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
-----Original Message-----
From: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #33368 email]>
Sent: Monday, 22 December 2025 9:41 pm
To: OIA <[Electricity Authority request email]>
Subject: [External] Official Information request - Follow-up re OIA 25
0019 / 25 0027 – Record Retention & Cross-Agency Consistency
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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
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