31 August 2023
Ref: DOIA 2324-0247
Wendy Pond
Email: [FYI request #23714 email]
Tēnā koe Wendy Pond
Thank you for your email of 5 August 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
Q 1. This is a question regarding the public health and safety of households who have had a 4G —
5G cell tower erected beside their home.
(i.) Please identify and quote the legislation that states the limit for safe public long term
exposure to radio frequency electric fields transmitted from telecommunication cell towers.
Note that the AS/NZS 2772.2:2016 standard permitting 3kHz — 300 GHz in the Resource
Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations
2016, s55(6) does not describe the limit for safe public exposure to electro magnetic radiation.
3kHz — 300 GHz is a band width, not a residential exposure limit.
(ii.) Please identify which Act of parliament gives effect to the regulation, code, rule or whatever
it is that states the limit for public exposure.
(iii.) Please provide the original source of this exposure limit. (e.g., is it ICNIRP)
Q 2. The New Zealand limit for public exposure, 41.25 V/m for a field of 900 MHz, is listed in the
WHO Global Health Observatory Data Repository by Country. (i.) Please state where this limit
appears in New Zealand legislation. (ii.) Please confirm that cell towers transmitting 4G and 5G are
required to observe this limit.
Q 3. Please state which entity is the monitoring authority for cell tower emissions.
Q 4. Please state which entity is responsible for issuing licenses for transmission of 4G and 5G, and
state how I go about obtaining copies of the licences.
I am writing to advise you that MBIE will provide a response but needs to extend the time available to
answer your request. MBIE’s response will be sent to you no later than 29 September 2023.
The reason for the extension is that consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such
that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Madeline Sherwood King
Team Leader Ministerial Services
Building, Resources and Markets
