OIAD-688 
Wendy Pond 
[FYI request #23178 email] 
 
 
Tēnā koe Wendy 
 
Thank you for your email of 19 June 2023 requesting the following under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
Please tell me what are the permitted distances for 5G cell towers from (a.) family 
homes; (b) roads (road centre lines or road corridors); (c) open space zones; and (d) 
school bus stops.  
The National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 2016 (NESTF) 
provide national consistency in the rules surrounding the development of 
telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G cell towers, across New Zealand. 5G cell 
towers are generally treated as antennas on poles in the NESTF. Such antennas may be 
installed on existing poles (including relocated or replaced poles) or new poles. 
You have requested the permitted distance for 5G cell towers from: family homes, roads 
(road centre lines or road corridors), open space zones, and school bus stops. The NESTF 
does not have setback (permitted distance) requirements for antenna on new or existing 
poles in residential zones. Permitted standards that do apply include maximum pole height, 
maximum antenna size, and other technical standards. Setbacks are required, however, for 
antenna on new poles in rural areas outside of the legal road reserve. The setback required 
is a minimum 50 metres from buildings used for residential or educational purposes.   
The NESTF also does not require a minimum setback from roads, open space zones, or 
school bus stops. More information on the NESTF requirements can be accessed at: 
https://environment.govt.nz/assets/Publications/Files/NESTF-2016-Users-Guide-FINAL-
pdf.pdf.  
There are a number of areas where district plan rules can be more stringent than the 
NESTF. These areas may have their own setback requirements and generally relate to 
areas of environmental sensitivity such as valued landscapes, areas of protected vegetation 
and significant biodiversity, and areas of historic heritage. The relevant district plan should 
identify such areas, and I encourage you to enquire with any relevant council to confirm any 
local requirements. 
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman of 
my decisions relating to this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The 
relevant details can be found on their website at: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.  
 
 

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Please note that due to the public interest in our work the Ministry for the Environment 
publishes responses to requests for official information on our OIA responses page shortly 
after the response has been sent. If you have any queries about this, please feel free to 
contact our Ministerial Services team: [email address]. 
 
 
Ngā mihi, 
 
Rebecca Scannell  
Director - Urban and Infrastructure Policy 
Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao 
 

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