50 Victoria Street 
Private Bag 6995 
 
Wellington 6141 
 
New Zealand 
T
 
 64 4 894 5400 
F 64 4 894 6100 
 
www.nzta.govt.nz 
 
 
21 June 2021 
 
 
Cody C 
[FYI request #15694 email] 
REF: OIA-8244 
 
Dear Cody 
 
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982 
 
Thank you for your email of 6 June 2021 requesting the following information under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
 
…Does the Lyttelton tunnel contain any communications equipment? For 
instance, mobile cellular “leaky feeder” or FM radio transmitter (perhaps 
used by tunnel control to communicate with vehicles). 
Please provide a brief outline of these, if so… 
 
The Lyttelton Road Tunnel features a Public Address (PA)/Radio Rebroadcast System that is used for 
incident management and communication with motorists. These systems include equipment such as:  
 
•  PA Hardware (amplifiers & sound processing units) in the control building and in the tunnel; 
•  Loudspeakers within the tunnel; 
•  Push to Talk microphones for tunnel operators; 
•  FM aerials & receivers; and, 
•  a leaky coax cable which distributes the signal along the length of the tunnel.  
 
The Radio Rebroadcast system rebroadcasts 12 commercial FM radio stations, allowing motorists to 
receive uninterrupted radio whilst travelling within the confines of the tunnel. It also provides radio 
coverage to emergency services (Fire, Police, Ambulance, Tunnel Control) while in the tunnel. 
 
If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, please contact Jessica 
McFarlane, Network Manager, by email to [email address].  
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Neil Walker 
National Manager Maintenance and Operations  
 
 
 

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