Glossary

Noise as defined in the RMA includes vibration, which in most cases is associated with high levels of noise. In environmental assessments it is usually the noise effects that are of most concern. However, specific vibration effects can arise from some types of commercial activities, and these may require specialist investigation outside the scope of this guidance note. The effects of environmental noise are usually expressed in terms of:

• annoyance

• speech interference – high levels of noise can make normal speech difficult to hear

• performance – some noises can make concentration difficult and interfere with tasks such as learning, checking fine details (such as any job with a large mathematical component or where the meaning of words is critical), or work where small, precise, movements or intense concentration is required

• mental health (including noise-induced stress-related effects)

• sleep disturbance – in addition to fatigue and mental health effects, disrupted sleep patterns can leave people irritable, change their behaviour, and reduce their ability to work or perform tasks.

(Source: Ministry for the Environment, 2005)

Radio-frequency fields: any frequency used for radio transmissions, normally 0.1MHz to 300,000 MHz. Radio signals are composed of linked electric and magnetic fields, which travel away from the transmitter as an electromagnetic wave. The electric and magnetic fields can be referred to as radio-frequency fields, and the energy they carry as radio-frequency radiation. (Source: Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Health, 2000)

Road reserve and road corridor: 'road corridor' refers to all roads defined under section 315 of the Local Government Act 1974 (which still has effect under the Local Government Act 2002), and under section 43 of the Transit Act 1989. It means all land between the legal boundaries, customarily referred to as 'road reserve', and typically includes the carriageway, footpaths and other accessways, berms and other unpaved areas. Where roads have not been formed, it also refers to so-called 'paper roads'. It includes all roads for which the road-controlling authority (either Transit New Zealand for state highways or the territorial local authority for all other roads) is responsible for management, maintenance and development. The term 'road corridor' is used to emphasise that not only is it the entire area of land within the road reserve that must be considered, but also that this land represents a corridor or conduit, for vehicles, people, services and facilities. (Source: Network utilities within the road corridor – the role of the Resource Management Act – A guide to best practice (New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group, 2004)

Telecommunications equipment cabinet: an equipment casing, usually set on a concrete foundation plinth, that may contain telecommunications equipment, batteries, line terminals, and cooling systems such as heat exchangers and fans, and other such devices and equipment that are required to operate a telecommunications network. (Source: Telecommunications Industry Reference Group, 2006)

Telecommunications masts and antennas: an antenna is any device that receives or transmits radio-communication or telecommunication signals. A mast is any pole, tower or similar structure designed to support antennas to facilitate telecommunications, radio communications and broadcasting. (Source: Telecommunications Industry Reference Group, 2006)