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Executive Summary

In this document the Ministry for the Environment proposes for consultation new national environmental standards for radio-frequency fields and low-impact telecommunications facilities in the road reserve.1

A national environmental standard is a legally enforceable regulation. The exact wording of any standards will be legally drafted after government decision following this consultation. In essence, the proposed standards will say that:

  • an activity (such as a mobile phone transmitter) that emits radio-frequency fields will be a permitted activity provided it complies with the existing New Zealand Standard2

  • the installation of telecommunications equipment cabinets alongside roads or in the road reserve will be a permitted activity, subject to specified limitations on their size and location

  • noise emitting from telecommunications equipment cabinets located alongside roads or in the road reserve will be a permitted activity, subject to specified noise limits

  • the installation of masts and antennas alongside roads or in the road reserve will be a permitted activity, subject to specified limitations to height and size.

This discussion document provides more detail on the proposed standards to help people prepare formal submissions. Any person can make a submission on the proposed standards. Submissions must be received by the Ministry for the Environment no later than 5.00 pm on
10 August 2007
. Further details on making a submission are included in section 6.


1 Please see the Glossary for definitions of 'road reserve' and other technical terms.

2 NZS2772.1: 1999. Radio-frequency Fields Part 1: Maximum Exposure Levels 3 kHz – 300 GHz.


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