Tēnā koe Shane,

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.

Your reference number is IR-01-26-11626.

You can expect a response to your request on or before 4 May 2026 unless an extension is needed.

Ngā mihi

Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)
Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |

-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Plummer <[FOI #34327 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 1 April 2026 10:41 am
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Traffic Enforcement - Operating manuals, Procedures, Policies High-Speed Driving, TENR

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.

Kia ora, New Zealand Police,

I am requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982.

This request relates to New Zealand Police policies, procedures, and training governing high-speed driving and approaches during routine traffic enforcement, including the application of TENR (Tactical, Environment, Necessity, Risk).

To assist efficiency and avoid unnecessary collation, I request current versions of documents only, unless otherwise stated.

1. Policies and Operational Guidelines

Please provide any current policies, instructions, or operational guidelines (including Police Manual chapters, standard operating procedures, or aide-memoires) that relate to:

* The application of TENR during:

* traffic enforcement
* high-speed driving (including exceeding the speed limit)
* activation of emergency lights and sirens

* The distinction between:

* a routine traffic stop
* a high-speed approach
* a pursuit

* Criteria or thresholds (including specific speed thresholds) that:

*justify or permit a high-speed approach
* apply to minor infringements (e.g. 10–11 km/h over the speed limit)
* require escalation, reporting, or reclassification as a pursuit, including where officers are 'exceeding the speed limit (e.g. by 30–40 km/h or more)'

2. Supervisor Notification and Control

Please provide policies outlining:

When officers must notify a supervisor or communications centre when:

* exceeding the speed limit, including by 30–40 km/h or more where escalation, reporting, or reclassification as a pursuit may be required
* engaging in high-risk driving
* rapidly closing distance on another vehicle

* When a supervisor is required to take command or oversight

* Supervisor responsibilities for:

* risk assessment (including TENR)
* ongoing monitoring
* directing abandonment of an approach or pursuit

3. Use of Emergency Lights and Sirens

Please provide policies or guidance specifying:

* When emergency lights and/or sirens must be activated:

* when initiating a routine traffic stop, including from a parked position
* when exceeding the speed limit
* when approaching vehicles at speed in multi-lane or dense traffic

* Any permitted exceptions.

4. Driving Safety Protocols

Please provide procedures or guidance relating to:

* Safe following distances at speed (e.g. 80 km/h and above)
* Lane changing and overtaking during enforcement activity
* Maintaining safe separation in multi-vehicle traffic situations

5. Roles and Responsibilities of Secondary Officers

Please provide any policies outlining:

* The role of a secondary officer in monitoring driver behaviour
* Any obligation to report unsafe driving or breaches of policy
* Oversight responsibilities relating to TENR, high-speed driving, or pursuits

6. Speed Detection Equipment (Patrol Vehicles)

Please provide any current operating manuals, procedures, or policy documents relating to the use of in-vehicle radar or other speed detection devices used by traffic patrol officers.

7. Training Materials

Please provide any current training material, modules, or course outlines relating to:

* High-speed driving
* TENR application
* Pursuit initiation and management
* Safe approaches to vehicles during routine traffic stops
* in-vehicle radar or other speed detection

Ngā mihi,
Shane Plummer
Tauranga

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34327 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

Kia ora Shane,

I refer to your request below. I have been asked to advise you that Police requires an extension of time in which to respond to your request, pursuant to section 15A(1) of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Specifically, section 15A(1)(b), consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
Police requires until 18 May 2026 to provide a substantive response to your request, however we are endeavouring to provide this to you as soon as possible.

You have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA, to make a complaint to an Ombudsman about this extension. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi,

Suzanne
Advisor - Ministerial Services
NZ Police National Headquarters Wellington

-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Wednesday, 1 April 2026 11:39 AM
To: Shane Plummer <[FOI #34327 email]>
Subject: OIA Acknowledgement IR-01-26-11626

Tēnā koe Shane,

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.

Your reference number is IR-01-26-11626.

You can expect a response to your request on or before 4 May 2026 unless an extension is needed.

Ngā mihi

Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)
Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |

-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Plummer <[FOI #34327 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 1 April 2026 10:41 am
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Traffic Enforcement - Operating manuals, Procedures, Policies High-Speed Driving, TENR

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.

Kia ora, New Zealand Police,

I am requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982.

This request relates to New Zealand Police policies, procedures, and training governing high-speed driving and approaches during routine traffic enforcement, including the application of TENR (Tactical, Environment, Necessity, Risk).

To assist efficiency and avoid unnecessary collation, I request current versions of documents only, unless otherwise stated.

1. Policies and Operational Guidelines

Please provide any current policies, instructions, or operational guidelines (including Police Manual chapters, standard operating procedures, or aide-memoires) that relate to:

* The application of TENR during:

* traffic enforcement
* high-speed driving (including exceeding the speed limit)
* activation of emergency lights and sirens

* The distinction between:

* a routine traffic stop
* a high-speed approach
* a pursuit

* Criteria or thresholds (including specific speed thresholds) that:

*justify or permit a high-speed approach
* apply to minor infringements (e.g. 10–11 km/h over the speed limit)
* require escalation, reporting, or reclassification as a pursuit, including where officers are 'exceeding the speed limit (e.g. by 30–40 km/h or more)'

2. Supervisor Notification and Control

Please provide policies outlining:

When officers must notify a supervisor or communications centre when:

* exceeding the speed limit, including by 30–40 km/h or more where escalation, reporting, or reclassification as a pursuit may be required
* engaging in high-risk driving
* rapidly closing distance on another vehicle

* When a supervisor is required to take command or oversight

* Supervisor responsibilities for:

* risk assessment (including TENR)
* ongoing monitoring
* directing abandonment of an approach or pursuit

3. Use of Emergency Lights and Sirens

Please provide policies or guidance specifying:

* When emergency lights and/or sirens must be activated:

* when initiating a routine traffic stop, including from a parked position
* when exceeding the speed limit
* when approaching vehicles at speed in multi-lane or dense traffic

* Any permitted exceptions.

4. Driving Safety Protocols

Please provide procedures or guidance relating to:

* Safe following distances at speed (e.g. 80 km/h and above)
* Lane changing and overtaking during enforcement activity
* Maintaining safe separation in multi-vehicle traffic situations

5. Roles and Responsibilities of Secondary Officers

Please provide any policies outlining:

* The role of a secondary officer in monitoring driver behaviour
* Any obligation to report unsafe driving or breaches of policy
* Oversight responsibilities relating to TENR, high-speed driving, or pursuits

6. Speed Detection Equipment (Patrol Vehicles)

Please provide any current operating manuals, procedures, or policy documents relating to the use of in-vehicle radar or other speed detection devices used by traffic patrol officers.

7. Training Materials

Please provide any current training material, modules, or course outlines relating to:

* High-speed driving
* TENR application
* Pursuit initiation and management
* Safe approaches to vehicles during routine traffic stops
* in-vehicle radar or other speed detection

Ngā mihi,
Shane Plummer
Tauranga

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34327 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

Tēnā koe Shane

                                 

Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act
request, received by New Zealand Police on 1/4/2026.

 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in providing you with this
response.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Siena (she/her)

Advisor - Ministerial Services

Police National Headquarters

 

 

===============================================================

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