16 June 2026
Ref: OIA-2025/26-0798
Andrew Arkins
[FYI request #34857 email]
Tēnā koe Andrew
Official Information Act request: UAP national security coordination, NSIP status, and
PURSUE response
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, which was received by the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on 5 June 2026. You requested:
“[…] information held by DPMC, including by the National Security Group (NSG) and
the National Assessments Bureau (NAB), relating to Unidentified Anomalous
Phenomena (UAP) at a national-security coordination level.
Two points of context establish relevance. First, the GCSB, in declining a related
request, directed me to DPMC as the department responsible for the National Security
Intelligence Priorities (NSIPs). Second, the New Zealand Defence Force has confirmed
in writing (OIA-2024-5215, 10 December 2024) that a New Zealand representative
attended the FVEY Inaugural UAP Caucus Working Group held at the Pentagon on 24
May 2023, which makes whole-of-government coordination on the topic plausible.
I request the following:
1. Whether UAP has been designated as, considered as, or formally evaluated for
inclusion as a National Security Intelligence Priority, and any documents
recording that consideration or decision.
2. Any National Security Group or National Assessments Bureau briefings,
assessments, minutes, or coordination documents relating to UAP, from
January 2020 to the present.
3. Any whole-of-government or inter-agency coordination documents relating to
New Zealand's participation in the FVEY Inaugural UAP Caucus Working Group
of 24 May 2023, including any briefing prepared for or following that meeting at
a coordination or assessments level.
4. Any DPMC communications or coordination relating to the United States
Department of War PURSUE UAP declassification program (war.gov/ufo), from
1 February 2026 to the present, including any New Zealand third-party equity
review and any inter-agency briefing prepared in response to the releases.
If you believe any part of this request is held by, or more closely connected with the
functions of, another agency, I ask that it be transferred under section 14 rather than
refused. If any part is refused, please state the specific ground under section 18 or
section 6 of the Act. I would appreciate confirmation of receipt and an estimated
timeframe within the statutory 20 working days.”
DPMC can only respond to your request insofar as it is for information held by us. If you are
seeking information that you believe may be held by another agency, for example the New
Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), you may wish to consider making a request directly to that
agency (if you have not done so already).
5158464
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
Information to be refused
I am refusing your request under section 18(g) of the Act as DPMC does not hold any
relevant material about “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP),” whether this be:
information about UAP in the context of National Security Intelligence Priorities; any National
Security Group or National Assessments Bureau documents about UAP; any whole-of-
government or inter-agency coordination documents about New Zealand's participation in the
FVEY Inaugural UAP Caucus Working Group UAP; or any DPMC communications about the
“United States Department of War PURSUE UAP declassification program.” Nor do I have
any grounds for believing that such information is either held by, or more closely connected
to the functions of another entity subject to the Act.
More information about the National Security Intelligence Priorities is publicly available on
DPMC’s website:
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/national-security/national-
security-intelligence-priorities. You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on the DPMC website during our regular publication cycle.
Typically, information is released monthly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal
information including name and contact details wil be removed for publication.
Nāku noa, nā
Marika Hughes
Acting Deputy Chief Executive
National Security and Resilience
5158464
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