New Zealand's history of public participation on environment issues extends to siting of phone towers.

Local Autonomy for Siting Cellular Towers in New Zealand.

(Reprinted from the U.S. publication Microwave News, Nov/Dec 1996)

In contrast to the U.S., where a national radiofrequency and microwave (RF/MW) radiation standard has preempted state and local government rules for cellular tower siting, communities in New Zealand have adopted a variety of policies, including a 50uW/cm2 public exposure limit and a minimum distance between antennas and homes.

New Zealand has a tradition of public participation in environmental issues, and this has encouraged local governments to be involved in siting decisions for cellular antennas, a process that some say is working well.

"Where a local authority has developed a policy on transmission sites, public concern has generally been met," according to Public Authority Planning for Cell Phone Transmission Facilities, a report released by the office of N.Z.'s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in September.

On the other hand, New Zealand's wireless industry - comprised of three providers: Telecom New Zealand, a subsidiary of the U.S.'s Bell South and Australia's Telstra - has been critical of the local councils, arguing that they have developed inconsistent policies.

The environment commissioner, Helen Hughes, recommends that local governments pursue a "prudent approach" for setting RF/MW radiation exposure limits for cellular towers, develop plans to protect both community concerns and industry interests, take into account high-risk groups when setting exposure limits for the public and devise strategies for monitoring RF/MW exposures.

New Zealand's Resource Management Act of 1991, which allows local governments to formulate their own environmental plans, has brought about a diversity of siting policies:

*The city of Auckland has adopted a 50 uW/cm2 exposure limit, which is stricter than the 200uW/cm2 advisory guideline New Zealand adopted in 1990.

*The city of Christchurch has maintained discretion as to whether transmitters may be erected within 300 metres of residential areas or entail exposures exceeding 50uW/cm2.

*The city of Hutt requires that wireless companies get consent for any facilities sited outside industrial locations and then only if they can demonstrate that their transmitters comply with the New Zealand standard.

*The district of New Plymouth permits antennas in industrial areas, but requires the district's consent to site them in rural areas.

*The city of Waitakere, which was the first to adopt a bylaw with regard to RF/MW exposures, enforces the 1990 New Zealand standard for the general public.

Hughes suggests that the central government can assist local governments that do not want the burden of developing rules for antenna siting by setting guidelines and by urging industry to show that it is minimizing RF/MW exposures.

Although the report recognizes children as a risk group, it is silent on the issue of siting antennas near schools. New Zealand's Ministry of Health issued a report in August favoring prudent avoidance where children are concerned. Earlier this year, New Zealand's Ministry of Education issued a policy statement banning the placement of cellular antennas near public schools.

(Reprinted with permission Microwave News, Nov/Dec 1996)