IR-01-24-42285
24 December 2024
Andrew Arkins
[FYI request #29334 email]
Tēnā koe Andrew
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request dated 26 November 2024.
You wrote:
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982
regarding any and all information, reports, or data held by the New Zealand
Police pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or Unidentified Flying
Objects (UFO) over the past five years. Specifically, I request the following:
1. Incident Reports and Investigations (2018–Present):
Any incident reports, witness statements, or investigations involving UAP/UFO
sightings or related phenomena within New Zealand's jurisdiction.
Dates, times, and locations of reported sightings or incidents.
Any photographic, video, or radar evidence collected during such investigations.
2. Correspondence or Communications (2018–Present):
Copies of any internal or external communications related to UAP/UFO
phenomena, including but not limited to communications with other government
agencies, foreign organizations, or individuals.
Any guidance, policies, or protocols in place for dealing with UAP/UFO reports or
incidents.
3. Collaborations or Agreements (2018–Present):
Information on any collaboration with external agencies (national or international)
or organizations concerning UAP/UFO phenomena.
Details of agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), or directives
relating to UAP/UFO reporting, research, or investigation.
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
Please provide any relevant information or records held within the specified time
frame, regardless of whether they are classified as “resolved” or “unresolved.”
If any part of this request is refused, please provide the reasons for refusal as per
Section 19 of the Act. I would also appreciate confirmation of receipt of this
request and an estimated timeframe for your response.
I have not located any record of incident reports, investigations, or correspondence in
relation to UAPs or UFOs.
Police does not have any guidance, policies, protocols, specifically relating to UAP or
UFO reports or incidents. Police also does not have any agreements, MOUs, directives or
any other information relating to collaboration with other agencies in relation to UAPs or
UFOs.
Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA as the document
alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts
to locate it, cannot be found.
As part of its commitment to openness and transparency, Police proactively releases
some information and documents that may be of interest to the public. An anonymised
version of this response may be publicly released on the New Zealand Police website.
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
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Superintendent Penelope Gifford
Director Tactical Operations
