27 February 2026
Spencer Jones
[FYI request #33836 email]
Ref: OIA-2025/26-0534
Tēnā koe Spencer,
Official Information Act request: Radiofrequency exposure from Smart Meters
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act (the Act), received on 24
February 2026. You requested:
“
Any Cabinet minute, Cabinet paper, Cabinet Office circular, Ministerial direction, or
machinery-of-government decision that assigns responsibility for oversight of
radiofrequency (RF) exposure from Advanced Metering Infrastructure (smart meters).
Any documentation identifying a lead agency responsible for:
•
Oversight of RF exposure standards as they relate to smart meters;
•
Cross-agency coordination regarding smart meter RF concerns;
•
Periodic reassessment of NZS 2772.1:1999 in light of AMI deployment.
If no such allocation instrument or executive assignment exists, please confirm that no
explicit allocation document is held.
I am seeking confirmation of formal allocation of responsibility, not scientific
assessment material.”
The Cabinet Office is a business unit within DPMC, which means we hold all Cabinet papers,
Cabinet Committee papers, and Cabinet minutes. However, as the relevant portfolio Minister
or, in the case of material from previous administration, the relevant agency, are best placed
to assess their own information for release under the Act, DPMC transfers requests for
Cabinet material under section 14(b)(i ) of the Act on the basis that the information being
requested is more closely connected to the Minister’s or agency’s functions. This is also set
out in para 8.5 of the Cabinet Manual, which can be found on DPMC's website at:
www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-
manual.
I believe the information you have requested, including any Cabinet material, is more closely
connected with the functions of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, I have decided to transfer
your request to the Ministry of Health under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act.
The Ministry of Health has the usual timeframes under the Act from receipt of this transfer to
make a decision on your request.
Nāku noa, nā
Jenna Hansen
Manager, Accountability and Ministerial Services
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
5143575
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz