Docusign Envelope ID: 89939F9B-8818-4DF9-BB47-4A5037D92EDA
New Zealand Institute
for Public Health and
Forensic Science
26 September 2025
By Email: [FYI request #31855 email]
Dear Spencer,
Official information request for Information Relating to EMF and Smart Meter Health
Assessments
I refer to your official information request received by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health
and Forensic Science Limited (‘PHF Science’) dated Monday 1 September 2025 for the following
information:
“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.”
Our Response:
Attached to this email are documents which confirm the scope of the PHF Science (formerly
Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited or ESR) service agreement with the
Ministry of Health (MOH) in relation to non-ionising radiation. The documents are titled as follows:
- MOH Agreement 2011-2012
- Schedule 3D MOH Agreement 2012-2013
- Schedule 7D MOH Agreement 2013-2019
Non-ionising radiation has been excluded from the scope of agreements from 2019 onwards and
as such, these agreements are not provided.
New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science Limited
Kenepuru Science Centre: 34 Kenepuru Drive, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022 | PO Box 50348, Porirua 5240, New Zealand
www.phfscience.nz T: +64 4 914 0700
Docusign Envelope ID: 89939F9B-8818-4DF9-BB47-4A5037D92EDA
The redacted sections within the attached documentation are either out of scope or have been
withheld under section 9(2)(i) of the Official Information Act 1982 which protects information
where it is necessary to enable the agency that holds it to carry out commercial activities without
prejudice or disadvantage.
As per our response on 29 August 2025 and our email on 15 August 2025, your request for
information is more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of Health. Because of this,
part of your request was transferred to the Ministry of Health to respond to. Your current request
for information regarding “
whether ESR/PHF Science ever produced, held, or reviewed any smart-
meter-specific measurements or health assessments for MoH” is similarly more closely
connected to the functions of the Ministry of Health who would have responded accordingly in the
previous transfer.
I can also confirm that reasonable searches were conducted for correspondence with MOH, MBIE
and Worksafe and that no further emails have been found. ESR acquired NRL from the MOH in
December 2011 therefore the MOH has overall responsibility of any information prior to this date.
With regards to your request for further comments, drafts or follow ups to the Electricity Authority
beyond the two emails previously provided, PHF Science have been unable to find any further
correspondence.
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 a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
John McCarthy
Group Leader Health Surveillance
