27 February 2026
Spencer Jones
By email:
[FYI request #33368 email] Tēnā koe Spencer
Your request
Thank you for your request, received on 22 December 2025, under the Official Information Act
1982 (Act) for the following information:
•
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.
•
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).
•
2012 ESR / EA Correspondence
Please also confirm whether:
the Authority stil 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.
Our response
For sake of clarity, the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) wil respond to each part of
your request in turn.
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.
In response to your request OIA-25-0019 received 2 August 2025, the Authority refused your
request as it related to information provided to the Authority by WorkSafe because this information
does not exist within the meaning of section 18(1)(e) of the Act.
IN-CONFIDENCE - COMMERCIAL
DA626 is an organisation disposal authority specific to WorkSafe. DA626 does not apply to the
Authority and imposes no obligations on the Authority in respect of the retention or disposal of
WorkSafe’s records.
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).
On 11 February 2026, we contacted you to ask you to clarify this part of your request. Your
response significantly expanded the scope of the request, and we responded advising you that
without further clarification or refinement this would be treated as a new request under the Act.
As we have not received a response from you to date, we wil be treating this part of your request
as a new OIA request, due to the expanded scope. We wil endeavour to respond to your request
as soon as possible and in any event no later than 11 March 2026, being 20 working days after the
day your request was received.
We wil be in further contact with you to attempt to refine the scope of this request to a manageable
level.
2012 ESR / EA Correspondence
Please also confirm whether:
the Authority stil 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.
As stated in our response to your request OIA-25-0042, the Authority confirms we hold copies of
the 2012 email exchanges referenced in your request.
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.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Electricity Authority may
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. Al personal data, including your name
and contact details, wil be removed before publication.
If you’d like to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact us by emailing
[Electricity Authority request email].
Nāku noa, nā,
Airihi Mahuika
GM Legal, Monitoring and Compliance
IN-CONFIDENCE - COMMERCIAL
