Official Information Act Request — DrugWipe 3S Procurement & Independent Laboratory Testing (Contradiction Clarification)

To: NZ Police
From: Nigel Gray
Date: 14 June 2026
Subject: Official Information Act Request – Clarification of OAG Statement Regarding Independent Laboratory Testing and Tender Evaluation Material

Dear New Zealand Police,

I am requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982.

On 11 June 2026, the Office of the Controller and Auditor‑General (OAG) responded to my OIA request of 4 June 2026. In that response, the OAG stated:

“The first, second and fifth categories of information you have requested will be held by New Zealand Police.”

The categories referred to were:

All documents, reports, and data relating to the independent laboratory testing conducted on DrugWipe 3S and other tenderers’ products.

All tender evaluation documents relating to the DrugWipe 3S procurement.

Any documents describing or summarising the testing process undertaken by Police or their contractors.

However, in previous OIA responses, New Zealand Police have stated or implied that Police do not hold:

independent laboratory testing reports

validation or accuracy data

testing methodologies

pass/fail criteria

scientific evaluation material for DrugWipe 3S

Given the direct contradiction between the OAG’s statement and Police’s earlier responses, clarification is required.

I therefore request the following under the OIA:
1. Confirmation of whether New Zealand Police holds the information described in categories 1, 2, and 5 above.
For clarity, this includes:

laboratory reports

validation or accuracy data

testing methodologies

pass/fail criteria

correspondence with laboratories or testing providers

technical assessments

scoring matrices

evaluation panel notes

conflict‑of‑interest declarations

risk assessments

internal or external summaries of the testing process

2. If Police do hold this information, please provide it.
3. If Police do not hold this information, please explain:
a. Why the OAG has stated that Police do hold it, and
b. What information Police provided to the OAG during the probity assurance review, including any documents, summaries, or briefings.

4. Any internal Police communications discussing the OAG’s statement that Police hold this material.
Purpose of this request
This request is necessary to reconcile:

the OAG’s explicit statement that Police hold the independent laboratory testing and tender evaluation material, and

Police’s earlier statements indicating that such material is not held.

Please treat this as a new request under the Official Information Act.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray