Official Information Request – EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments
SPENCER JONES made this Official Information request to Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited
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From: SPENCER JONES
ESR OIA Team,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information:
Copies of any reports, memoranda, or scientific assessments authored, commissioned, or reviewed by ESR regarding the health or safety risks of electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) exposure from residential electricity smart meters, since 2010.
Any ESR laboratory or technical data assessing:
The cumulative or peak EMF emissions from smart meters;
Comparisons of smart meter EMF exposure against NZS 2772.1:1999 or ICNIRP guidelines;
Potential risks to electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals.
Any correspondence between ESR and the Ministry of Health, MBIE, WorkSafe, or the Electricity Authority regarding EMF health risk assessments or recommended public health thresholds.
If clarification is needed to expedite processing, I would be happy to refine this request.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
From: OIA & Privacy Requests
Good Afternoon Spencer,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information dated
Saturday 2 August 2025.
ESR will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than Friday 29 August 2025, being 20 working days after
the day your request was received pursuant to section 15(1) of the
Official Information Act 1982.
If we are unable to respond to your request by Friday 29 August 2025, we
will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
Kind Regards,
Wendy Chung
Legal Coordinator
[1]www.phfscience.nz
27 Creyke Road, Ilam
Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
PO Box 29181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
New Zealand Institute for
Public Health and Forensic Science
Formerly ESR – the Institute of
Environmental Science and Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 4 August 2025 9:33 am
To: OIA & Privacy Requests <OIA&[email address]>; Wendy
Chung <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Official Information Request –
EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments
-----Original Message-----
From: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #31855 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 2 August 2025 2:46 pm
To: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Request – EMF
and Smart Meter Health Assessments
ESR OIA Team,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information:
Copies of any reports, memoranda, or scientific assessments authored,
commissioned, or reviewed by ESR regarding the health or safety risks of
electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) exposure from
residential electricity smart meters, since 2010.
Any ESR laboratory or technical data assessing:
The cumulative or peak EMF emissions from smart meters;
Comparisons of smart meter EMF exposure against NZS 2772.1:1999 or ICNIRP
guidelines;
Potential risks to electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals.
Any correspondence between ESR and the Ministry of Health, MBIE, WorkSafe,
or the Electricity Authority regarding EMF health risk assessments or
recommended public health thresholds.
If clarification is needed to expedite processing, I would be happy to
refine this request.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31855 email]
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Information requests to Institute of Environmental Science and Research
Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
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From: OIA & Privacy Requests
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Good Afternoon Spencer,
Please find attached, the notice of partial transfer of your OIA request
to the Ministry of Health.
Kind Regards,
Wendy Chung
Legal Coordinator
[1]www.phfscience.nz
27 Creyke Road, Ilam
Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
PO Box 29181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
New Zealand Institute for
Public Health and Forensic Science
Formerly ESR – the Institute of
Environmental Science and Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 4 August 2025 9:33 am
To: OIA & Privacy Requests <OIA&[email address]>; Wendy
Chung <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Official Information Request –
EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments
-----Original Message-----
From: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #31855 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 2 August 2025 2:46 pm
To: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Request – EMF
and Smart Meter Health Assessments
ESR OIA Team,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information:
Copies of any reports, memoranda, or scientific assessments authored,
commissioned, or reviewed by ESR regarding the health or safety risks of
electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) exposure from
residential electricity smart meters, since 2010.
Any ESR laboratory or technical data assessing:
The cumulative or peak EMF emissions from smart meters;
Comparisons of smart meter EMF exposure against NZS 2772.1:1999 or ICNIRP
guidelines;
Potential risks to electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals.
Any correspondence between ESR and the Ministry of Health, MBIE, WorkSafe,
or the Electricity Authority regarding EMF health risk assessments or
recommended public health thresholds.
If clarification is needed to expedite processing, I would be happy to
refine this request.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31855 email]
Is [ESR request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Institute of Environmental Science and Research
Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. http://www.phfscience.nz/
http://www.phfscience.nz/
2. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
3. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Spencer
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 15 August 2025. You requested:
"Copies of any reports, memoranda, or scientific assessments authored,
commissioned, or reviewed by ESR regarding the health or safety risks of
electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) exposure from
residential electricity smart meters, since 2010.
Any ESR laboratory or technical data assessing:
The cumulative or peak EMF emissions from smart meters;
Comparisons of smart meter EMF exposure against NZS 2772.1:1999 or ICNIRP
guidelines;
Potential risks to electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals.
Any correspondence between ESR and the Ministry of Health, MBIE, WorkSafe,
or the Electricity Authority regarding EMF health risk assessments or
recommended public health thresholds."
The reference number for your request is H2025071277. As required under
the Act, the Ministry will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was
received: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([2][email address]).
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[3]Ministry of Health information releases
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
References
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
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From: OIA Requests
Tçnâ koe Spencer
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) transferred to the Ministry of Health – Manatû Hauora (the Ministry)
on 15 August 2025 for information regarding smart metres. You requested:
Copies of any reports, memoranda, or scientific assessments authored,
commissioned, or reviewed by ESR regarding the health or safety risks of
electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) exposure from
residential electricity smart meters, since 2010.
Any ESR laboratory or technical data assessing:
The cumulative or peak EMF emissions from smart meters;
Comparisons of smart meter EMF exposure against NZS 2772.1:1999 or ICNIRP
guidelines;
Potential risks to electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals.
Any correspondence between ESR and the Ministry of Health, MBIE, WorkSafe,
or the Electricity Authority regarding EMF health risk assessments or
recommended public health thresholds.
Please note the following information provided by the New Zealand
Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science when they partially
transferred your initial request to the Ministry on 15 August 2025:
We have transferred part of your request to the Ministry of Health. Part
of the information to which your request relates, namely any reports,
memoranda or scientific assessments authored or reviewed by ESR and any
ESR laboratory or technical data is believed to be more closely connected
with the functions of the Ministry of Health. Any work concerning EMF or
RF would have completed under the scope of work carried out by ESR (now
PHF Science) for the Ministry of Health as per our service agreement. In
these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer
your request.
PHF Science are currently collating copies of any correspondence between
ESR and the above listed organisations and will provide a response for
these by Friday 29 August 2025.
The Ministry does not hold any reports, memoranda, scientific assessments
or correspondence on this topic. As such your request has been refused
under section 18(g)(i) of the Act, that the information requested is not
held by the department and there are no grounds for believing that the
information is held by another department or agency subject to the Act.
You may be interested in the following information related to smart
meters, radiofrequency exposure and the NZS 2772.1:1999 standards publicly
available in the document Interagency Committee on the Health Effects of
Non-ionising Fields: Report to Ministers 2022 available at the following
webpage:
[1]www.health.govt.nz/publications/interagency-committee-on-the-health-effects-of-non-ionising-fields-report-to-ministers-2022.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].
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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatû Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
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From: OIA & Privacy Requests
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PHF Science Response to your OIA Request Spencer Jones.docx.pdf
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RE Radio frequency fields Redacted.pdf
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Re Radio frequency fields 1 Redacted.pdf
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Good Morning Spencer,
Please find attached our response to your Official Information Act request
received by ESR on Saturday 2 August 2025.
Kind Regards,
Wendy Chung
Legal Coordinator
[1]www.phfscience.nz
27 Creyke Road, Ilam
Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
PO Box 29181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
New Zealand Institute for
Public Health and Forensic Science
Formerly ESR – the Institute of
Environmental Science and Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 4 August 2025 9:33 am
To: OIA & Privacy Requests <OIA&[email address]>; Wendy
Chung <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Official Information Request –
EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments
-----Original Message-----
From: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #31855 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 2 August 2025 2:46 pm
To: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Request – EMF
and Smart Meter Health Assessments
ESR OIA Team,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information:
Copies of any reports, memoranda, or scientific assessments authored,
commissioned, or reviewed by ESR regarding the health or safety risks of
electromagnetic field (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) exposure from
residential electricity smart meters, since 2010.
Any ESR laboratory or technical data assessing:
The cumulative or peak EMF emissions from smart meters;
Comparisons of smart meter EMF exposure against NZS 2772.1:1999 or ICNIRP
guidelines;
Potential risks to electromagnetic hypersensitive (EHS) individuals.
Any correspondence between ESR and the Ministry of Health, MBIE, WorkSafe,
or the Electricity Authority regarding EMF health risk assessments or
recommended public health thresholds.
If clarification is needed to expedite processing, I would be happy to
refine this request.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31855 email]
Is [ESR request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Institute of Environmental Science and Research
Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. http://www.phfscience.nz/
http://www.phfscience.nz/
2. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
3. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: SPENCER JONES
Dear OIA & Privacy Requests, Subject: OIA 31855 — follow-up on transfer, searches, and correspondence scope
Kia ora PHF Science,
Thank you for your 29 August response and the two redacted 2012 EA email threads. To close out outstanding points under OIA 31855:
Transfer rationale and scope
You transferred “reports/assessments/data” to the Ministry of Health on the basis these would have been produced under ESR’s service agreement with MoH. Please confirm the precise scope of that service agreement as it relates to smart-meter RF/EMF assessments (2010–2025), and whether ESR/PHF Science ever produced, held, or reviewed any smart-meter-specific measurements or health assessments for MoH.
Searches and holdings
Please confirm that reasonable searches were conducted for correspondence with MoH, MBIE, and WorkSafe (2010–2025) and that no records exist beyond the two 2012 EA threads you released. If any records are held elsewhere within PHF Science (e.g., archived NRL holdings), please locate and release or transfer as appropriate.
EA correspondence completeness
Given the two 2012 threads indicate iterative drafting of EA’s smart-meter FAQ text, please confirm whether ESR/NRL provided any further comments, drafts, or follow-ups to EA beyond those two threads (including attachments), and if so, please release them.
I’m happy to refine further if consultation under s18B would assist. Please provide any remaining material in electronic form (s15(2)).
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
From: SPENCER JONES
Subject: Transfer from ESR — request to confirm searches and holdings (H2025071277)
Kia ora Ministry of Health,
PHF Science transferred to MoH the parts of my OIA concerning smart-meter RF/EMF “reports/assessments/data” on the basis that such work, if any, would have been conducted under ESR’s service agreement with MoH. Your decision under s18(g)(i) states MoH holds no such information.
Before I consider next steps, please confirm:
Searches
That MoH’s searches included contract files, ESR service-agreement deliverables, Interagency Committee records, and relevant divisions (e.g., population & public health, health protection), and that no smart-meter-specific assessments/measurements were ever received.
Interagency Committee inputs
Whether any background papers, minutes, or technical inputs for the 2022 Interagency Committee on the Health Effects of Non-ionising Fields report mention smart-meter RF exposure or duty-cycle assumptions. If so, please provide them or advise transfer.
EA engagement
Whether MoH has any correspondence with EA on smart-meter RF exposure (2010–present). If held, please release; if not held, please confirm so I can address this with EA directly.
If helpful, I am happy to refine under s18B. Please provide any material electronically.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
From: Wendy Chung
Dear Spencer
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information dated
Monday 1 September.
PHF Science will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible
and in any event no later than Monday 29 September 2025, being 20 working
days after the day your request was received pursuant to section 15(1) of
the Official Information Act 1982.
If we are unable to respond to your request by Monday 29 September 2025,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
Kind Regards,
Wendy Chung
Legal Coordinator
[1]www.phfscience.nz
27 Creyke Road, Ilam
Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
PO Box 29181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
New Zealand Institute for
Public Health and Forensic Science
Formerly ESR – the Institute of
Environmental Science and Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #31855 email]>
Sent: Monday, 1 September 2025 6:56 pm
To: OIA & Privacy Requests <OIA&[email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Official Information Request –
EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments
Dear OIA & Privacy Requests, Subject: OIA 31855 — follow-up on transfer,
searches, and correspondence scope
Kia ora PHF Science,
Thank you for your 29 August response and the two redacted 2012 EA email
threads. To close out outstanding points under OIA 31855:
Transfer rationale and scope
You transferred “reports/assessments/data” to the Ministry of Health on
the basis these would have been produced under ESR’s service agreement
with MoH. Please confirm the precise scope of that service agreement as it
relates to smart-meter RF/EMF assessments (2010–2025), and whether ESR/PHF
Science ever produced, held, or reviewed any smart-meter-specific
measurements or health assessments for MoH.
Searches and holdings
Please confirm that reasonable searches were conducted for correspondence
with MoH, MBIE, and WorkSafe (2010–2025) and that no records exist beyond
the two 2012 EA threads you released. If any records are held elsewhere
within PHF Science (e.g., archived NRL holdings), please locate and
release or transfer as appropriate.
EA correspondence completeness
Given the two 2012 threads indicate iterative drafting of EA’s smart-meter
FAQ text, please confirm whether ESR/NRL provided any further comments,
drafts, or follow-ups to EA beyond those two threads (including
attachments), and if so, please release them.
I’m happy to refine further if consultation under s18B would assist.
Please provide any remaining material in electronic form (s15(2)).
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
-----Original Message-----
Good Morning Spencer,
Please find attached our response to your Official Information Act
request
received by ESR on Saturday 2 August 2025.
Kind Regards,
Wendy Chung
Legal Coordinator
[1]www.phfscience.nz
27 Creyke Road, Ilam
Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
PO Box 29181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
New Zealand Institute for
Public Health and Forensic Science
Formerly ESR – the Institute of
Environmental Science and Research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: PHF Science External Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 4 August 2025 9:33 am
To: OIA & Privacy Requests <OIA&[email address]>; Wendy
Chung <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Official Information Request
–
EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31855 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. http://www.phfscience.nz/
http://www.phfscience.nz/
2. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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