Dear New Zealand Police,

I am a New Zealand Citizen. I live in the Christchurch area.

There was recently an incident regarding the use of intellectual property of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand name and crest in an online gaming community named "Beehive Roleplay". This property is believed to be copyrighted.
The gaming community includes the use of emergency vehicles and vehicle liveries from New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, St John Ambulance and Wellington Free Ambulance.

I am writing to you under the Official Information Act requesting the following information:

(1). Is the New Zealand Police aware of this online gaming community?;
(2). Does the New Zealand Police approve of the use of the "New Zealand Police" and subsequent branding used by the online community?;
(3). Is the New Zealand Police aware of Constabulary staff being involved with the online community, in a "director" or "ownership" form?;
(4). The community has thousands of members, including some overseas and that of persons under 18, which the constabulary staff talk to on online public and private social media platforms, does the New Zealand Police endorse or approve of this?;
(5). Does the New Zealand Police believe the use of their identity in the community affects their representation to overseas members?;
(6). Is the New Zealand Police aware that Constabulary staff provide advice online to members of this community that includes adults, adolescents and children?;
(7). Is the New Zealand Police aware of the content that is shared within this community, including that by Constabulary staff showing photographs and videos inside Police vehicles and at Police events?;
(8). Is the New Zealand Police aware that "BeehiveRP Limited" was a registered company with the New Zealand Companies Office, with details of Constabulary staff publicly available?;
(9). Any internal New Zealand Police policies that outline expectations of their staff including conduct, and or similar, relating to online activity;
(10). Any internal communications that are pre-existing regarding the community and/or constabulary staff.

I expect this information to be provided within the standard timeframe under the Official Information Act.

Yours faithfully,

Russell N
Dated 27 August 2024, 4:26pm