Several thousand people who have had trouble ordering ultrafast broadband because of access issues and objections from neighbours are being advised to give it another try.

A new law is now in affect that is designed to make it easier for people living down shared driveways or in apartment complexes to connect to the fibre-optic network, over objections from neighbours with conflicting property rights.

Chorus spokesman Nathan Beaumont said its best estimate was that about 10,000 orders for UFB had been blocked because of issues with property consents.

The network company believed that with the new law in place, about 70 per cent of those orders could now proceed, he said.

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"It should make a big difference. We had quite a few cases of people being frustrated they couldn't get fibre because their neighbour said 'no', for no particular reason," he said.

Communications Minister Simon Bridges said people who had faced difficulties, and wanted to try again, should contact an internet provider.

"The changes support the Government's ambitious UFB programme, helping us achieve our target of providing up to 85 per cent of New Zealanders with access to fibre by the end of 2024," he said.

The new rules mean consent from affected neighbours may not be required if installation only involves disturbing soft surfaces such as grass, or stringing-up overhead cables that are deemed to have "minimal visual impact".

"For installs that require a bit more work – for example an incision about 1cm wide being made in a [shared] concrete drive to conceal a cable – neighbours will be provided a high-level design of what is proposed and will have 15 working days to object.

"If they don't object within the 15 working days, then their consent is deemed."

A new disputes resolution scheme run by Wellington company Utilities Disputes has been set up to handle arguments that flow from the new rules.

Bridges said that would protect the interests of property owners while "ensuring that any disputes that arise as a result of the new consenting regime are dealt with fairly and efficiently".

The law change also allows network builders to use existing infrastructure such as power poles to lay fibre in rural areas.

Bridges said earlier this month that almost 1.2 million households and business had access to UFB, with the roll-out completed in 22 cities and towns.

About 35 per cent of homes and businesses that could connect had now done so, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said.