Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

In 2013 the New Zealand Herald reported that RNZAF Orions had been assisting the police with surveillance for law-enforcement purposes ("High tech planes fight crime", NZ Herald, 17/1/13). I would like to request the following information under the OIA:

* How many times did NZDF assisted the Police with surveillance in 2013? I would like a breakdown by agency.

I am specifically seeking aggregate statistical data rather than
specifics of each case in order not to infringe on the interests
protected by section 6(c) OIA (maintenance of law and order). As
this is not a national security function, section 6(a) should not
apply.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about
this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the
fyi.org.nz website.

With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

Dear Ministerial Services,

When you say "no data", does that mean that NZDF provided no surveillance support to police, or that it may have, but you don't have any paperwork? If its the latter I will be extremely surprised, given that NZDF has previously provided data for 2010 - 2012 in response to a similar OIA request (see your OIA-2013-1839).

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris