Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I am formally requesting access to the following information, which may be held, accessed, or otherwise made available to the New Zealand Government or any associated government entities, regardless of whether this information is physically stored on New Zealand servers or external platforms. This request concerns New Zealand’s involvement, awareness, or position with respect to geoengineering activities, such as weather modification, solar radiation management, and related climate intervention strategies, particularly in collaboration with foreign governments and private entities.

I request the following information:

Any documents, communications, or records from the New Zealand Government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), and any other relevant government departments or agencies, that reference New Zealand’s position, participation, or knowledge regarding geoengineering activities, both in New Zealand and internationally, from January 1, 2010, to the present. This includes any reports, correspondence, or internal documents, irrespective of the location where these records are stored (including external databases or servers).

Any records, emails, or reports between New Zealand Government agencies (such as MFAT, DPMC, or the Ministry for the Environment) and foreign governments, international organizations (e.g., the United Nations, World Meteorological Organization), and private companies, discussing or referencing geoengineering projects, weather modification, or similar initiatives, including any projects potentially being run by or in collaboration with foreign entities, such as the United States Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Air Force, or private contractors with ties to New Zealand’s climate strategy.

Any internal memoranda or briefing documents produced by the New Zealand Government or the Ministry of Defence that discuss the potential environmental, economic, and national security impacts of geoengineering strategies, and New Zealand’s potential role or awareness of such practices, especially when implemented by foreign military agencies or private contractors operating in New Zealand’s airspace or territory.

It is well-documented in the public domain that geoengineering practices, such as weather modification and solar geoengineering, are not confined to theoretical discussions but are actively pursued by several foreign nations, including the United States, China, and other global powers. Examples of these activities include the U.S. Air Force’s weather modification programs (e.g., HAARP), and international discussions about solar geoengineering at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Given New Zealand’s international engagement and security obligations, it is reasonable to assume that New Zealand has knowledge of, or involvement in, such activities.

As geoengineering has far-reaching consequences for national security, environmental policy, and international relations, I believe the public interest in accessing this information outweighs any possible exemption under the Official Information Act. If any part of this request is denied or withheld, I request a detailed explanation of the specific exemption invoked, along with the legal justification for withholding each document, citing the relevant sections of the Act.

I trust that the information will be provided in full, with only truly exempted portions redacted. If any documents or records regarding this request are stored externally or pertain to foreign government operations (including the U.S. Air Force or private contractors), I request guidance on how this information can be made available or accessed through appropriate channels.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving a response within the legal timeframe.

Yours faithfully,

Logan Cowan

Hello,

I confirm that I am a New Zealand citizen residing in New Zealand, fulfilling the criteria under Section 12(1) of the Official Information Act. However, I will not be submitting personal details through public channels such as the FYI.org.nz platform, and I am surprised that you would request this. Additionally, I cannot provide the requested evidence via reply email, as you did not email me directly but instead responded via a public website.

If you still require my personal details, please advise on a secure, private, and encrypted means of submission. If the request for personal information was made in error, I will await your response regarding my initial information request.

Yours sincerely,
Logan Cowan

Dear ESD,

Thank you for your response. I am still having difficulty identifying the specific email address to which I should send my proof of eligibility. I do not see any email address mentioned in your previous messages for this purpose.

The link you provided (https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers#mobiles) discusses FYI's process for publishing email addresses and phone numbers, but I did not see an email address relevant to this request. It's possible that the email address you inserted in your last message was automatically redacted or re-linked by FYI upon submission.

So, could you kindly clarify the correct email address where I should send my proof of eligibility? Additionally, please let me know the appropriate subject line for the email or any other way to identify it as related to this enquiry. Once I have the correct contact details and instructions, I will promptly forward the information.

As mentioned before, I am not comfortable submitting personal documentation through a public platform like the FYI.org.nz website, and I do not consent to any of my personally identifiable information being published in connection with this OIA request. I expect that all private and personally identifiable details shared will remain confidential and will not be made publicly accessible.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to your clarification.

Yours sincerely,
Logan Cowan

Dear ESD,

Thank you for your response.

I sent my eligibility documentation to the email address provided on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website, using the correct subject line as instructed.

If there are any further steps or details required, please let me know.

Yours sincerely,
Logan