133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
15 December 2022
Michael Vaughan
By email: [FYI request #21286 email]
Ref:
H2022017727
Tēnā koe Michael
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū
Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 28 November 2022 for information regarding the
Interagency Committee on the Health Ef ects of Non-Ionising Radiation. Please find a
response to each part of your request below:
1) Please provide an up-to-date list of the current members of the Interagency
Committee for Health Effects of Non-Ionising Radiation.
Please see attached as Document 1 a list of the current members of the Interagency
Committee for Health Effects of Non-Ionising Radiation.
2) Please provide e-mail addresses for these Committee members and/or an e-
mail address to which correspondence can be sent to the Committee.
You can contact the commit ee by emailing: [email address]
3) Please provide the Minutes of the last three meetings of the Committee and the
date of the next meeting.
Manatū Hauora has identified 3 documents within scope of this part of your request. Al
documents within scope of your request are itemised in Appendix 1 and copies of the
documents are enclosed.
4) Please give details of the process by which relevant scientific research studies
and reviews are brought to the attention of the Committee, including details of
any individual responsibilities in this respect.
5) Please provide details of the 'checks and balances' in place to ensure that
Committee members are being presented with the full range of relevant
research and that ALL relevant studies are being brought to the attention of the
committee, whether or not health effects are identified in the study.

Al  members are free to, and encouraged to bring relevant information to the committee,
and should they choose to do so it is for them to use their professional judgement as to
what is of interest. Members may identify reviews prepared by national and international
health and scientific bodies. Examples of the criteria for individual studies include:
•  whether the publishing journal is included by PubMed
•  whether the researchers followed good scientific practice (eg, double-blind
evaluation, sham controls, proper dosimetry/exposure evaluation)
•  whether the end points are directly related to human health and/or areas of
uncertainty highlighted in national/international reviews.

The Commit ee does not, however, aim to conduct a systematic review of all recently
published research, as this work is already undertaken periodically by expert panels
assembled by national and international health and scientific agencies. These reviews
are an important input to the Committee’s work.

A recent summary of the key research reviewed by the Committee may be found at
health.govt.nz/publication/interagency-commit ee-health-effects-non-ionising-fields-
report-ministers-2022. This also includes a brief description of the process the
Committee follows.

6) Please give the names and qualifications of any Committee members having
postgraduate qualifications or above in biology, epidemiology or similar fields of
expertise.
7) Apart from the representatives of the telecommunications industry, please give
details of any other members of the Committee who have employment, contractual
or any other form of relationship with the telecommunications industry.

John Dockerty and Andrea t’Mannetje are the academic representatives on the
Committee. You can find details about their qualifications below:
•  www.otago.ac.nz/dsm-psm/people/academic-search/profile/?id=726
•  www.massey.ac.nz/massey/expertise/profile.cfm?stref=942830

As we have stated in previous responses to you, the Committee membership includes
representatives from government, industry, academic and consumer groups. Further
information on the composition and terms of reference for the Committee is publicly
available and can be found at health.govt.nz/our-work/environmental-health/non-
ionising-radiation/research-non-ionising-radiation

Most, if not all, of the Committee members have some form of relationship with the
telecommunications industry. They are appointed due to their expertise and knowledge
of that industry, and this is necessary for them to carry out their function.

I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the
right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request. The
Ombudsman may be contacted by email at: [email address] or by
calling 0800 802 602.

Page 2 of 3

Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published
on the Manatū Hauora website at health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-
releases/responses-official-information-act-requests
Nāku noa, nā
Dr Andrew Old
Deputy Director-General
Public Health Agency
Page 3 of 3

Appendix 1: List of documents for release
#
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
Undated.
List of members of Interagency
Released in full.
Commit ee on the Health Effects
of Non-Ionising Fields.
2
18 February 2021
Meeting Notes – Interagency
Commit ee on the Health Effects
of Non-Ionising Fields
3
17 February 2022
Meeting Notes – Interagency
Commit ee on the Health Effects
of Non-Ionising Fields.
4
22 September 2022 Meeting Notes - Interagency
Commit ee on the Health Effects
of Non-Ionising Fields.
Page 4 of 4

Document Outline