Dear Sir or Madam,

This request is made pursuant to the Official Information Act.

Following the recent decision by the Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom to designate membership of the Freemasons as a declarable organisation for police officers and staff, I seek information as to the position adopted by the New Zealand Police in relation to this matter.

Specifically, I request the following information:

1. Whether the New Zealand Police currently require, or have ever required, sworn officers or Police employees to declare membership of the Freemasons or any Masonic body.

2. Whether membership of the Freemasons is restricted, discouraged, or prohibited for any categories of Police roles, including but not limited to investigative, intelligence, professional standards, or senior leadership positions.

3. Whether the New Zealand Police hold any aggregated or anonymised data relating to the number of Police personnel who have declared membership of the Freemasons, and if so, that data.

4. Whether Freemasonry has been referenced in any internal reviews, integrity investigations, or complaint assessments, other than in an incidental or purely personal capacity.

5. Whether the New Zealand Police consider membership of the Freemasons to constitute a conflict of interest, perceived conflict of interest, or integrity risk, either generally or in specific operational or leadership contexts.

6. Any internal policies, guidance documents, directives, circulars, or integrity frameworks, current or historic, that refer to Freemasonry or Masonic organisations, whether expressly or by category, for example fraternal organisations.

7. Whether the New Zealand Police have undertaken any review, assessment, or consideration, formal or informal, of the Metropolitan Police Service’s decision, or of comparable overseas policing approaches, in relation to Freemasonry.

8. Whether the New Zealand Police have any intention to review, amend, or introduce disclosure requirements relating to Freemasonry as a result of overseas developments.

If any of the requested information is withheld in full or in part, I request that the grounds for refusal be clearly identified in accordance with the Act.

I am happy to receive the response electronically. If clarification or refinement of this request would assist, please contact me.

Yours faithfully,

AC