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Good morning Peter Ituma,

 

Your request below has been considered under the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA). It seeks similar information to numerous other requests
received over the past decades. There are many New Zealand Defence Force
(NZDF) responses to these requests publicly available on both the NZDF and
FYI websites.

 

In 2010, the (NZDF) released to public libraries fifteen volumes
containing all accumulated correspondence then held relating to reports of
unidentified aerial phenomenon or sightings (UAS) / unidentified flying
objects (UFO) 1952 to 2009 inclusive, suitably redacted to protect
individual privacy. Copies of this information were provided to: the
Dunedin Public Library; the Hamilton Public Library; the Marlborough
District Libraries; the Alexander Turnbull Library; and Infofind (the
Radio New Zealand library).

 

The NZDF has no role or responsibility relating to reports of UAS/UFO. The
NZDF neither investigates nor maintains records relating to UAS/UFO
sightings.

 

With respect to your request for NZDF records regarding unusual radar,
infrared, or sensor anomalies…All Occurrence Reports or Air Safety reports
referencing unknown craft, anomalous flight behavior, or weather anomalies
inconsistent with standard meteorological patterns…Maritime or aerospace
anomalies around NZ EEZ, a substantial research and collation effort would
be required to identify any relevant information across the twenty-year
period of your request. These parts of your request are therefore declined
in accordance with section 18(f) of the OIA.

 

There is no information concerning: UAP/UFO data sharing…“legacy
crash-retrieval” allegations; relevant briefings to Ministers of Defence;
or internal NZDF discussion papers evaluating whether NZ should adopt a
formal UAP reporting protocol. These parts of your request are therefore
declined in accordance with section 18(e) of the OIA. Similarly there is
no information concerning Southern Hemisphere sensor gaps in the context
of your request. Information concerning NZDF surveillance capability that
is not already publicly available on the NZDF website is withheld in
accordance with section 6(a) of the OIA.

 

This response to your request will be published shortly on the NZDF
website.

 

Regards

 

Corporate and Ministerial Services

OCDF, Office of Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force

[3]www.nzdf.mil.nz

[4]cid:image001.png@01DC5F75.02DC8110

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Ituma
[[5]mailto:[FOI #33014 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 9:34 p.m.
To: Ministerial Services <[6][NZDF request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - UFOs

 

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Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

 

I request:

-All NZDF reports, logs, or radar data reviews since 2005 relating to
-Unidentified objects detected by RNZAF, naval ships, or air surveillance
aircraft -Any unusual radar, infrared, or sensor anomalies -Uncorrelated
targets that were escalated or logged -All Occurrence Reports or Air
Safety reports referencing unknown craft, anomalous flight behavior, or
weather anomalies inconsistent with standard meteorological patterns -All
communications with foreign militaries or intelligence partners
referencing -UAP/UFO data sharing, -Southern Hemisphere sensor gaps,
-Maritime or aerospace anomalies around NZ EEZ -Anything connected with
“legacy crash-retrieval” allegations -Any operational briefings provided
to Ministers of Defence (current or former) discussing this matter -All
internal NZDF discussion papers evaluating whether NZ should adopt a
formal UAP reporting protocol

 

 

Thank you

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Peter Ituma

 

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

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[8][FOI #33014 email]

 

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us using this form:

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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

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