which is under the house and nice and tidy, and terminates in a perfect location. It might mean a bit of crawling around for them under the house. Do they do that, or try to take a simpler path (ie running conduit on the outside of the house etc). [Presumably, they can't use the current coax right?]

And if that's all to hard for them, will the allow the householder to do some of that dirty work?

SteveC

stevec
488 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 95

Lifetime subscriber

#3454532 20-Jan-2026 10:06

MaxineN:
You shouldn't need to email Jason. This is such a simple process and Nick can verify how easy it is.

Everybody has different interpretation of 'simple'. Getting our lines down took two emails, which might well have taken less of my time than waiting in a phone queue, never mind the time to interact with the CSR. I don's see how the customer experience could be simpler. Presumably it also suits the support people to be able to look up a solution as time and priorities allow, rather than having pressure to get an immediate answer to something which could easily wait.

I don't for a moment expect that Jason personally opens all these emails, but there is clearly a process that makes things happen.

I'm happy!

SteveC

stevec
488 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#3454537 20-Jan-2026 10:13

blacksand:
I've just got the message from ONE nz about the HFC cut-off, retiring our connection by March. I have a few questions: ...

Could you please tell us which suburb you are in @blacksand?

blacksand

6 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3454546 20-Jan-2026 10:17

SteveC:
blacksand:

I've just got the message from ONE nz about the HFC cut-off, retiring our connection by March. I have a few questions: ...

Could you please tell us which suburb you are in @blacksand?

Lyall Bay, Wellington.

boosacnoodle

1271 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 856

#3454559 20-Jan-2026 10:54

blacksand:

We don't have fibre to the house, only the TelstrarClear 😀 cable

Do you mean it's unavailable, or just not installed? From memory, you should still be able to get fibre installed for free.

Rickles

3107 posts

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Trusted

#3454564 20-Jan-2026 11:05

@blacksand ... as I recall, a call to Chorus on 0800 222 644 should still take you to the fibre install team.

Their brochure to me states installation methods as Aerial, Underground, Slot trenching, Soft surface trenching, and Surface mounting .... under Underground they say they can utilise existing pipes or ducts.

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alavaliant

251 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Subscriber

#3454576 20-Jan-2026 11:25

Interesting, I've been waiting for Lyall Bay to be started as I've got family there (and I suspect they will have questions for me about it).

In the case of trying to reuse existing duct. Hopefully it's in good condition. When I got my fibre connection, we initially thought we'd be able to reuse the existing duct. But it turned out that something had happened to block the duct a few metres down it. So the installer tried several times but failed to get the fibre blown through it. So we had to give up and do a much more complex install (which in my case involved cutting into existing concrete).

Rickles

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#3454578 20-Jan-2026 11:29

Lots of information at www.chorus.co.nz/installs.

Still free to most domestic homes under the 'copper-replacement' program.

blacksand

6 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3454589 20-Jan-2026 12:04

boosacnoodle:

blacksand:

We don't have fibre to the house, only the TelstrarClear 😀 cable

Do you mean it's unavailable, or just not installed? From memory, you should still be able to get fibre installed for free.

Oh, yes, One nz will install for free. We've never had fibre to the house, but it's certainly on the street. My questions were more about how clean and tidy the install will be. Ideally keen on the same underground and under-house wiring, and not ugly external ducting etc

blacksand

6 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3454592 20-Jan-2026 12:23

Rickles:

Lots of information at www.chorus.co.nz/installs.

Still free to most domestic homes under the 'copper-replacement' program.

Thanks. That website has all the info.

quickymart

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#3454656 20-Jan-2026 14:58

However your existing copper line enters your property is the same pathway fibre will follow. So if (for example) yours is aerial, ie, from the pole into your roof, that's the way it will go. And no they won't be able to use any conduit that your current cable connection comes through. However if your property is undergrounded and there's green pipe you should be okay.

From memory Lyall Bay is mostly aerial (my Dad used to live there) but I would suggest checking your property from the outside first to confirm.

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Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#3454727 20-Jan-2026 23:31

blacksand:

We don't have fibre to the house, only the TelstrarClear 😀 cable, which is in an underground conduit (we underground the connection during a renovation 10 years ago) [we should have had a 2nd conduit installed at the time for future proofing. Whoops].

Do you think One nz can use this conduit for the fibre cable? Or will they say they can't touch it?

Given you have stated that you undergrounded the connection during a renovation, is it accurate to say you personally sourced and/or paid for the duct? If so, you own it and can do what you like with it, including allowing it to be used for a future fibre connection in certain circumstances.

If there is OneNZ HFC cable inside that duct at the time Chorus arrive to do the fibre installation, it can't be used for fibre as Chorus are not allowed to interfere with another network operator's equipment/cabling.
If the HFC cable in the duct were to be removed and replaced with a draw wire prior to Chorus' arrival at site (and you affirm to the crew that you own it), then the Chorus technicians should be able to haul fibre through it if all other conditions are met eg the duct is not blocked and it runs to the correct location of the Chorus fibre drop at the front boundary (that is not always the case).
f the duct was originally sourced, provided and installed by Saturn/Telstra/Voda/OneNZ, it may be stamped/marked as their property and therefore cannot be used by Chorus even if it is empty. What colour is your duct? Saturn/Telstra/Voda historically provided a unique light blue duct from memory.

And secondary consideration - when you undergrounded your HFC connection, do you know if the old Telecom/Chorus copper line was also undergrounded? Or is it still overhead? Or was it chopped down during the reno? These details are all relevant so would be good to know. If the old copper line was delivered via aerial cable, then the fibre drop may have also been designed for aerial delivery - meaning there could be a charge to convert it to an underground connection.

Sorry, I meant to provide clarity in this response but I realise I've probably muddied the waters even more for you now!! I'm happy to provide specific guidance if you want to send me a private message with your address. I can tell you whether your address was designed for overhead or underground fibre delivery, and I can tell you which side of your front boundary the fibre is located at.

Simon @ Chorus

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

blacksand

6 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3454784 21-Jan-2026 08:20

Your questions all make sense:

Yes, we had the HFC cable underground (our sparky did it, it's in a standard white duct). And what you've said (about me pulling the HFC and replacing with a pull wire is what I thought was something I should do). I also think it terminates at the only likely connection for the fibre as well (a power pole right by our driveway). I figure I'd just have a jury rig a solution with the HFC cable until we swap to fibre, so we're not without Internet during the transition.

And yes, the overhead copper was removed during our renovation. I'm keen to avoid the fibre being installed overhead, which would then need external ducting etc before it runs into the house. So hopefully I can work with Chorus to get the perfect solution for me.

Eva888

2762 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#3454843 21-Jan-2026 12:34

The dreaded email arrived today. Island Bay turning off HFC by 23 March.

SteveC

stevec
488 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Lifetime subscriber

#3454845 21-Jan-2026 12:50

Wheelbarrow01: (Huge snip from 'quoted' text.)
...
And secondary consideration - when you undergrounded your HFC connection, do you know if the old Telecom/Chorus copper line was also undergrounded? Or is it still overhead? Or was it chopped down during the reno? These details are all relevant so would be good to know. If the old copper line was delivered via aerial cable, then the fibre drop may have also been designed for aerial delivery - meaning there could be a charge to convert it to an underground connection.

...
Simon @ Chorus

And ternary consideration - after Fulton Hogan had stuffed up our pristine (yeah right) footpath to provide underground provisioning to our neighbour, along came the Chorus Cowboys who put in aerial fibre - presumably because it was easier for them. The Downers Dudes undergrounded HFC years before and I was looking forward to the end of data cables above our road ...

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