Dear New Zealand Police,

I reside in New Zealand and am a New Zealand citizen.

I request the following information to be provided through a formal response regarding the recent drone/RPAS training exercise conducted by the New Zealand Police for identifying cannabis crops, as reported in the media.

1. Training Exercise Details:

1a. Please provide the date, location, and specific objectives of the training exercise or exercises.
1b. Were there any other agencies or organisations involved in this exercise?
1c. Is the project currently in the testing phase, and if so, what are the specific objectives and expected outcomes of this phase?

2. Equipment and Technology:

2a. Could you provide details on the make, model, and technical specifications of the drones and camera systems used?
2b. What artificial intelligence software was utilised, and what are its capabilities in terms of object recognition, tracking, and obstacle avoidance?

3. Authority & Permission:

3a. Please confirm whether all necessary permissions were obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority for conducting this exercise.
3b. Was a flight plan submitted for conducting this exercise
3c. Were there any specific safety measures or risk assessments conducted to ensure safe operation of the drones?
3d. Did the "South Island cannabis farm" provide explicit consent for the use of their premises and crops for the drone training exercise? If so, how was this consent obtained and documented?
3e. What is the legal justification for using drones in this manner, and how does the New Zealand Police ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations?
3f. What policies or guidelines does the New Zealand Police have in place regarding the use of AI-equipped drones for cannabis detection or any other uses?

4. Cost and Funding:

4a. What was the total cost of conducting this drone training exercise?
4b. Could you provide a breakdown of the costs involved.
4c. What was the source of funding for these operations?
4d. How does the New Zealand Police justify the expenditure of taxpayer dollars on AI drones for cannabis detection, especially in the context of other pressing public safety issues?
4e. Has a cost-benefit analysis been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of using AI drones for cannabis detection compared to other law enforcement strategies?
4f. What other law enforcement priorities might have been addressed with the resources allocated to this project, and how was the decision made to prioritise cannabis detection?
4g. How does the New Zealand Police respond to the perception that this initiative is a waste of resources and a misallocation of law enforcement priorities?

5. Plans and Policies:

5a. What are the plans for rolling out this initiative more broadly?
5c. Which police districts will be using these AI-equipped drones, and why were these particular districts chosen?
5d. Will these drones operate autonomously, and if so, what protocols will be place to ensure safe and responsible operation?
5e. How often will these drones be used, and will they cover all areas of bushland each year?
5f. Has the technology been deployed elsewhere?

6. Impact and Evaluation:

6a. Were there any results or findings from this training exercise that could be shared?
6b. How is the New Zealand Police evaluating the effectiveness of using AI-equipped drones for such purposes?

Yours faithfully,

F Cook