Independent cellsite monitoring

Spark and One NZ have commissioned independent monitoring of exposures to radiofrequency fields around their cellsites.


About monitoring

Spark and One NZ are not informed when the monitoring will take place. They generally have no say in the sites selected for monitoring.

The purpose of the tests is to evaluate exposures to radiofrequency fields near cellsites. This is to determine:

  • the maximum exposure at the time the measurements were made
  • the maximum possible exposure should all the equipment at the site (and any other transmitters nearby) operate at full power.

Exposures are compared against the appropriate limits in New Zealand Standard 2772.1:1999 Radiofrequency Fields Part 1: Maximum exposure levels 3 kHz – 300 GHz.

NZS 2772.1:1999 — Standards New Zealandexternal link

This is required by the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities) Regulations 2016.

National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities — Ministry for the Environmentexternal link

These reports are provided on this website to complement the other material on cellsites.

For more information:

Our infrastructure — One NZexternal link

Help and support — Sparkexternal link


How measurements are taken

Measurements are normally taken in public areas around a site, such as on footpaths and parks. They are not usually taken on private property or in the middle of roads.

The focus is on obtaining an overview of how exposures vary around a site. Special attention is paid to the areas where exposures are expected to be highest.

The measurements are made with high quality instruments with a current calibration. They follow procedures recommended in relevant standards.


Summary reports

These summary reports:

  • describe how the measurements were made
  • summarise the results for each year
  • list the sites tested and the measurement results.

Compliance monitoring of Spark cellsitesexternal link

Monitoring of One NZ cellsitesexternal link