Official Information Act Request – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Stan smith made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
Response to this request is long overdue. By law New Zealand Police should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: Stan smith
Dear New Zealand Police,
To whom it may concern,
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982 for any official information held by your department relating to the presence, operation, testing, monitoring, or authorisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, satellites, aerial sensor platforms, or other coordinated aerial or space-based systems operating over Invercargill and elsewhere in New Zealand.
For approximately five years, I have continuously observed and recorded persistent aerial activity in the Invercargill area. This activity is ongoing, structured, and repeatable. I have captured extensive video footage over this period using night-vision recording equipment, documenting objects and light sources operating at varying altitudes, including low-altitude activity below conventional aircraft levels.
The recorded activity demonstrates coordinated movement and behaviour consistent with a networked system of aerial platforms. The scale and persistence of this activity resemble a distributed system of drones, satellites, and nodes operating in concert, and it does not correspond with known civilian aviation or recreational drone activity.
I am seeking clarification as to whether this activity relates to authorised government operations, contracted third-party programmes, trials, research initiatives, or commercial technologies operating within or over New Zealand airspace.
In particular, this request includes any information held by your agency concerning:
Any involvement, authorisation, monitoring, or awareness of aerial or satellite-based systems operated by, supplied by, or associated with SpaceX, Starlink, Elon Musk–controlled entities, or their contractors;
Any agreements, partnerships, approvals, briefings, correspondence, or assessments involving foreign aerospace or technology companies operating aerial or space-based platforms affecting New Zealand airspace;
Coordinated or networked UAV or drone operations, including low-altitude aerial platforms;
Aerial surveillance systems, sensor networks, or autonomous or semi-autonomous technologies;
The use of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G or related systems, in support of aerial or space-based platforms;
Any reports, assessments, correspondence, or incident records relating to persistent or unexplained aerial activity reported by members of the public or other agencies.
I hold a substantial volume of recorded footage documenting this activity and am prepared to supply this material if it assists in determining whether relevant information is held by your agency.
If this request, or any part of it, is more closely connected with the functions of another department or agency, I request that it be transferred in accordance with section 14 of the Official Information Act.
If any information is withheld, please clearly state the grounds for refusal relied upon under the Act.
Please provide the requested information in electronic form where possible.
Regards Stan Smith
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Tēnā koe Stan
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.
Your reference number is IR-01-26-3112.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 27 February 2026 unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi, Michelle
Advisor - Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Stan smith <[FOI #33608 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 12:33 AM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information Act Request – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.
Dear New Zealand Police,
To whom it may concern,
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982 for any official information held by your department relating to the presence, operation, testing, monitoring, or authorisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, satellites, aerial sensor platforms, or other coordinated aerial or space-based systems operating over Invercargill and elsewhere in New Zealand.
For approximately five years, I have continuously observed and recorded persistent aerial activity in the Invercargill area. This activity is ongoing, structured, and repeatable. I have captured extensive video footage over this period using night-vision recording equipment, documenting objects and light sources operating at varying altitudes, including low-altitude activity below conventional aircraft levels.
The recorded activity demonstrates coordinated movement and behaviour consistent with a networked system of aerial platforms. The scale and persistence of this activity resemble a distributed system of drones, satellites, and nodes operating in concert, and it does not correspond with known civilian aviation or recreational drone activity.
I am seeking clarification as to whether this activity relates to authorised government operations, contracted third-party programmes, trials, research initiatives, or commercial technologies operating within or over New Zealand airspace.
In particular, this request includes any information held by your agency concerning:
Any involvement, authorisation, monitoring, or awareness of aerial or satellite-based systems operated by, supplied by, or associated with SpaceX, Starlink, Elon Musk–controlled entities, or their contractors; Any agreements, partnerships, approvals, briefings, correspondence, or assessments involving foreign aerospace or technology companies operating aerial or space-based platforms affecting New Zealand airspace; Coordinated or networked UAV or drone operations, including low-altitude aerial platforms; Aerial surveillance systems, sensor networks, or autonomous or semi-autonomous technologies; The use of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G or related systems, in support of aerial or space-based platforms; Any reports, assessments, correspondence, or incident records relating to persistent or unexplained aerial activity reported by members of the public or other agencies.
I hold a substantial volume of recorded footage documenting this activity and am prepared to supply this material if it assists in determining whether relevant information is held by your agency.
If this request, or any part of it, is more closely connected with the functions of another department or agency, I request that it be transferred in accordance with section 14 of the Official Information Act.
If any information is withheld, please clearly state the grounds for refusal relied upon under the Act.
Please provide the requested information in electronic form where possible.
Regards Stan Smith
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #33608 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
hide quoted sections
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Tena koe Stan,
I refer to your Official Information Act request dated 29 January 2026 for subject.
We have transferred your request in full to Airways. The information to which your request relates is not held by us, but is believed to be held by and more closely related to the functions of Airways. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982 to transfer your request.
You will hear further from Airways concerning your request.
Ngā mihi
Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)
Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |
-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 7:44 am
To: 'Stan smith' <[FOI #33608 email]>
Subject: OIA acknowledgement IR-01-26-3112 – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Tēnā koe Stan
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.
Your reference number is IR-01-26-3112.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 27 February 2026 unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi, Michelle
Advisor - Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Stan smith <[FOI #33608 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 12:33 AM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information Act Request – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.
Dear New Zealand Police,
To whom it may concern,
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982 for any official information held by your department relating to the presence, operation, testing, monitoring, or authorisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, satellites, aerial sensor platforms, or other coordinated aerial or space-based systems operating over Invercargill and elsewhere in New Zealand.
For approximately five years, I have continuously observed and recorded persistent aerial activity in the Invercargill area. This activity is ongoing, structured, and repeatable. I have captured extensive video footage over this period using night-vision recording equipment, documenting objects and light sources operating at varying altitudes, including low-altitude activity below conventional aircraft levels.
The recorded activity demonstrates coordinated movement and behaviour consistent with a networked system of aerial platforms. The scale and persistence of this activity resemble a distributed system of drones, satellites, and nodes operating in concert, and it does not correspond with known civilian aviation or recreational drone activity.
I am seeking clarification as to whether this activity relates to authorised government operations, contracted third-party programmes, trials, research initiatives, or commercial technologies operating within or over New Zealand airspace.
In particular, this request includes any information held by your agency concerning:
Any involvement, authorisation, monitoring, or awareness of aerial or satellite-based systems operated by, supplied by, or associated with SpaceX, Starlink, Elon Musk–controlled entities, or their contractors; Any agreements, partnerships, approvals, briefings, correspondence, or assessments involving foreign aerospace or technology companies operating aerial or space-based platforms affecting New Zealand airspace; Coordinated or networked UAV or drone operations, including low-altitude aerial platforms; Aerial surveillance systems, sensor networks, or autonomous or semi-autonomous technologies; The use of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G or related systems, in support of aerial or space-based platforms; Any reports, assessments, correspondence, or incident records relating to persistent or unexplained aerial activity reported by members of the public or other agencies.
I hold a substantial volume of recorded footage documenting this activity and am prepared to supply this material if it assists in determining whether relevant information is held by your agency.
If this request, or any part of it, is more closely connected with the functions of another department or agency, I request that it be transferred in accordance with section 14 of the Official Information Act.
If any information is withheld, please clearly state the grounds for refusal relied upon under the Act.
Please provide the requested information in electronic form where possible.
Regards Stan Smith
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #33608 email]
Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
hide quoted sections
From: Iwase, Naoka
Kia ora Stan,
NZ Police has transferred the same OIA request to us which we recently declined under section 18(f) of the OIA on 27 February 2026.
As noted in our email to you dated 13 February 2026, we invited you to amend or clarify your request to reduce or remove the need for charging. Could you please let us know whether you are prepared to do so?
If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not wish to make any changes and will proceed with a decision on your original request.
Please note that, as currently framed, your request would be very difficult to meet without substantial collation or research. If the request is not amended, we may need to refuse it under section 18(f) of the OIA.
To enable us to meet our obligations and timeframes under the OIA, could you please let us know how you would like to proceed by the end of this week.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch.
Thank you.
Naoka Iwase
| Legal Counsel / OIA Advisor
w: www.airways.co.nz
-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2026 3:31 pm
To: [FOI #33608 email]
Subject: Transfer Notification - IR-01-26-3112 – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Tena koe Stan,
I refer to your Official Information Act request dated 29 January 2026 for subject.
We have transferred your request in full to Airways. The information to which your request relates is not held by us, but is believed to be held by and more closely related to the functions of Airways. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982 to transfer your request.
You will hear further from Airways concerning your request.
Ngā mihi
Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)
Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |
-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 7:44 am
To: 'Stan smith' <mailto:[FOI #33608 email]>
Subject: OIA acknowledgement IR-01-26-3112 – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Tēnā koe Stan
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.
Your reference number is IR-01-26-3112.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 27 February 2026 unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi, Michelle
Advisor - Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Stan smith <mailto:[FOI #33608 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 12:33 AM
To: Ministerial Services <mailto:[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information Act Request – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.
Dear New Zealand Police,
To whom it may concern,
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982 for any official information held by your department relating to the presence, operation, testing, monitoring, or authorisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, satellites, aerial sensor platforms, or other coordinated aerial or space-based systems operating over Invercargill and elsewhere in New Zealand.
For approximately five years, I have continuously observed and recorded persistent aerial activity in the Invercargill area. This activity is ongoing, structured, and repeatable. I have captured extensive video footage over this period using night-vision recording equipment, documenting objects and light sources operating at varying altitudes, including low-altitude activity below conventional aircraft levels.
The recorded activity demonstrates coordinated movement and behaviour consistent with a networked system of aerial platforms. The scale and persistence of this activity resemble a distributed system of drones, satellites, and nodes operating in concert, and it does not correspond with known civilian aviation or recreational drone activity.
I am seeking clarification as to whether this activity relates to authorised government operations, contracted third-party programmes, trials, research initiatives, or commercial technologies operating within or over New Zealand airspace.
In particular, this request includes any information held by your agency concerning:
Any involvement, authorisation, monitoring, or awareness of aerial or satellite-based systems operated by, supplied by, or associated with SpaceX, Starlink, Elon Musk–controlled entities, or their contractors; Any agreements, partnerships, approvals, briefings, correspondence, or assessments involving foreign aerospace or technology companies operating aerial or space-based platforms affecting New Zealand airspace; Coordinated or networked UAV or drone operations, including low-altitude aerial platforms; Aerial surveillance systems, sensor networks, or autonomous or semi-autonomous technologies; The use of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G or related systems, in support of aerial or space-based platforms; Any reports, assessments, correspondence, or incident records relating to persistent or unexplained aerial activity reported by members of the public or other agencies.
I hold a substantial volume of recorded footage documenting this activity and am prepared to supply this material if it assists in determining whether relevant information is held by your agency.
If this request, or any part of it, is more closely connected with the functions of another department or agency, I request that it be transferred in accordance with section 14 of the Official Information Act.
If any information is withheld, please clearly state the grounds for refusal relied upon under the Act.
Please provide the requested information in electronic form where possible.
Regards Stan Smith
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
mailto:[FOI #33608 email]
Is mailto:[New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Your communications are important to us and we take appropriate
measures to access, store and scan for information assurance.
is electronic message together with any attachments is confidential. If
you receive it in error: (i) you must not use, disclose, copy or retain
it; (ii) please contact the sender immediately by reply email and then
delete the emails. Views expressed in this email may not be those of the
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited.
hide quoted sections
From: Iwase, Naoka
Kia ora Stan,
Please find attached our response.
Thank you.
Naoka Iwase
| Legal Counsel / OIA Advisor
w: www.airways.co.nz
-----Original Message-----
From: Iwase, Naoka
Sent: Tuesday, 3 March 2026 10:33 am
To: [FOI #33608 email]
Subject: FW: Transfer Notification - IR-01-26-3112 – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Kia ora Stan,
NZ Police has transferred the same OIA request to us which we recently declined under section 18(f) of the OIA on 27 February 2026.
As noted in our email to you dated 13 February 2026, we invited you to amend or clarify your request to reduce or remove the need for charging. Could you please let us know whether you are prepared to do so?
If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not wish to make any changes and will proceed with a decision on your original request.
Please note that, as currently framed, your request would be very difficult to meet without substantial collation or research. If the request is not amended, we may need to refuse it under section 18(f) of the OIA.
To enable us to meet our obligations and timeframes under the OIA, could you please let us know how you would like to proceed by the end of this week.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch.
Thank you.
Naoka Iwase
| Legal Counsel / OIA Advisor
w: www.airways.co.nz
-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2026 3:31 pm
To: [FOI #33608 email]
Subject: Transfer Notification - IR-01-26-3112 – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Tena koe Stan,
I refer to your Official Information Act request dated 29 January 2026 for subject.
We have transferred your request in full to Airways. The information to which your request relates is not held by us, but is believed to be held by and more closely related to the functions of Airways. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982 to transfer your request.
You will hear further from Airways concerning your request.
Ngā mihi
Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)
Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |
-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 7:44 am
To: 'Stan smith' <mailto:[FOI #33608 email]>
Subject: OIA acknowledgement IR-01-26-3112 – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
Tēnā koe Stan
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.
Your reference number is IR-01-26-3112.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 27 February 2026 unless an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi, Michelle
Advisor - Police National Headquarters
-----Original Message-----
From: Stan smith <mailto:[FOI #33608 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2026 12:33 AM
To: Ministerial Services <mailto:[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information Act Request – Coordinated Aerial Systems and Associated Technologies
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.
Dear New Zealand Police,
To whom it may concern,
I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982 for any official information held by your department relating to the presence, operation, testing, monitoring, or authorisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, satellites, aerial sensor platforms, or other coordinated aerial or space-based systems operating over Invercargill and elsewhere in New Zealand.
For approximately five years, I have continuously observed and recorded persistent aerial activity in the Invercargill area. This activity is ongoing, structured, and repeatable. I have captured extensive video footage over this period using night-vision recording equipment, documenting objects and light sources operating at varying altitudes, including low-altitude activity below conventional aircraft levels.
The recorded activity demonstrates coordinated movement and behaviour consistent with a networked system of aerial platforms. The scale and persistence of this activity resemble a distributed system of drones, satellites, and nodes operating in concert, and it does not correspond with known civilian aviation or recreational drone activity.
I am seeking clarification as to whether this activity relates to authorised government operations, contracted third-party programmes, trials, research initiatives, or commercial technologies operating within or over New Zealand airspace.
In particular, this request includes any information held by your agency concerning:
Any involvement, authorisation, monitoring, or awareness of aerial or satellite-based systems operated by, supplied by, or associated with SpaceX, Starlink, Elon Musk–controlled entities, or their contractors; Any agreements, partnerships, approvals, briefings, correspondence, or assessments involving foreign aerospace or technology companies operating aerial or space-based platforms affecting New Zealand airspace; Coordinated or networked UAV or drone operations, including low-altitude aerial platforms; Aerial surveillance systems, sensor networks, or autonomous or semi-autonomous technologies; The use of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G or related systems, in support of aerial or space-based platforms; Any reports, assessments, correspondence, or incident records relating to persistent or unexplained aerial activity reported by members of the public or other agencies.
I hold a substantial volume of recorded footage documenting this activity and am prepared to supply this material if it assists in determining whether relevant information is held by your agency.
If this request, or any part of it, is more closely connected with the functions of another department or agency, I request that it be transferred in accordance with section 14 of the Official Information Act.
If any information is withheld, please clearly state the grounds for refusal relied upon under the Act.
Please provide the requested information in electronic form where possible.
Regards Stan Smith
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
mailto:[FOI #33608 email]
Is mailto:[New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Your communications are important to us and we take appropriate
measures to access, store and scan for information assurance.
is electronic message together with any attachments is confidential. If
you receive it in error: (i) you must not use, disclose, copy or retain
it; (ii) please contact the sender immediately by reply email and then
delete the emails. Views expressed in this email may not be those of the
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited.
hide quoted sections
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