133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
29 March 2022
Jody Muntz
By email:
[FYI request #18729 email]
Ref:
H202203394
Dear Jody
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) for information
about safety data and 5G.
On 1 March 2022, your request was transferred from the Office of Minister of Health, Hon
Andrew Little to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) for response. Please find a response to
each part of your request below.
Can you provide the current testing safety data for the safety of 4g and safety data from
switching on from 4g to 5g on all living plants, insects, animals and humans for
2021/2022.
4G and 5G, like all other generations of mobile phone technology, allow wireless
communication by using radio waves. The main distinguishing feature is the way that
information is encoded onto the radio wave. Research into the health effects of radio waves has
been carried out for about 70 years. You can find recent summaries of this research on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/our-work/environmental-health/non-ionising-
radiation/research-non-ionising-radiation. There is additional information about cell sites and 5G
available at
: www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/environmental-health/radiation-
environment/cellsites-and-5g. The Ministry does not hold information on the effects of radio
waves on plants, insects and animals.
Current scientific studies of the effects of being surrounded by emfs in the home and cities
and what s safe exposure of ghz standing beside a 5g cell tower and the safety of being
exposed to more than 60ghz.
For current scientific research, please see the previous answer. The Ministry recommends the
application of exposure limits set out in New Zealand standard NZS 2772.1:1999
Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3 kHz to 300 GHz. There is information
about this standard at
: www.health.govt.nz/our-work/environmental-health/non-ionising-
radiation/radiofrequency-field-exposure-standard. An exposure limit of 10 watts per square
meter applies at the frequencies around 3.5 GHz currently being used by 5G cell sites in New
Zealand, and frequencies above 60 GHz.
Do the upgraded street lights in Riverton contain a 5g aerial and components of 5g
networking system which are used to transmit as an antenna for the 5g network, please
provide the safety standard data of the light/5g and what Ghz that they produce?
The Ministry does not hold information about streetlights in Riverton. You may wish to contact
your local council to request this information. However, the Ministry notes that there are no
transmitters in Riverton licensed to operate at the frequencies currently authorised for 5G in
New Zealand.
The Ministry understands many new streetlights are linked by a network of low power radio
transmitters that are completely independent of the 5G network, which allow them to be
controlled remotely, and send reports back to the local council (e.g., lamp failures). However,
you would have to seek information from the Southland District Council to see whether this is
the case with the streetlights in Riverton.
Where are the 5g towers in Riverton and surrounding areas?
The Ministry does not hold this information. However, according to information on the publicly
available Register of Radio Frequencies at
https://rrf.rsm.govt.nz/smart-web/smart/page/-
smart/WelcomePage.wdk maintained by the Radio Spectrum Management service of the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the closest 5G tower to Riverton is in
Wallaceville.
What is a safe 5g radiation exposure/ghz reading for humans daily as to not to cause
cancers and mutations to human body. (current data) 2018-2022 What is a safe 5g
radiation exposure/ghz reading for insects, animals, birds daily as to not kill or cause
cancers and mutations (current data) 2018-2022
As noted above, the recommended exposure limit at the frequencies around 3.5 GHz currently
being used by 5G cellsites in New Zealand is 10 watts per square metre. Also as noted
above, the Ministry does not hold information on the effects of radio waves on insects, birds and
animals.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Deborah Woodley
Deputy Director-General
Population Health and Prevention
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