26/OIR/099
24 November 2025
Chris McCashin
Emailed to: [FYI request #32741 email]
Tēnā koe Chris,
I refer to your official information request dated
5 November 2025 for the following:
“In your "Transparency Statement" (https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/abou...), you state that you
"actively gather [information] during our surveil ance and monitoring work.
Therefore, I request that you provide all the information that you hold on a flight over Makara
Heading North recorded on 4 November 2025 at 5.55 pm with which the transponder was turned off.
Specifically, I request the fol owing information
-
The airport or airfield from which the flight departed
-
The airport or airfield where the flight landed
-
The flight number
-
The registration details of the aircraft
-
The make and model of the aircraft
-
The name and position of the person who authorised the flight
-
Details of the flight and purpose - ie where it went and why it wasn't on Flight Radar
-
The name of the entity responsible for the flight
-
Pilot name or number
After watching planes all afternoon (all that were able to be picked up via Flight Radar) this plane
was not on flight radar and subsequently left a "contrail" that expanded into clouds in what was a
clear blue sky. 12 hours later we woke to a grey haze covering our skies in-line with solar radiation
management projects that we are told are not happening. Please provide me the details of this flight
so I can have a discussion with them.
Coincidentally the majority of flights leaving so-called "contrails" are never registered on Flight Radar
which on its face appears to be because they are attempting to hide whatever they are doing in the
skies.”
CAA response
1. We have conducted searches in our database for the requested information and can advise that
the CAA holds no record of incident you have described.
PO Box 3555, Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 560 9400, Email: [email address], Web: www.caa.govt.nz
2. Accordingly, the CAA is refusing your request under section 18(e) of the Official Information Act
1982, on the grounds that the information requested does not exist.
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.
Nga Mihi,
Resolutions Team | Rōpū Whakatau
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand |Te Mana Rererangi Tūmatanui o Aotearoa |
