16 January 2025
Ref: DOIA-REQ-0025525
Spencer Jones
Email:
[FYI request #33288 email]
Tēnā koe Spencer Jones
Thank you for your email of 16 December 2025 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982 and/or the Privacy Act 2020, I request the following
information:
All safety evaluations, health risk assessments, and regulatory reviews of smart meters used in
New Zealand from 2020–2025, including models manufactured or installed by Intellihub, Mercury
NZ Ltd, or Enlinea Ltd. Include correspondence with the Electricity Authority or Te Whatu Ora on
electromagnetic field (EMF) safety or RF compliance.
Context:
Despite evidence of EMF-related complaints, government messaging continues to assert that
smart meters pose no health risk. However, consumer care guidelines indicate allowances for
health accommodations, and the legal responsibility to manage health risks remains unclear
across agencies.
This request relates to and references my Utilities Disputes complaint:
UDL Ref: 173878 – Complaint against Mercury NZ Ltd
Please provide this information in electronic format via return email. I confirm I am a New Zealand
citizen and eligible to request this information under section 12 of the OIA.
I note you have specified information as held by MBIE relating to electromagnetic fields and smart meters
previously, in DOIA-REQ-0021695, which captured information from 2010 and 2025. In so far as your
request specifies safety evaluations, health risk assessments and regulatory reviews, while we believe this
would have been captured by your previous request, we have conducted additional searches and have not
identified documents relevant to your request. As such I am refusing your request under section 18(e) of
the Act, as the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite
reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
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 this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Peter Bartlett
Director, Innovation and International Energy Markets