Dear New Zealand Police,

I am requesting information under the OIA regarding the Police's use of commercial helicopter services.

1. How many times in the last five years (from 1 January 2020 to the present) has Police engaged "Christchurch Helicopters" for the use of an airframe in failing to stop (FTS) incidents or critical incidents requiring a helicopter (excluding SAR, training or rescue operations)?

2. Of the total number provided above, can you provide a breakdown (by incident) of the duration (in minutes or hours) for which the airframe was hired?

3. Regarding the number of times Police engaged Christchurch Helicopters, what was the total cost of hiring airframes from this provider?

4. What training has Police provided to Christchurch Helicopters, including their staff, air crew, and pilots, for carrying out these Police operations?

5. What training has Police provided to their staff (sworn officers) who crew the aircraft alongside civilians for these operations?

6. Can you provide a list of equipment Police have supplied to Christchurch Helicopters for this type of work, such as communications, cameras, video, night vision equipment, etc.?

7. Does Police currently have a formal contract, standing agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding with Christchurch Helicopters for this work? If so, please provide copies of these documents or a summary of their key terms?

Yours faithfully,

R. Anthony