Smart meter public health risk, advice and complaint records
SPENCER JONES made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Health should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: SPENCER JONES
To: Ministry of Health (Te Whatu Ora / Public Health Unit)
Kia ora,
Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I hereby request the following information concerning electrical smart meter installations and associated public health concerns in New Zealand:
1. All internal briefing papers, memoranda, or advice provided to Ministers or executives between 2010–2025 referring to health risk assessments for smart meter electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, especially non‑thermal chronic exposure concerns.
2. Any public‑health complaint logs or correspondence received by MoH relating to individual cases of illness or symptoms allegedly linked to smart meter installations—specifying whether information is held in an incident tracking system.
3. Copies of any commissioned or circulated biomedical or epidemiological reviews or assessments regarding non‑thermal EMF effects from smart meters, including submissions by or referencing New Zealand researchers or international sources such as Don Maisch or ARPANSA.
4. Any recommendations or policy notes proposing adoption, review or deviation from exposure limits in NZS 2772.1:1999, ARPANSA, or ICNIRP guidelines.
Please provide documents, emails, or attachments in redacted or unredacted form, with timestamps and author details in the metadata.
I prefer electronic delivery and anticipate your response within the statutory 20 working‑day timeframe. Should this request be transferred to another agency, kindly advise me of the new contact promptly.
Kind regards ,
Spencer Jones
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 2 August 2025. You requested:
1. All internal briefing papers, memoranda, or advice provided to
Ministers or executives between 2010–2025 referring to health risk
assessments for smart meter electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure,
especially non‑thermal chronic exposure concerns.
2. Any public‑health complaint logs or correspondence received
by MoH relating to individual cases of illness or symptoms allegedly
linked to smart meter installations—specifying whether information is held
in an incident tracking system.
3. Copies of any commissioned or circulated biomedical or
epidemiological reviews or assessments regarding non‑thermal EMF effects
from smart meters, including submissions by or referencing New Zealand
researchers or international sources such as Don Maisch or ARPANSA.
4. Any recommendations or policy notes proposing adoption,
review or deviation from exposure limits in NZS 2772.1:1999, ARPANSA, or
ICNIRP guidelines.
The reference number for your request is H2025070888. 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
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Spencer,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 2 August
2025 for:
1. All internal briefing papers, memoranda, or advice provided to
Ministers or executives between 2010–2025 referring to health risk
assessments for smart meter electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure,
especially non‑thermal chronic exposure concerns.
2. Any public‑health complaint logs or correspondence received by MoH
relating to individual cases of illness or symptoms allegedly linked to
smart meter installations—specifying whether information is held in an
incident tracking system.
3. Copies of any commissioned or circulated biomedical or
epidemiological reviews or assessments regarding non‑thermal EMF effects
from smart meters, including submissions by or referencing New Zealand
researchers or international sources such as Don Maisch or ARPANSA.
4. Any recommendations or policy notes proposing adoption, review or
deviation from exposure limits in NZS 2772.1:1999, ARPANSA, or ICNIRP
guidelines.
The Ministry has decided to extend the period of time available to respond
to your request under section 15A of the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act) the 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.
You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 12 September
2025
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Spencer,
Please find attached the response for your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
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- Download a zip file of all correspondence (note: this contains the same information already available above).
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Athina Andonatou left an annotation ()
Eagerly watching. Let's see what word salad or clauses get thrown your way. Or the even worse reply - this information does not exist.
Link to this