Mercury Energy is accused of "appalling" behaviour after gagging the couple hit with a $55,000 electricity bill.

A farmers' group in the Waikato has given warning that an $824m pylon project due to start next month may lead to standoffs with Transpower.

Police confiscated eleven guns belonging to Waikato farmer Steve Meier as a "precautionary step" when they accompanied Transpower contractors onto his land.