Dodgy fibre install, can we get them to fix it?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Dodgy fibre install, can we get them to fix it?

turtleattacks

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#319069 19-Mar-2025 14:59

Hi guys,

We moved into a property out in the Waitakeres with somewhat a dodgy overhead fibre cable going into the house.

The fibre cable is connected to the house overhead, through trees and into the house at the second floor.

This causes many risk factors, including falling trees would likely cut out the connection.

Are we able to get Chorus to address this and install it underground?

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#3355219 19-Mar-2025 15:04

Managing trees is generally your problem, not theirs. Same goes for power. They may pay for the first trim if you're lucky, but that's usually not service drops.

It being overhead isn't enough to call it 'dodgy'. Are there termination or tension issues with it?

turtleattacks

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#3355221 19-Mar-2025 15:06

SomeoneSomewhere:

Managing trees is generally your problem, not theirs. Same goes for power. They may pay for the first trim if you're lucky, but that's usually not service drops.

It being overhead isn't enough to call it 'dodgy'. Are there termination or tension issues with it?

I'll take additional photos tomorrow.

The trees that it bypasses are on council land.

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wellygary

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#3355223 19-Mar-2025 15:13

turtleattacks:

Hi guys,

We moved into a property out in the Waitakeres with somewhat a dodgy overhead fibre cable going into the house.

The fibre cable is connected to the house overhead, through trees and into the house at the second floor.

This causes many risk factors, including falling trees would likely cut out the connection.

Are we able to get Chorus to address this and install it underground?

Yes, BUT.... you will pay for it....

If the trees are council's then call them... Although if the branches are entering your property boundary, you are free to trim them yourself,

Photos would be helpful

nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#3355238 19-Mar-2025 15:47

This is called an OHUG (Overhead to Underground Conversion, and it will NOT be cheap!)

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

raytaylor

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#3355272 19-Mar-2025 16:59

To further clarify,

Yes you can call your ISP and ask them to organise a chorus OHUG.
It will be cheapest if you can organise the trench between the house and the roadside.
They will come and provide a quote so dont start digging until they have come to do that.

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Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#3355368 19-Mar-2025 22:10

I always think I'll chip in with a quick reply, but invariably I end up expanding my answers for absolute clarity. On the one hand, I apologise for making you read through my ramblings, but on the other hand I hope you find the additional insights useful...

Just echoing what others have stated. Tree owners are responsible for ensuring their trees do not interfere with any overhead cabling, and must periodically trim any offending branches etc back. Cables running through tree branches do not indicate a 'dodgy' install - it merely means the trees have grown since the install and the tree owner needs to organise a trim.

And yes, Chorus will move the connection underground for you - for a fee. The process has changed in the past couple of years and is now generally cheaper than it used to be. Originally, Chorus charged the actual out of pocket cost for the work, and it wasn't unusual to see quotes up to $10,000, particularly when major footpath reinstatement work to council standards was required. As an example, Auckland Council doesn't allow Chorus to slot trench their concrete footpaths - we have to replace the entire slab at the nearest joint - which can sometimes be many square metres.

These days, the work is rate carded - this means we charge a set fee for a set activity no matter how complex the task is, or how long a distance needs to be covered, or how costly the footpath reinstatement is. This change also means that we don't undertake OHUG scope visits anymore, which also helps to reduce cost and time to complete. For this reason, it is very important to ensure you advise your RSP upfront of exactly what work you need Chorus to do (and it is important the RSP includes this information in the order), as it will form the basis of the price that is presented to you.

I'm sorry I don't have the exact pricing to hand, but it's something like the below, give or take a few dollars:

You arrange the trench/duct from side of the house to base of the pole*, Chorus just turns up to install new cable and remove old overhead cabling - $550
Chorus carries out all work including trenching inside and outside boundary - $1500
You provide inside boundary trench/duct, Chorus arranges outside boundary work - somewhere between the two above figures.

*Generally this is only possible if the pole is immediately adjacent to your front boundary. In some cases, the pole may be some distance away from your boundary on the other side of the footpath/road reserve. In such cases, the home owner would need council consent to dig outside boundary, in which case it's advisable to let Chorus handle this part, as we have a standing arrangement with most councils for basic footpath excavation, meaning we generally don't need to apply and wait for consent in the same way a homeowner would.

Also worth noting that the price guidelines above apply when requesting OHUG through your RSP. Different pricing applies where there is no active service at your address and you contact Chorus directly to request an OHUG (eg as part of a property renovation or redevelopment). I believe in that instance, the old "scope visit and quote for actual costs" process applies.

Having said all this, the OP's easiest/cheapest option in the stated scenario is to simply ask the council to trim their trees 😎

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

cddt

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#3355464 20-Mar-2025 08:35

Wheelbarrow01:

As an example, Auckland Council doesn't allow Chorus to slot trench their concrete footpaths - we have to replace the entire slab at the nearest joint - which can sometimes be many square metres.

Ironic, given the absolutely dire state of some of the footpaths in Auckland.

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MurrayM

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#3356832 24-Mar-2025 10:00

cddt:

Wheelbarrow01:

As an example, Auckland Council doesn't allow Chorus to slot trench their concrete footpaths - we have to replace the entire slab at the nearest joint - which can sometimes be many square metres.

Ironic, given the absolutely dire state of some of the footpaths in Auckland.

Maybe that's the council's plan, to get Chorus to replace all the terrible footpaths for them!