
Docusign Envelope ID: 8799C7AF-1BD4-4152-99B8-2163A99EAC0B
New Zealand Institute
for Public Health and
Forensic Science
1 April 2026
By email: [FYI request #33832 email]
Dear Spencer,
Official Information Request Scientific Advice or Reviews Concerning Smart Meter RF
Exposure
I refer to your official information request received by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health
and Forensic Science Limited (‘PHF Science’) dated 24 February 2026 for the following
information:
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982.
I seek records relating to any scientific advice, reviews, or assessments undertaken or provided
by ESR concerning radiofrequency (RF) exposure from electricity smart meters (Advanced
Metering Infrastructure – AMI).
Specifically, please provide:
1. Contracted or Advisory Work (since 1 January 2015)
Any:
Contracted research;
Scientific reviews;
Technical reports;
Advisory memoranda;
Risk assessments;
prepared for or provided to any government agency concerning RF exposure from smart
meters.
2. Standards and Methodology Review
Any documentation analysing or advising on:
NZS 2772.1:1999;
ICNIRP guidelines;
Time-averaging methodology;
Exposure measurement approaches specific to AMI technology.
3. Inter-Agency Scientific Advice
Any communications between ESR and:
Ministry of Health;
Health NZ;
Electricity Authority;
MBIE;
WorkSafe;
where RF exposure from smart meters was discussed.
4. Absence Confirmation
New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science Limited
Kenepuru Science Centre: 34 Kenepuru Drive, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022 | PO Box 50348, Porirua 5240, New Zealand
www.phfscience.nz T: +64 4 914 0700

Docusign Envelope ID: 8799C7AF-1BD4-4152-99B8-2163A99EAC0B
If no such records exist, please confirm that ESR holds no:
Reviews;
Advisory papers;
Internal analyses;
Commissioned reports;
relating to smart meter RF exposure.
For clarity:
I do not seek speculative or new scientific analysis.
I seek documentary records already created or relied upon.
If this request requires refinement, I am willing to narrow it under section 13.
If any material is withheld under section 9, please identify the subsection relied upon and
provide the public interest balancing assessment under section 9(1).
If held electronically, I request electronic copies.”
On 6 March 2026, questions 1, 2 and 4 of the request were transferred to the Ministry of Health for
response as these parts of your request are more closely connected with the functions of the
Ministry of Health.
On 24 March 2026, PHF Science notified you via email that the deadline to respond to your OIA
request had been extended to 7 April 2026.
Our Response
In response to your request for any communications between ESR and the above-named
organisations, PHF Science (formerly ESR) holds no additional communications beyond those
provided to you in its 29 August 2025 response to your Official Information Act request of 2 August
2025.
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.
Yours sincerely,
Kirsten Beynon
General Manager Health Security