Stop Smart Meters NZ is pleased to report that for people in NZ who are concerned about the potential health effects from the EMR produced by smart meters, various options exist to stop the smart meter producing pulses of radiofrequency (microwave) radiation. These include removal or disconnection of the smart meter’s modem (also known as a comms package or chip) OR removal of the entire smart meter and its replacement with a non smart meter.
The link that discusses the pros and cons
of these option is below:
Not all electricity retailers will
facilitate modem removal/disconnection or smart meter removal but thanks to every
person in NZ who has refused to accept being blasted by pulses of radiation
from a smart meter, there is now a choice of retailers that welcome customers
who don’t want smart meters.
Dr. Maisch’s lecture is important for many reasons but not least because it puts smart meters into the context of the “Internet of Things” (or IoT) which the telecommunications companies are now touting as the latest greatest innovation (along with 5G). You can read an introduction to the “Internet of Things” at the link below: http://www.5g.org.nz/2018/06/03/what-is-the-iot-and-what-is-its-connection-with-5g/
New blog covers wireless and health issues,
among other topics
If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up for email updates at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
NB: If you wish to report a smart meter related problem (for example
new symptoms after a smart meter installation or a fire or bullying
behaviour on the part of a smart meter installer or staff in any
electricity company etc. etc,) you may do this through the contact form
at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
All correspondence is treated in confidence and information received
is not posted on this website unless permission is given for this to be
done.
A new blog called Spirit Strength covers covers wireless technology and health issues – as well as including writing that considers philosophical issues relating to being human in an age that is increasingly dominated by digital technologies.
Most of the posts on Spirit Strength are short and therefore ideal for busy people. They are also a very useful resources for sharing with people who are new to wireless and health issues who need to become aware of risks of wireless technology for their own sake as well as that of their children….
The blog has an RSS feed to which you can sign up so you are notified when new posts are available to read.
Thank you for visiting www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up for email updates at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
NB: If you wish to report a smart meter related problem (for example
new symptoms after a smart meter installation or a fire or bullying
behaviour on the part of a smart meter installer or staff in any
electricity company etc. etc,) you may do this through the contact form
at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
All correspondence is treated in confidence and information received
is not posted on this website unless permission is given for this to be
done.
Just a note to let readers know that there is now a dedicated NZ 5G website for New Zealand which is www.5G.org.nz. (The introductory link is http://www.5g.org.nz/welcome/ )
The site has a Resources page so that anyone who wants to put flyers in letter boxes etc. has some ready-to-print PDF files,
There is a contact form on 5G website so that anyone who would like to help with the site (such as by working as a volunteer to translate information into other languages or helping with graphic design etc.) can contact the organisers.
If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up for email updates at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
NB: If you wish to report a smart meter related problem (for example
new symptoms after a smart meter installation or a fire or bullying
behaviour on the part of a smart meter installer or staff in any
electricity company etc. etc,) you may do this through the contact form
at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
All correspondence is treated in confidence and information received
is not posted on this website unless permission is given for this to be
done.
Radio Spectrum Management NZ (a unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment or MBIE) recently posted a discussion document about the planned introduction of 5G on its website and invited submissions.
Radio Spectrum Management NZ has now posted the submissions that it received on its website.
Overall, submissions covered three main areas: health concerns, the use of radio microphones in the 600MHz band and submissions from companies in the telecommunications industry.
Radio Spectrum Management NZ states on its website that it “will be providing advice to the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media over the coming weeks and months.”
Stop Smart Meters NZ will bring you updates when there is more news available.
NB: Thank you for visiting this website! If you are interested in the smart meter issue or other issues relating to electromagnetic radiation and health, such as the landline phone issue or 5G, please sign up for the email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz.
This link also includes a search facility to allow you to search the website for topics of interest.
The sort of TV that would be the envy of the neighbours.
So why is a lawyer confessing that he is actually “terrified” of his new TV in Salon magazine?
In a few words, his new TV is not just a TV; it is a surveillance device:
According to the article the TV can collect a “staggering” amount of data:
“It logs where, when, how and for how long you use the TV. It sets tracking cookies and beacons designed to detect “when you have viewed particular content or a particular email message.” It records “the apps you use, the websites you visit, and how you interact with content.””
It has no respect for viewers’ privacy:
“It ignores “do-not-track” requests as a considered matter of policy.”
The sort of “smart” TV that has given the lawyer the willies is not just something you watch for your entertainment; the TV also watches you:
“It also has a built-in camera — with facial recognition. The purpose is to provide “gesture control” for the TV and enable you to log in to a personalized account using your face.”
And that’s not all…it listens to you, too:
“More troubling is the microphone. The TV boasts a “voice recognition” feature that allows viewers to control the screen with voice commands. But the service comes with a rather ominous warning: “Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party.” Got that? Don’t say personal or sensitive stuff in front of the TV.”
NB: Thank you for visiting this website! If you are interested in the smart meter issue or other issues relating to electromagnetic radiation and health, such as the landline phone issue, please sign up for the email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz.
This link also includes a search facility to allow you to search the website for topics of interest.
A new website has been launched dedicated to the help save NZ’s copper landline phone network. This reliable and safe phone network is threatened by legislation the “Telecommunications (New Regulatory Framework) Amendment Bill”.
The select committee in charge of the bill the Economic Development, Science and Innovation (EDSI) committee is due to report to Parliament about the bill on May 4.
This link (please click on the image below) of the new website explains the advantages of maintaining the copper landline phone network.
This link features a press release based on an analysis of submissions posted on the Parliamentary website that show that individuals who made submissions on the bill are overwhelmingly in favour or retaining the copper landline network.
NB: Thank you for visiting this website! If you are interested in the smart meter issue or other issues relating to electromagnetic radiation and health, such as the landline phone issue, please sign up for the email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz.
This link also includes a search facility to allow you to search the website for topics of interest.
5G is the highly touted next generation of wireless communications that is designed to give faster download speeds that what is possible with the 4G network currently available in much of NZ.
Unfortunately, moving to a 5G system would entail increased exposure to wireless radiation for most New Zealanders.
In fact, the initial stage of the 5G system proposed for NZ would involve a doubling of cellular phone base stations in urban areas of NZ.
The second stage of a 5G system in NZ would likely be followed by installation of “small cell” units transmitting in the millimetre wave band.
These “small cell” units could be placed every 250 metres in urban areas.
If you think that more wireless radiation in the environment would NOT be a good thing – especially considering that most New Zealanders have acceptable access to the internet via the copper landline system, the new fibre optic networks being progressively rolled out around the country and/or the 4G system – NOW is the time to let the government know.
Radio Spectrum Management of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and it has called for a consultation on 5G in NZ.
(Similar consultations have been taking place in other countries including Australia and the USA.)
The consultation period ends at 5 PM on Monday April 30.
(Apologies for the horribly short notice.)
The consultation discussion document may be downloaded from the link below:
Below you will find a summation of some points of concern in the consultation document. If you are in agreement with one or more of these points of concern please consider taking 5 minutes to write a submission.
Please email your submission to the email address below:
Radio.Spectrum@mbie.govt.nz
Please use the subject line: “Preparing for 5G in NZ”.
Please note that a submission becomes a public document so consider what information you include.
It is best to put your name and address in the body of the email and write your submission with just your name at the top of the page and attach it to the email as a separate document.
There is information below to help you write your own unique submission.
If you decide to make a submission, please email through the contact form at this link https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/ to let Stop Smart Meters NZ know. Thank you.
Key points from the Radio Spectrum NZ discussion document include:
That that existing 4G cellular phone infrastructure is likely to be initially be used as a “control layer” for a planned 5G network and that this is likely to mean a doubling of cellular phone towers in urban areas of NZ.
If a doubling of cell phone towers in your town or city (or your closest town or city) is something that would concern you from a health perspective* this is something that you could mention in a submission.
*For example, because you or someone you know are electrosensitive or because of the research showing increased cancer rates in people living close to cellular infrastructure or another reason.
If you would be concerned about the possible impact on property values in your area if more cellular phone towers are built this could be something that you could mention in a submission.
That frequencies described as “millimetre wave” frequencies are being considered as part of a 5G system for NZ.
According to the link below, these frequencies cannot travel more than 250 metres which means that areas where 5G uses millimetre wave frequencies will need to have millimetre wave transmitters every 250 metres or less.
That a 5G system in NZ could eventually facilitate 1 million internet connections per square kilometre.
If you think that one million internet connections per square kilometre is ludicrous for a country that has only about 4.5 million people and a low population density, I think most people would agree with you.
The huge number of connections could be used to facilitate what has been called the Internet of Things (IoT) in which allows devices to communicate with each other.
If you think that it is foolish to expose New Zealanders to the health risks of additional wireless infrastructure to facilitate appliances such as domestic fridge talking a smart meter, this is something that you could mention in a submission.
That multiple 5G networks are being considered for NZ:
Quoting from the discussion document: “New Zealand has sufficient spectrum available for 5G to support the roll out of at least three national networks. All cellular mobile network operators have indicated their desire to build their own 5G network and compete at the infrastructure level. Given this, there would have to be strong public policy reasons to prevent this occurring.”
If you think that if 5G is instituted in NZ, it would be better for people’s health to have only one 5G network rather than three (if Spark, Vodafone and 2 Degrees all decide to build their own 5G networks) this would be a good thing to mention in a submission.
That one of the frequencies being considered as part of the 5G system (1400MHz) is already being used by the NZ Police, Chorus and the Airways Corporation.
Can you imagine the expense to the taxpayer of having to replace all NZ police personal radios and vehicular radio etc. systems? On the face of it, the proposal to use a frequency needed by NZ Police as part of a 5G system is so idiotic that I am surprised it is included on the discussion document.
That there are no safety standards in NZ for cellular phones!!!
According to the discussion document NZ has NO safety standards for the cellular phones on the market (but allows the importation of any cellular phone that is compliant with any other countries’ regulations) shows a worrying lack of concern for New Zealanders’ health.
It is especially worrying considering the research linking cellular phone use to brain tumours and the fact that according to the documentary Generations Zapped, there was NO pre-market safety testing of cellular phones prior to their introduction to the market.
The Spectrum NZ discussion document does NOT suggest that NZ should do its own pre-market testing of cellular phones that are designed to be compatible with the 5G system.
There are already modems in development that are designed to be used in situations where there is both 4G coverage and millimetre wave coverage.)
Cellular phones that are 4G and 5G compatible would therefore potentially expose users to potentially carcinogenic RFR microwave radiation from the 4G system PLUS millimetre waves.
Based on the short wave length of millimeter waves, the main health concerns at this stage – further research is desirable – appear to be potential adverse effects on the skin and the eyes.
If you think that the NZ government should commission safety testing of 5G compatible modems and smart phones and other devices prior to their being marketed in NZ this would be a good point to make in a submission.
If you think that all the test data for 5G compatible phones data should be published on a publicly accessible website, this would be a good point to make in a submission.
That Radio Spectrum Management is “seeking feedback on whether industry considers 5G antenna will comply with the NESTF.”
The NESTF is the “National Environnental Standard for Telecommunications Facilities”.
Under this standard the allowable emissions limit for 5G infrastructure using millimetre waves (or any frequency in excess of 2 GHz to 300 GHz) is 10 million microwatts per square metre (10 w/m2).
New Zealand’s standard for devices that produce RFR in the microwave range is already one of the poorest in the world. In NZ the legal limit for exposures to this type of radiation under NZS2772.1:1999 is much higher than in many other countries. (For example, in China, Italy, Russia and Swtizerland, the limit is 10 times lower at 1 w/m2. )
NZ has high legal exposure levels despite the fact that RFR in the microwave range is classified as a possible carcinogen (type 2B) by the World’ Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and despite the fact that NZ has a high cancer rate.
If NZ’s already lax limits for exposure to RFR in the microwave range are revised upwards because the system proposed for 5G would be likely to exceed the current limit, this could have negative impacts on human health.
If you would oppose any increase to the allowable public exposure limit for RFR in the microwave range this would be a good point to include in a submission.
What is your overall attitude to 5G?
It may be worth adding to a submission what is your overall attitude to 5G…
For example:
Do you think that 5G is simply unnecessary because internet access in NZ is already acceptable in most ares?
Do you think that NZ should wait to see what health impacts 5G infrastructure and 5G compatible devices may have in other countries where this technology is adopted prior to rushing into adopting what is essential a technology of (at this stage) unproven safety?
Do you think that the cost (to individuals, families and society) of loss of productivity due to illness and treating potential adverse health effects caused by greater utilisation of wireless technologies could end up outweighing any economic benefits of 5G?
Thank you for taking the time to read this document.
To stay up to date with the smart meter issue (and other issues related to wireless radiation in New Zealand, please sign yourself up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz and/or like and follow the following Facebook pages:
A new NZ-based Facebook group has been set up for people in NZ who are electrosensitive. This is a closed group and is intended as a confidential forum in which people who have developed electrosensitivity can come together and support eachother.
The details for the link are below.
If you are electrosensitive and would like to join the group, please click on the JOIN button on the left hand side of the page and one of the moderators for the group will be in touch with you once you have answered some questions.
Website editor’s note: Electrosensitivity (ES) is variously also known as electrohypersensitivity (EHS), electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EMS). People who develop this condition have often been exposed to high levels of electromagnetic fields (for example, from smart meters, living close to cellular phone infrastructure, from using cellular phones etc.)
If you would like to learn more about this condition, the following links of this site have more information:
Thank you for visiting the website of Stop Smart Meters NZ. If you are interested in smart meters or electromagnetic radiation and health, please sign up to our free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz.
Just an update on the “Telecommunications (New Regulatory Framework) Amendment Bill”. (There is background about the bill that you can read on this website by clicking HERE.)
The submissions on this bill are now available to be read at the link below:
The select committee in charge of the bill the Econcomic Development, Science and Innovation (EDSI) committee began hearing verbal submissions on the bill on Thursday March 29.
NB: If you are on Facebook, please consider “liking” and “following” the following pages so that you can get updates on the landline phone issue and smart meter issues.
Please note that if you would like to receive email updates on the smart meter issue for NZ, you can sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Josh del Sol (producer of the award-winning smart meter documentary Take Back Your Power) has produced a short report on how the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has just rubber stamped “5G”.
The current head of the FCC, by the way, used to head up the US wireless technologies lobby group.
Kevin Mottus from Parents for Safe Technology describes in an interview with Josh del Sol how he and a reporter were threatened with being thrown out of the meeting (which was open to the public) for beginning to discuss the potential health implications of introducing more wireless infrastructure.
Please watch the video below to learn more about this issue and share this link with friends and family in the USA.
If you have found this post interesting and want to learn more about wireless and health issues and the health, privacy and financial concerns with smart meters, please sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Stop Smart Meters NZ is now on Facebook and you can get updates by visiting our page at this link:
Editor’s note: The following article was contributed by Whangarei journalist Clare Swinney. The photograph of the meter was supplied by Mr. Priestly.
Huge bill at marae after smart meter installation
Mervyn Priestley, the former Treasurer of the Parapara Marae in Taipa, Northland was shocked when he saw the power bill for the month of April 2015, which had been debited from the marae bank account. It was a humongous $2042.87 and far higher than any of the power bills the marae had received before. The bills were normally were around $350, sometimes far less he said.
Consequently, he first contacted their power company to discuss the reason for the huge bill and told them that there must be a mistake. The lady he spoke to told him that a smart meter is never wrong. Mervyn said that that was the first time he had ever heard of a smart meter, as they had not been told a smart meter was going to be installed and not asked if they wanted one at the marae. He said: “I couldn’t understand how the power bill could have been so high, as we had not had any bookings that month. It should have been low.”
Not getting anywhere with this woman who was claiming that smart meters were faultless, Mervyn asked to talk to the supervisor. Mervyn said: “I told the supervisor that if someone on the marae committee saw this bill of $2042.87 they could have a heart attack. I knew it could not be right, as I kept a close eye on things at the marae. Thankfully, he listened to me and was reasonable. I asked him how the smart meters work and he said that they used a cell phone network. That’s when I knew the fault was at their end, as there was no cell phone coverage at the marae and when I told him this, he started taking me seriously. It was an estimate, not a real reading they had billed the marae for. Before the smart meter was installed, we were used to having two estimates and had one actual reading of the analogue meter. They did not offer to reimburse the marae for overcharging us for power. I had to ask for the money to be credited back to the marae’s bank account, as they wanted to keep it in their account. Eventually $1628 was credited. It was a stressful time for me and I did doubt myself when I was told that a smart meter is never wrong.”
Ed note: Based on the photo supplied, the information given to Mr. Priestly about the smart meter working through the cellular phone network may not have been correct. The type of smart meter installed at the marae is a Landis+Gyr E350 series smart meter. In NZ, this type of meter often contains a Silver Spring communication model 454 Network Interface Card (NIC) package that contains a modem and a ZigBee chip. This communications package is designed to work as part of a mesh system to relay wireless data from smart meter to smart meter and thereon to a central collection point. If a smart meter in a mesh network is too far away from another smart meter of the same type (or if there is some sort of dense structure or landscape feature such as a substantial mound of earth between the mesh network smart meters) its signal may not be picked up by the neighbouring meter.
Meters in a mesh network can produce pulses of RF more frequently than other types of smart meters and www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz has received reports of adverse health effects from people with Landis-Gyr smart meters at their homes.
You can read more about Landis+Gyr smart meters at the links below on www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Technical information
Technical information about these meters may be found HERE, HERE and HERE.
A smart meter of the type installed at the marae could also potentially mean that you lose control over your heat pump, if you have one; please see this LINK for details.
Please note that it is NOT compulsory to have a smart meter in NZ and to learn how people are refusing to have one installed, please see this LINK. Please notethat it seems to be quite common for smart meters to be installed without prior notification, so if you still have an analogue meter and want to keep it, it would be prudent to take steps to prevent a smart meter installation NOW.
Resources to help you refuse a smart meter, including bilingual Te Reo/English options may be found at this LINK of www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
To sign up for the free email newsletter, please visit www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
An article in the Malborough Express on January 18, 2015 discusses ongoing smart meter roll outs in the Malborough area.
The article stated that currently 40% of people in Malborough have a smart meter but the companies in the electricity industry want to increase this to 100% by the end of the year.
The reporter mentioned that a local Facebook page included complaints that smart meters had been installed without customers’ permission.
The article did not state that smart meters are NOT compulsory in NZ.
If you do not want to expose yourself to the potential risks of smart meters, which include health and fire risks, as well as higher bills, you may like to read this link to find out about how other New Zealanders are successfully preventing smart meters from being installed at their homes and businesses.
To stay up to date with the smart meter issue in NZ, please sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
NB: If you would like to keep up to date with the smart meter issue in NZ (and also get other news relating to EMR and health), please sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz Thank you.
Given the reports of fires (or even explosions) associated with so-called “smart” electricity meters, you might imagine that electronic smart meters would be the last technology you would want measuring the usage of highly flammable and explosive natural gas….Unfortunately you would be wrong.
I have not had any reports from members of the NZ public that a smart gas meter has been installed at their home but this does not mean that this is not beginning to happen here…
In some places overseas, smart gas meters are being rolled out aggressively, much to the concern of customers who may already know people whose health has been harmed by “smart” electricity meters.
The story below was contributed by an Australian who has successfully prevented his gas company from installing smart gas meter.
The correspondent who contributed the photos and letters below is obviously technically savvy when it comes to gas meters; if you are not able to identify the important components of a gas meter, please make sure you get advice from a suitably qualified person if you wish to follow this gentleman’s example and create a bracket to prevent the removal of your existing meter and its replacement with a smart meter without your permission.
If you have a gas meter and do not want a smart gas meter, you may wish to adapt one of the template letters/notices on our Resources page (that are designed to prevent a smart electricity meter installation) and send it to your gas company.
If you would like to give www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz feedback about the response you received from your gas company if you decide to take steps to prevent a smart gas meter from being installed at your home, you can reach us through the Contact Form.
Gas Meter protection Bracket
Unfortunately, I don’t have any mechanical drawings for my bracket (attachment titled, Aussie Analogue Gas Meter Protection Bracket.pdf) because there are numerous types and sizes of meters and they will each have unique installations that require a specialised bracket to be constructed. In my case, I did a sketch of what I wanted and took it to a metal engineering business and they manufactured it from the sketch (where subsequent measurements were also needed) and it fitted perfectly first up.
So I suggest that if anyone prints the photo file off (together with a photo of their own gas meter installation) and supplies these images to their engineer, he should have no problem making a similar bracket.
Below are two letters that were sent to the gas company specifically refusing a meter that is “AMI” (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) ready gas meter.
NB: If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up for the email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz This will allow you to get emails that give updates on the smart meter situation with a focus on NZ smart meter news.
If you are in the Rangitikei and want to know more about smart meters and/or connect with other people in your area who are concerned about this issue, there is a great local Facebook page dedicated to smart meters. Check it out on the link below:
NB: If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up for the email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz This will allow you to get emails that give updates on the smart meter situation with a focus on NZ smart meter news.
Recent Comments