National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities

In force

The standards provide nationally consistent in the rules relating to the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure across New Zealand. They make it easier to install, operate and upgrade telecommunications infrastructure while managing environmental effects and retaining local controls in sensitive areas.

Official title

Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations 2016, as amended in 2026

Lead agency

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport

Last updated:

Full text

Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations 2016 (as made) (New Zealand Legislation website)

In force from

1 January 2017

Amended regulations in force from 8 October 2026

Updates

The Government amended the NES-TF in 2026 to update technical standards and enable a wider range of telecommunications activities. The changes support modern technology, infrastructure sharing, rural connectivity and network resilience.  

See RMA National Direction updates.

See the NZ Gazette notice for the NES-ETA.

Read the recommendations and decisions report for telecommunication facilities.

See the Regulatory Impact Statement for the NES-TF.

 

Why they are needed

The NES-TF 2008 provided a national planning framework that allowed network operators to install some low-impact telecommunications infrastructure in road reserves without applying for resource consent, provided specified conditions were met. 

A 2013 review of the NES-TF 2008 by the Ministry for the Environment found that, while it was largely meeting its objectives, it was becoming out of date in the rapidly developing telecommunications landscape. The NES-TF 2016 replaced the 2008 standards and widened the range of low-impact infrastructure covered. 

Substantial amendments were made in 2026 to keep standards aligned with current technology, increasing building heights, infrastructure sharing needs, and the growing role of temporary facilities and renewable power at rural sites. More consistent local plan rules will also help reduce costs, delays and uncertainty for network deployment. 

What they do

The NESTF 2016 provides national consistency in the rules surrounding the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure across New Zealand while ensuring the effects on the environment are minimised and managed appropriately.

The NESTF 2016 provides rules for the following activities:

  • cabinets in the road reserve, outside the road reserve and on buildings
  • antennas on existing poles in the road reserve
  • antennas on new poles in the road reserve
  • replacement, upgrading and co-location of existing poles and antennas outside road reserve (with different conditions in residential and non-residential areas)
  • new poles and antennas in rural areas
  • antennas on buildings (above a permitted height in residential areas)
  • small-cell units on existing structures
  • telecommunications lines (underground, on the ground and overhead).

Guidance

Changes to National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 

Factsheet summarising amendments made to the NES-TF in September 2026 

See Updating National Direction: Changes to National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities 

NES-TF user’s guide 

The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), with support from the Ministry for the Environment and the NES-TF technical advisory group, developed a users’ guide to help councils and the telecommunications industry understand and implement the NES-TF. 

The users’ guide (PDF, 3.1MB) was published in August 2018 following feedback on a draft users’ guide in 2017.

Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations 2016: Users’ guide.

This guide does not include the 2026 changes to the NES-TF. An updated user’s guide will be published soon. 

What you need to refer to

Material incorporated by reference 

The Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations 2016 incorporate the following material by reference: 

  • AS/NZS 2772.2:2016 Radiofrequency fields – Part 2: Principles and methods of measurement and computation – 3 kHz to 300 GHz 
  • NZS 2772.1:1999 Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3 kHz to 300 GHz 
  • NZS 6801:2008 Acoustics – Measurement of environmental sound 
  • NZS 6802:2008 Acoustics – Environmental noise. 
  • NZS 6808:2010 Acoustics - Wind farm  

All material incorporated by reference is available for inspection free of charge on weekdays between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm at the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport at 8 Willis Street, Wellington. 

To make an appointment to inspect the incorporated material, contact the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport: 

Email: enquiries@mcert.govt.nz 

Photocopying of incorporated material will not be permitted.

Purchase of Material

Material may be purchased directly from:

Standards New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011.

Freephone: 0800 782 632 (New Zealand)

Phone: +64 3 943 4259

Email: enquiries@standards.govt.nz

Copies of the regulations and related documents are available at National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication Facilities [New Zealand legislation website].

Find out more

To find out more about the NESTF contact info@mfe.govt.nz