Waikato farmers are warning Transpower the fight is not over and more disruption is possible if an agreement is not reached over a new transmission line into Auckland.
More than 50,000 homes, businesses and some industrial areas of Auckland lost power when a fire broke out in a shelter belt of trees beneath power pylons on Waikato farmer Steve Meier's land on Monday.
Transpower ordered the load on the damaged lines to be reduced by rolling outages.
However, power was out for more than five hours as Mr Meier and Transpower workers sent to repair damage were involved in a standoff and armed police were called.
Transpower plan to build a new 400kV line into Auckland at a cost of $824 million but farmers said there would be further trouble if Transpower did not agree on a deal with landowners.
Stew Wadey, from Waikato Federated Farmers, said the new project which involved new lines between Whakamaru, near Tokoroa, and Auckland, could cause similar problems. Transpower has bought some properties and agreed on compensation with other owners.
Mr Wadey said he would not be surprised if landowners refused allow contractors on their properties for the new project.
He said he had warned police and said many landowners who thought they were getting unfair deals were taking similar action to Mr Meier.
The new 400kV lines would increase the capacity of electricity supplies to the upper North Island.
Mr Meier blamed Transpower for the problem, saying he warned the company five years ago a fire would happen.
Transpower chief executive Patrick Strange said Mr Meier had obstructed the company when it had sent staff to trim the trees back from the pylons.
Mr Meier and about 50 other landowners had been fighting with Transpower for several years to force the company to pay for easement rights for the pylons.
Dr Strange said Transpower had a legal right to enter properties to do maintenance and had no legal obligation to compensate landowners as long as no "injurious effect" results.
Dr Strange and Mr Meier said last night they were both prepared to meet face to face to discuss the issues.
Transpower and Vector said businesses which lost money because of Monday's power cuts would get no compensation.
NZPA