Tēnā koe,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 20 working days after the day that your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [GCSB request email].

Ngā mihi,
GCSB

-----Original Message-----
From: N. S. Hudson <[FOI #26151 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 19 March 2024 2:00 PM
To: Information (GCSB) <[GCSB request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Communications with US Military on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)

[You don't often get email from [FOI #26151 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Government Communications Security Bureau,

I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding any communications, agreements, or collaborations between the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the United States military or affiliated agencies concerning the recent document regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Specifically, I am interested in the following:

1. Has the GCSB received the document described as "Joint-Chiefs-UAP-Directive-May-2023" [made available through a FOI request in the USA by a Douglas Johnson, dropbox link below] from the United States military or any affiliated agencies?
2. Are there any formal agreements or arrangements between the GCSB and US military agencies operating in New Zealand pertaining to the exchange of information, intelligence, or collaboration on matters related to UAP or similar phenomena?
3. If there have been any sightings, engagements, or retrievals related to UAP or similar phenomena involving the GCSB and US military agencies in New Zealand, please provide details of such incidents.

I understand the need for sensitivity regarding certain information and request that any redactions or restrictions on disclosure be clearly indicated. If possible, please provide the requested information in electronic format to the email address provided above.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I anticipate your response within the statutory timeframe as specified in the Official Information Act 1982.

Yours faithfully,

N. S. Hudson

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qst16gwqm...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #26151 email]

Is [GCSB request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Government Communications Security Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe

We refer to your request made under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) to the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) on 12 March 2024, copied below.

In relation to your request for the document "Joint-Chiefs-UAP-Directive-May-2023" we can advise that the GCSB does not hold this document. We are, therefore, refusing your request under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the document does not exist.

In relation to your second and third questions, we can advise that the GCSB does not have any information that falls within the scope of your request. As such, we are refusing your request under section 18(g)(i) of the OIA, as the information requested is not held by our department, and we have no grounds for believing it would be held by another department, Minister of the Crown, organisation, or local authority.

For context, it might be helpful if we explain our functions. The GCSB is Aotearoa New Zealand’s lead organisation for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and cyber security and resilience. More information about our work can be found online at: http://www.gcsb.govt.nz/.

Our priorities, called the National Security Intelligence Priorities (NSIPs), are set by the Government. The NSIPs outline key areas of national security interest to the New Zealand Government. More information about the NSIPs can be found online at: https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/....

While our work contributes to all of the NSIPs, some of the main priorities that relate to the GCSB are: foreign interference and espionage, terrorism and violent extremism, regional stability, and malicious cyber activity. Our remit in relation to space security is limited – our role is in undertaking national security risk assessments for all activities licensed or permitted under the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017.

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact [GCSB request email].

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/ or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngâ mihi
GCSB

-----Original Message-----
From: N. S. Hudson <[FOI #26151 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 19 March 2024 2:00 PM
To: Information (GCSB) <[GCSB request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Communications with US Military on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)

[You don't often get email from [FOI #26151 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Government Communications Security Bureau,

I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding any communications, agreements, or collaborations between the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the United States military or affiliated agencies concerning the recent document regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Specifically, I am interested in the following:

1. Has the GCSB received the document described as "Joint-Chiefs-UAP-Directive-May-2023" [made available through a FOI request in the USA by a Douglas Johnson, dropbox link below] from the United States military or any affiliated agencies?
2. Are there any formal agreements or arrangements between the GCSB and US military agencies operating in New Zealand pertaining to the exchange of information, intelligence, or collaboration on matters related to UAP or similar phenomena?
3. If there have been any sightings, engagements, or retrievals related to UAP or similar phenomena involving the GCSB and US military agencies in New Zealand, please provide details of such incidents.

I understand the need for sensitivity regarding certain information and request that any redactions or restrictions on disclosure be clearly indicated. If possible, please provide the requested information in electronic format to the email address provided above.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I anticipate your response within the statutory timeframe as specified in the Official Information Act 1982.

Yours faithfully,

N. S. Hudson

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qst16gwqm...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #26151 email]

Is [GCSB request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Government Communications Security Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections