IR-01-26-12315 
7 May 2026  
Jarrod Sullivan 
[FYI request #34423 email] 
Dear Jarrod 
Official Information Act Request 
I refer to your Official Information Act 1982 request dated 8 April 2026, in which you 
requested the fol owing information regarding drivers’ licenses for undercover covert 
operations:  
How many driver licences are currently issued under alias details for the purpose 
of protecting the true identities of staff involved in undercover or covert 
investigations. I acknowledge security protections apply and seek only the total 
number currently issued. 
The New Zealand Police Undercover Programme is a highly sensitive and covert aspect 
of policing. The release of any information that could reveal the number of staff operating 
in undercover or other specialist covert roles would provide insight into Police covert 
capabilities. 
Disclosing the total number of driver licences issued under assumed identities for covert 
purposes would effectively indicate the number of covert officers deployed by New 
Zealand Police. Such information could enable criminal groups to better understand the 
capacity and scale of Police covert operations. 
Accordingly, your request is refused pursuant to section 6(c) of the OIA, as the making 
available of the information would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law, 
including the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences. 
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this 
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at 
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602. 
Yours sincerely 
J R Mackie 
Detective Inspector 
Police National Headquarters 

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