The Commissioner of Police


Police National Headquarters


PO Box 3017


Wellington

Re: Official Information Act Request

Dear Sir

I request the following information under the Official Information Act.

1. Police Air Support Unit “Eagle”

1.1 How many sworn and non sworn staff have been assigned to the Police Air Support Unit for each of the last 3 financial years

1.2 For each of the last 3 financial years, what were the staff costs of the Air Support Unit

1.3 For each of the last 3 financial years, what were the non-staff costs of the Air Support Unit

1.4 For each of the last 3 financial years, how many flight hours were flown by the Air Support Unit for operational purposes?

1.5 For each of the last 3 financial years, how many flight hours were flown by the Air Support Unit for training purposes?

2. Contracted helicopter support for Districts

2.1 Listed by district, how many non-military helicopter flight hours were contracted for each of the last 3 financial years, for the purpose of search and rescue?

2.2 Listed by district, what was the cost of non-military helicopter flight hours were contracted for each of the last 3 financial years, for the purpose of search and rescue?

2.3 Listed by district, how many non-military helicopter flight hours were contracted for each of the last 3 financial years, for the purpose of supporting Armed Offender Squads?

2.4 Listed by district, what were the cost of non-military helicopter flight hours were contracted for each of the last 3 financial years, for the purpose of supporting Armed Offender Squads

2.5 Listed by district, how many non-military helicopter flight hours were contracted for each of the last 3 financial years, for purposes other than search and rescue and Armed Offender Squads?

2.6 Listed by district, what were the cost of non-military helicopter flight hours were contracted for each of the last 3 financial years, for the purposes for purposes other than search and rescue and Armed Offender Squads?

3. Helicopter support studies

3.1 What studies have been undertaken to explore Police’s future air support needs in the last 5 years?

3.2 What submissions have Police made to other government agencies on air support Police may request from them in the last 5 years?

For the purposes of the Act, I am a resident of New Zealand.

Yours faithfully,

Ross Browne

Dear New Zealand Police,

Re: OIA Request "Helicopter Use" 20 August 2014

As the maximum allowed time period for a response to this request has expired, and no request for an extension has been received, I have referred this request to the Office of the Ombudsmen.

Yours faithfully,

Ross Browne

Dear THOMSON, Raewyn,

Re: Your reference 14/4937/2

Regarding your answer to Question 2.2, my understanding is Police "Form P130" records the requested information under "Section 3: Administration," which records, as separate database fields, quantity of helicopters used, the total hours, and the total cost, for both military and civilian helicopters.

I ask you to again consider my request relating to 2.2 in light of the request above. A database report, listing the requested information, and the additional field "Police District" would be sufficient to satisfy my request.

Regarding your answer to Question 3.3, I ask you to review the material presented by Police representatives to the NZSAR Consultative Committee annual search and rescue planning meetings for each of the years in question, and re-consider your answer.

Yours sincerely,

Ross Browne