28 June 2021 Te Ariki Paitai Email: [FYI request #15639 email] Dear Te Ariki Request for information Thank you for your request dated 2 June 2021 asking information in regards to the Youtube video posted on 24 May 2021 by user IAMTHE TRUTH. You requested: 1. Please provide any publicly releasable internal and/or external correspondence regarding the youtube video uploaded by user JAM THETRUTH to youtube on Monday the 24th of May 2021. 2. I understand details of an open case can not be released, however I am looking for info1111ation on when and how NZ Police were notified of the video, and how the decision to not make any public statement was made. Your request has been considered in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). In regards to both questions, you are correct that we are unable to release substantive details regarding a matter that Is currently under investigation or prosecution, which this case is. I must therefore withhold correspondence and documents relating to this matter, under section 6(c) of the OIA, as the making available of this information is likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences and the right to a fair trial. In regard to your second question, I can provide the following information: On Monday 24 May 2021, Police began receiving a number of complaints regarding the Youtube video. By the evening of that same day, local Police had identified and questioned the person believed to have uploaded the video, as well as seizing, pursuant to search warrant, all that person's computing devices found at their home address. In addition, the video had been removed from Youtube and was no longer publicly accessible via that medium. Therefore the immediate source of harm was removed, and investigators continued to gather evidence and determine if prosecution was possible and appropriate. Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. Thomcton, Wellington SX11149 Telephone: (04) 474 9499. www.pollcc.govt.nz
