Executive Summary

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.