16 August 2024
N. S. Hudson
[FYI request #27743 email]
Ref: OIA-2024/25-0060
Dear N. S. Hudson
Official Information Act request relating to documents containing UAP, USO, UFO
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 21 July 2024.
You requested:
“May I please get a named list of documents/files/emails/reports (that may be classed
under Section 6 of the OIA 1982, or not), that the DMPC, including the National
Security Group, might have in a search on the separate keywords below from Jan
2017:
"UAP" , as in "unidentified aerial phenomenon" , or "unidentified anomalous
phenomenon"
"USO" , as in "unidentified submersible object"
"UFO" , as in "unidentified flying object"
We have assessed the extent of work to collate and assess the information you have
requested and have determined the work required to provide the information would have a
significant impact on the day-to-day operations of the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC).
Various parts of DPMC use the acronyms “UAP”, “USO” and “UFO” for a number of different
things, unrelated to your request. A search on those terms gives a large number of results,
which would include emails, briefings, reports and other documents. The time frame you
requested has compounded this problem.
The amount of information requested, and the need to individually check each document,
meant none of the remedies of extending, charging or refining would have enabled us to
respond to your query. Therefore we are refusing your request, in full, under section 18(f) of
the Act, as the information you requested cannot be made available without substantial
collation or research.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on DPMC’s website.
Yours sincerely
Bridget White
Executive Director
National Security Group
4938090
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz