Follow-up re OIA 25 0019 / 25 0027 – Record Retention & Cross-Agency Consistency
SPENCER JONES made this Official Information request to Electricity Authority
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From: SPENCER JONES
Kia ora Electricity Authority OIA Team,
I am writing to follow up on the Electricity Authority’s responses under OIA 25 0019 and OIA 25 0027, which relied primarily on s18(e) (“information does not exist”) and s18(f) (“substantial collation”) in relation to smart-meter safety assessments, health complaints, and incident records.
Since your response, I have obtained WorkSafe New Zealand’s Disposal Authority DA626, confirmed by Archives New Zealand as the operative authority governing Energy Safety inspections, investigations, and summary records, and extended in June 2025.
DA626 confirms that summary-level records, datasets, registers, and aggregated reporting outputs are retained for Energy Safety activity, including audits, inspections, investigations, and compliance monitoring.
In light of this, I request the Electricity Authority to clarify the following:
1. Reconciliation with WorkSafe DA626 Retention
Please explain how the Authority’s position that no relevant records exist is reconciled with the fact that WorkSafe is required to retain summary records under DA626 for:
• inspections and audits (DA626 Class 6); and
• investigations and safety incidents (DA626 Class 7),
where advanced electricity meters (smart meters) are involved.
2. Confirmation of EA Search Scope
Please confirm:
• whether the Authority sought or received any summary-level information from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors that would fall within DA626-retained classes; and
• if not, whether the Authority considers such material outside its regulatory consideration under the Electricity Industry Participation Code (including Clause 11.27).
3. 2012 ESR / EA Correspondence
Please also confirm whether:
• the Authority still holds copies of the 2012 ESR–EA correspondence on smart-meter RF exposure and FAQ content (released by PHF Science); and
• if not, under what record-disposal authority those records were destroyed.
This follow-up is made to ensure consistency of record-keeping positions across regulators and to clarify the factual basis for the Authority’s reliance on s18(e) and s18(f).
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
From: OIA
Electricity Authority
Kia ora Spencer,
Thank you for your request of 22 December 2025, under the Official
Information Act 1982, for the following information:
Since your response, I have obtained WorkSafe New Zealand’s Disposal
Authority DA626, confirmed by Archives New Zealand as the operative
authority governing Energy Safety inspections, investigations, and summary
records, and extended in June 2025.
DA626 confirms that summary-level records, datasets, registers, and
aggregated reporting outputs are retained for Energy Safety activity,
including audits, inspections, investigations, and compliance monitoring.
In light of this, I request the Electricity Authority to clarify the
following:
1. Reconciliation with WorkSafe DA626 Retention
Please explain how the Authority’s position that no relevant records exist
is reconciled with the fact that WorkSafe is required to retain summary
records under DA626 for:
• inspections and audits (DA626 Class 6); and
• investigations and safety incidents (DA626 Class 7),
where advanced electricity meters (smart meters) are involved.
2. Confirmation of EA Search Scope
Please confirm:
• whether the Authority sought or received any summary-level
information from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors that would
fall within DA626-retained classes; and
• if not, whether the Authority considers such material
outside its regulatory consideration under the Electricity Industry
Participation Code (including Clause 11.27).
3. 2012 ESR / EA Correspondence
Please also confirm whether:
• the Authority still holds copies of the 2012 ESR–EA
correspondence on smart-meter RF exposure and FAQ content (released by PHF
Science); and
• if not, under what record-disposal authority those records
were destroyed.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 11 February 2026, being 20 working days after the
day your request was received.
The response date shown takes into account:
1. Summer holidays (25 December to 15 January)
2. Waitangi Day (6 February 2026)
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me by emailing
[1][Electricity Authority request email].
Ngâ mihi nui,
Alex Shearer (she/her)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Ngâ mihi nui,
Alex Shearer (she/her)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Level 7, AON Centre, 1 Willis Street
PO Box 10041, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
www.ea.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: OIA
Electricity Authority
Kia ora Spencer
I refer to your official information request dated 22 December 2025 for:
Since your response, I have obtained WorkSafe New Zealand’s Disposal
Authority DA626, confirmed by Archives New Zealand as the operative
authority governing Energy Safety inspections, investigations, and summary
records, and extended in June 2025.
DA626 confirms that summary-level records, datasets, registers, and
aggregated reporting outputs are retained for Energy Safety activity,
including audits, inspections, investigations, and compliance monitoring.
In light of this, I request the Electricity Authority to clarify the
following:
1. Reconciliation with WorkSafe DA626 Retention
Please explain how the Authority’s position that no relevant records exist
is reconciled with the fact that WorkSafe is required to retain summary
records under DA626 for:
• inspections and audits (DA626 Class 6); and
• investigations and safety incidents (DA626 Class 7),
where advanced electricity meters (smart meters) are involved.
2. Confirmation of EA Search Scope
Please confirm:
• whether the Authority sought or received any summary-level
information from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors that would
fall within DA626-retained classes; and
• if not, whether the Authority considers such material
outside its regulatory consideration under the Electricity Industry
Participation Code (including Clause 11.27).
3. 2012 ESR / EA Correspondence
Please also confirm whether:
• the Authority still holds copies of the 2012 ESR–EA
correspondence on smart-meter RF exposure and FAQ content (released by PHF
Science); and
• if not, under what record-disposal authority those records
were destroyed.
The OIA requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
decision, to 27 February 2026.
This extension is necessary because your request necessitates a search
through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time
limit would unreasonably interfere with our operations.
We also seek to understand what you are looking for in part two of your
request more clearly, in order to provide you with the most useful
response:
2. Confirmation of EA Search Scope
Please confirm:
• whether the Authority sought or received any summary-level
information from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors that would
fall within DA626-retained classes; and
• if not, whether the Authority considers such material
outside its regulatory consideration under the Electricity Industry
Participation Code (including Clause 11.27).
Could you please clarify what you mean by the above part of your request?
Are you looking for information we may hold in respect of any
investigation WorkSafe might have done? Or are you looking for any summary
level information we may hold from the listed agencies in relation to
smart-meters?
Could you please respond with clarification by COP 18 February?
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
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact me by reply.
Ngâ mihi nui,
Alex Shearer ([2]she/her)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
[3][IMG]
Level 7, AON Centre, 1 Willis Street
PO Box 10041, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
[4]www.ea.govt.nz
From: OIA <[Electricity Authority request email]>
Sent: Monday, 12 January 2026 3:35 pm
To: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #33368 email]>
Cc: OIA <[Electricity Authority request email]>
Subject: RE: [External] Official Information request - Follow-up re OIA 25
0019 / 25 0027 – Record Retention & Cross-Agency Consistency
Kia ora Spencer,
Thank you for your request of 22 December 2025, under the Official
Information Act 1982, for the following information:
Since your response, I have obtained WorkSafe New Zealand’s Disposal
Authority DA626, confirmed by Archives New Zealand as the operative
authority governing Energy Safety inspections, investigations, and summary
records, and extended in June 2025.
DA626 confirms that summary-level records, datasets, registers, and
aggregated reporting outputs are retained for Energy Safety activity,
including audits, inspections, investigations, and compliance monitoring.
In light of this, I request the Electricity Authority to clarify the
following:
1. Reconciliation with WorkSafe DA626 Retention
Please explain how the Authority’s position that no relevant records exist
is reconciled with the fact that WorkSafe is required to retain summary
records under DA626 for:
• inspections and audits (DA626 Class 6); and
• investigations and safety incidents (DA626 Class 7),
where advanced electricity meters (smart meters) are involved.
2. Confirmation of EA Search Scope
Please confirm:
• whether the Authority sought or received any summary-level
information from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors that would
fall within DA626-retained classes; and
• if not, whether the Authority considers such material
outside its regulatory consideration under the Electricity Industry
Participation Code (including Clause 11.27).
3. 2012 ESR / EA Correspondence
Please also confirm whether:
• the Authority still holds copies of the 2012 ESR–EA
correspondence on smart-meter RF exposure and FAQ content (released by PHF
Science); and
• if not, under what record-disposal authority those records
were destroyed.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 11 February 2026, being 20 working days after the
day your request was received.
The response date shown takes into account:
1. Summer holidays (25 December to 15 January)
2. Waitangi Day (6 February 2026)
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me by emailing
[5][Electricity Authority request email].
Ngâ mihi nui,
Alex Shearer (she/her)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Ngâ mihi nui,
Alex Shearer (she/her)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Level 7, AON Centre, 1 Willis Street
PO Box 10041, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
[6]www.ea.govt.nz
show quoted sections
SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()
Public annotation – extension and clarification request
The Electricity Authority has issued a formal extension under section 15A of the Official Information Act, extending the deadline for a decision on this request to 27 February 2026. The Authority states that responding requires searching through a large quantity of information and that meeting the original timeframe would unreasonably interfere with operations.
In addition, the Authority has sought clarification regarding Part 2 of the request (confirmation of EA search scope and whether summary-level information from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors was sought or considered under the Electricity Industry Participation Code).
No refusal has been issued at this stage. Parts 1 and 3 of the request remain unaffected by the clarification query. A substantive decision is now awaited by the revised due date.
From: SPENCER JONES
Dear OIA,
Subject: Clarification – Part 2 (Search Scope Confirmation)
Kia ora Alex,
Thank you for your email.
In relation to Part 2, I am referring to both of the following:
Whether the Authority holds any summary-level information in its possession (whether originating from WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, distributors, or otherwise) relating to inspections, audits, investigations, or safety incidents involving advanced electricity meters (smart meters), including any aggregated reporting outputs or datasets; and
Whether the Authority considers such summary-level material to fall within, or outside, its regulatory consideration under the Electricity Industry Participation Code (including Clause 11.27), regardless of whether the Authority itself conducted the underlying investigation.
This clarification does not expand the scope of the request. It simply confirms that I am seeking confirmation of what information the Authority holds (if any), and how such material is treated from a regulatory consideration perspective.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
From: OIA
Electricity Authority
Kia ora,
Thank you for your email.
If you are making a request under the Official Information Act 1982, you
can expect to receive an official acknowledgement email within 5 working
days. This is an automated email and not an official acknowledgement. If
you do not hear from us within 5 working days, please contact us by
calling +64 4 460 8860.
If this is a general enquiry, please email [email address].
Ngā mihi,
Electricity Authority
Te Mana Hiko
Level 7, AON Centre, 1 Willis Street
PO Box 10041, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
[1]www.ea.govt.nz
"The information contained in this transmission is confidential. It is
intended for the named addressee only. If you are not the named addressee
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References
Visible links
1. http://www.ea.govt.nz/
From: OIA
Electricity Authority
Kia ora Spencer
Thank you for confirming you are seeking summary-level information rather than records of Worksafe investigations. The question we asked was not intended to extend the scope of your original request which remains limited to the entities you listed (WorkSafe, MBIE Energy Safety, or distributors) and information that falls within DA626-retained classes.
To the extent you are seeking further information by adding 'or otherwise' to the list of entities, or by seeking information relating 'to any inspections, audits, investigations, or safety incidents involving advanced electricity meters (smart meters)' that is not related to information not related to the DA626-retained classes, this is a new OIA request.
We would like to provide you with reasonable assistance, but in order to do so, we need you to narrow the scope of your request further. As it stands, this part of your request is very broad and would require substantial manual collation and research to find and collate information in scope of this request.
Could you please refine your request to identify the specific additional entities you are referring to when you state 'or otherwise'? We also ask that you more clearly identify what is meant by ‘inspections, audits or investigations involving advanced electricity meters', and that you add a specific timeframe to this part of your request.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Ngā mihi nui,
Alex Shearer (she/her)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Level 7, AON Centre, 1 Willis Street
PO Box 10041, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
http://www.ea.govt.nz/
show quoted sections
From: OIA
Electricity Authority
Kia ora Spencer
Please see attached
Ngâ mihi nui,
On behalf of the Senior Ministerial Advisor
show quoted sections
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SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()
Public annotation:
The agency has acknowledged this follow-up request concerning record-retention practices and cross-agency consistency arising from earlier OIAs. No substantive response has yet been provided. A response is awaited within the statutory timeframe.
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