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An argument against 5G wireless broadband and a preference for fibre connections was put forward at a public meeting in Warkworth on September 28.
About 50 people attended the gathering organised by 5G opponents.
A number of concerns were raised by speakers, who included safer technology advocate Katherine
Smith via Skype, Auckland naturopath David Holden, Mayoral candidate Peter Vaughan and fibre optic advocate Anthony Ardelean.
Veteran NZ nuclear free campaigner and coordinator of 5G Free West Auckland, Laurie Ross, set the tone by stating that the rollout of 5G was being done without consultation or independent scientific testing.
She said the meeting was part of a national campaign to demonstrate to the government the level of community opposition to 5G.
Katherine Smith called for a boycott of 5G and talked about similar campaigns being run overseas.
“5G is a very foolish type of radiation to use for communication and the problem is that people with a conflict of interest are providing advice to the government on the health risks,” she said. “The pre-market research done on 5G is zero.”
David Holden said non-heating or low frequency radiation was the most dangerous, and electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) could cause DNA damage, heart disease, cancer, autism and infertility, and contribute to a range of neurological conditions from depression to early onset Alzheimers.
He advocated turning off wifi, particularly in schools, and installing copper “without delay”, especially for anyone who showed signs of electrohypersensitivity.
He also warned against the use of baby monitors and microwave ovens, and the use of a mobile phone in a car, where he said the signal was intensified.
He produced a piece of shungite rock from his pocket, extolling its properties to absorb and neutralise “the dangerous frequencies from EMF radiation”.
Mr Ardelean, who runs WCN Ltd (White Cell Networks), said about 80 per cent of NZ was covered by fibre optic, but it was not being utilised to its potential.
“Fibre eliminates EMF and provides infinite capacity using glass and light,” he said.
He said laying fibre optic along streets did not go far enough because devices inside homes and businesses were using old technology.
Meeting organiser Kate Hlavac said later that the meeting was about sharing information and further meetings were planned.
“The message is that there is a safe alternative to EMFs and we do not need to go down the 5G track,” she said.
5G opponents were planning a protest rally outside Vodafone on the North Shore on October 23.
