Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982.

I request the following information held by the New Zealand Defence Force relating to Defence Science and Technology (DST):

1. Total DST expenditure
For the a recently completed 12-month period (whatever is practical for example a full finacial year), please provide:

The total expenditure for DST, including personnel costs (wages and salaries).

2. Drone-related research expenditure
For the same 12-month period, please provide:

The total expenditure (including personnel costs) on drone or uncrewed systems-related research and development undertaken by DST.

Ideally please provide a breakdown of this expenditure by operational domain as follows:
a. Land domain – including ground-based and airborne drones primarily intended to influence land operations.
b. Sea domain – including surface, sub-surface, and airborne drones primarily intended to influence maritime operations.
c. Air domain – drones primarily intended for air operations that are not already included within the land or sea domains.

Where a system or research programme may apply to multiple domains, please attribute expenditure to the domain where the majority of its intended operational use is expected. If it is not reasonably practicable to allocate expenditure in this way, please advise and provide the total drone-related expenditure without domain breakdown.

3. Direction and prioritisation

I am interested in understanding if DST has been formally directed to prioritise drones.

Please provide:

Copies of any formal direction, guidance, prioritisation statements, tasking orders, strategic documents, or written instructions issued within the last 24 months to DST relating to drones or uncrewed systems.

Any documentation outlining the prioritisation of drone or uncrewed systems research within DST work programmes.

If any part of this request is likely to be refused under the Act, I ask that you provide the remaining information where possible and specify the grounds for withholding under the relevant sections of the Act.

If clarification or refinement of scope would assist in processing this request, I am happy to engage.

Kind regards,

Graeme Doull