Dear Spencer

We acknowledge receipt of your request.

This request has been treated as a request for official information under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) and has been referred to Council's Manager – Information Services and Business Improvement for action.

Please note: Section 13(1A) of the Act provides that a local authority may charge for the supply of official information. The Ministry of Justice charging guidelines state that time spent by staff searching for relevant material, abstracting, collating, copying, transcribing and supervision access where the total time involved is more than one hour, should be charged out at an initial charge of $38 for the first chargeable half hour or part thereof; and then $38 for each additional half hour or part thereof.

Should there be any cost associated with the provision of the information you have requested, you will be notified of the amount and payment will be required prior to release of the information, otherwise, you will receive a response within 20 working days of receipt of your request.

Regards

Adrian Lindsay | Legal Officer
Waitomo District Council | Kaunihera ā-rohe
15 Queen Street, Te Kuiti 3910
PO Box 404, Te Kuiti 3941
Phone 07 878 0800 | Fax: 07 878 7771 |[mobile number]|DDI: 07 878 0853
www.waitomo.govt.nz
|Follow us on Facebook
Waitomo - a vibrant district

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Dear Spencer

 

Please see the response to your request in blue below.

 

We are now closing this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Adrian Lindsay​​​​  |  Legal Officer
Waitomo District Council | Kaunihera ā‑rohe
15 Queen Street, Te Kuiti 3910
PO Box 404, Te Kuiti 3941
Phone 07 878 0800 | Fax: 07 878 7771 |Mobile: 027 278 7139|DDI: 07 878 0853
[1]www.waitomo.govt.nz | [2]Follow us on Facebook
Waitomo ‑ a vibrant district 

 

From: SPENCER JONES <[3][FOI #22550 email]>

Sent: Monday, April 24, 2023 7:57 PM

To: WebMail <[4][email address]>

Subject: Official Information request - Managing 5G & Wireless Radiation

 

20230423 OIA WDC Managing 5G or Wireless Radiation.

 

From: Spencer Jones

 

April 23rd, 2023

 

Dear Waitomo District Council (WDC),

 

I am writing to request all information to which I am entitled under
section 12 of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) (The Act) Re 5G or
Wireless Radiation. This information is sought in the public interest of
all New Zealanders.

 

Please find my OIA request below, which relates to WDC's implementation of
5G. I’m requesting ALL information regarding 5G Masts, small cells,
Antennas, and lighting within NPDC’s area of operations. I’m also seeking
to clarify the frequencies & levels of radiation being emitted by each
local mast, small cell, antenna, and lighting.

 

The information I’m requesting is denoted below.

 

1.       Digital copies of WDC’s Risk assessments, for each small cell,
mast, antenna and the post/position of the person responsible for signing
each device off as safe.     WDC has not implemented 5G technology. We do
not hold the information requested.

1a.     Digital copies of the Safety analysis information in relation to
the levels of radiation exposure - We do not hold the information
requested.

1b.     Digital copies of the record of testing that would have taken
place to demonstrate safety for local residents and We do not hold the
information requested.

1c.      The name of the individual responsible for signing tests/records
as equipment is safe. We do not hold the information requested.

1d.     List of WDC infrastructure, properties, buildings that 5G Smart
technology is installed or used. WDC has not implemented 5G technology. We
do not hold the information requested.

2.       A copy of WDC local government liability Insurance covering all
safety aspects from masts, antenna, monopoles, small cells and street
lighting. WDC holds public liability insurance cover for protection of
legal

liability associated with business of Council.

3.       How can residents report EMF radiation injuries?  And It is
considered that this question does not constitute a request for
information under the LGOIMA, but is rather in the nature of a question.
The Council is therefore not obliged to answer the question under the
Act.  However, WDC  has treated this request for confirmation as a request
for information under the LGOIMA and considered your request accordingly.

3a.     please give confirmation as to the compensation procedures for any
harm caused. As above, please see our response to question 3

4.       Please name the person and their position/post within WDC who has
responsibility for liability of 5G and smart technology roll out. Saeed
Jouzdani Chief Information Officer.

5.       Confirm how much funding WDC has received from Government or any
other (affiliated) companies for 5G and smart technology to be placed in
the local area. WDC has not received any funding from the Government for
5G and smart technology in the district.

6.       What measures, assessments, reports or surveys has WDC carried
out to ensure that the local environment is being protected against any
potential harm of 5G radiation. We do not hold the information requested.

7.       Who is paying for the power/electricity that supplies the masts,
small cells, antenna, monopoles and streetlights etc. We do not hold the
information requested.

8.       Please confirm what date and location the first mast, monopole,
small cell antenna or streetlight was installed in which areas. There are
a number of cell towers located on Council land and road reserve in the
district however we cannot confirm which (if any) are 5G. Installation of
this infrastructure is undertaken pursuant to various legislation
including the Telecommunications Act 2001, Resource Management Act 1991
and relevant regulations made thereunder and any applicable District Plan
requirements.  

9.       Please confirm how often and how many safety tests have been
carried out since installation of 5G equipment. Please explain what type
of safety tests is being carried out for example Electrosmog meter
testing. WDC has not installed 5G equipment. Therefore we do not hold the
information requested.

10.     In addition, if WDC cannot provide proof of safety assessments
being conduct by Council and/or any other third-party organization or
affiliated companies what is WDC’s liability cover/protection if they are
not removed or turned off until such time that data has been provided to
showcase that it is safe. WDC has not installed 5G equipment. Therefore we
do not hold the information requested.

11.     Please confirm that WDC health and safety organization,
Councillors, Mayor and executive board are aware that even though we can’t
see it, radio-frequency/microwave radiation (RF-MWR), is a hazardous,
xenobiotic (foreign-to-life) agent, and a significant source of harmful
environmental pollution. Duration of exposure to these micro-second pulses
of electrical power, in addition to rate of intensity, are most important
factors for biological life on Earth. It is considered that this question
does not constitute a request for information under the LGOIMA, but is
rather in the nature of a question. The Council is therefore not obliged
to answer the question under the Act.  However, WDC  has treated this
request for confirmation as a request for information under the LGOIMA and
considered your request accordingly. 

 

This request also includes any contractors, or any other third parties who
have been engaged by WDC to provide reports, assessments, surveys or
professional guidance regards any matters to do with 5G and Smart
technologies within the WDC areas of responsibility.

 

In relation to your questions numbered 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9-11 the information
you are seeking is not held by WDC but would need to be created in order
to respond to your request. We are therefore refusing your request under
section 17(g) of the LGOIMA, because WDC does not hold any official
information.

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[5]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

 

Kind regards,

 

Spencer Jones

 

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

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[6][FOI #22550 email]

 

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References

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