Copy Ilf. of 36 NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE UNIDENTIFIED Fiie Number: 1630 / 2 Volume 2 File Title: Reports of UFOs and Ethnology File Timespan: Opened: 1990 - Closed 2009 File Declassified: December 2010 Location of Original File: Held at HQNZDF Access to Original File: Restricted until 2080 File Contains: UFO reports from members of the public, military personnel and passenger aircraft. Correspondence from inventors requesting Air Force assistance. Australian South African UFO crash / retrieval in 1989. Letters from Ethnologists. NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE PUBLIC RELEASE OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES These copied and redacted files of correspondence on Unidentified Flying Objects dating from 1952 to 2009 have been Declassified and released to the public by the New Zealand Defence Force under the Official Information Act. Access to the original files held by Archives New Zealand is restricted up until the year 2080 for Personal Privacy reasons. These copied files have had the personal details of members of the public making UFO reports removed to preserve their privacy. Personal details of service personnel and civilians employed by the New Zealand Defence Force and other Government Departments and Agencies have not been removed. No other information has been removed or omitted from these files. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FILES Correspondence on Flying Saucers began in New Zealand Defence Force files in 1952 and continued under different names, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) and Unidentified Aerial Sightings (UAS) until the present. The files contain reports of sightings by private individuals and military personnel, Investigations by Defence and other Government Departments and agencies into these reports, newspaper clippings on UFOs and letters from individuals who claim to be in touch with alien beings and craft. While the files are in general date order from 1952 until the present some file periods overlap with one another and the documents within each file are not necessarily in strict date order. There can be duplicate documents within each file and copies of the same documents (particularly media releases and reports) can appear in different files. ACCESS TO UFO FILES These redacted files are available in hard copy from the Defence Library c/o Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force Aitken St Wellington. They are not available In electronic format. VETTING RECORD SHEET PLEASE COMPLETE ONLY ONE PAGE PER RECORD NZDF STORAGE NO FILE *Delete as appropriate PART NO J2- (File or Non File Material) Sub-Series Subject /iM/^ l=^7yAI>iJn>A.'r^ Appropriate No NZ Documents on File No Classified Documents on File NZ Documents Cleared for Access No Classified NZ Documents on File No Foreign Source Classified Documents on File Some Foreign or Special-Source Documents placed on restricted Parallel File Some NZ (Non-NZDF) Documents placed on Restricted Parallel File All Classified Foreign Source Documents Cleared for Access ^^^elease on 1 the Year Review again before the Year VETTING COMMENTS IF NECESSARY A3&uX\cu\ <J pys. luJXl 3^SrO - RESTRICTED ACCORDANCE PROVISIONS INFORMATION Uj.2jjZal/i STAMP (place relevant NZDF decision ST/(MP here, sign and date) Vetting Commenced / //z/m Vetting Completed ) !Q^f )/) File Number. , .. VolNo. 2rr. FILE RELEASE STATEMENT VETTING COMPLETED AND: /.^^i^5o"^ssified NZDF documents have been declassified QttoJg. Dept classified doeuments-ba-ve-been cleared for access ^ Foreign Sourcc-ciascified deeunrtente-have been cleared for access Some^oreign-of-special so-urec documents have been placed j;:estfiet6d parallel file (see-soparatiem sheets herewith . recording transier). Other comments: For Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force ' NB: Classified documents of other New Zealand Departments where there is some concern about declassifying them should be referred to the relevant department. SEARLE ANNE, MRS Sent: Friday, 5 February 2010 9:57 a.m. To: HQNZDF(AIR) Subject: AIR 1 630/2: DIVIDE CURRENT VOLUME SupervisecAif Staff Registry FILE AIR 1630/2 1 . To facilitate the review and the potential public release of the sustance of information held on the UFOs held on RNZAF files, could you please: a. Close Air 1630/2 Voume Two WEF 13 March 2009 with E54 as the last formal enclosure. b. Place a copy of this email as a covering authorisation on the file. communication administrative A.W. Dale Subject: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Copy Draft REPLY to files please & Thanks Air Staff Registry - Could you please place a copy of this email on the current volume of Air 1630/2 (replaces my earlier version) continuity attachment/note Classified Unidentified sightings, Thanks for all your efforts in identifying and locating these files and your advice & support -- very much appreciated it saved me a lot of work. SCRIVENER MIKE. MR Sent: Thursday, 12 March 2009 8:18 a.m. To: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Cc: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Subject: RE: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY Thanks gents From: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Sent: Thursday, 12 March 2009 8:08 a.m. To: SCRIVENER MIKE, MR Cc: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Subject: RE: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY RNZAF Response to both OlAs : investigate Unidentified co-ordinating instruction Government summarises investigation unidentified information information harassment Statutory powers exist under the Official Information Act 1982 to withhold such rage lot ! Information and these files will remain on our privacy marked and classified lis*s. If you are dissatisfied with the content of this response, you have the right to st J an Investigation and review of my decision through the Office of the Ombudsmen. Mike - above is the amended response to OIA1 156 & OIA1158. Cheers Mike SQNLDR Mike Cunningham AD Corporate Support From: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 5:09 p.m. To: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Subject: RE: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY Hello Mike, Thanks for this I have made improvements to our draft text as shown below (In blue font) Re Identifying other Govt Agencies, I prefer not. 1 do not know how the current situation stands and none would thank me for the referral. Mike is right that there were a number of agencies that routinely received reports at various times, but I am not aware that any of these had responsibilities for coordinating, actioning or recording the reports. consulted. From: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 4:28 p.m. To: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Subject: FW: OIA 1 156 & 1 158 : Draft REPLY Warren - what do you think??? SQNLDR Mike Cunningham AD Corporate Support From: SCRIVENER MIKE. MR Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 4:25 p.m. To: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Subject: RE: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY From: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Sent: Wednesday, 1 1 March 2009 4:16 p.m. To: SCRIVENER MIKE, MR Cc: WHITEOAK JENNIFER, MRS Subject: FW: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY Mike - you OK with the response??? Cheers Mike SQNLDR Mike Cunningham AD Corporate Support From: MOORE STEVE, AIRCDRE Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 4:14 p.m. To: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Cc: BRUNTON IAN, MR; SCRIVENER MIKE, MR; BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Subject: RE: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY From: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 16:04 To: MOORE STEVE, AIRCDRE Cc: BRUNTON IAN, MR; SCRIVENER MIKE, MR; BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Subject: FW: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY 1156 - Caroline Courtney, North and South Magazine Are there any classified files on UFO's held in NZ? appropriate) phenomenon Jt^age 4 ot 7 If not, can the Ministry please make a statement available for publication in our maga:^ine? 1158 - Suzanne Hansen, Director UFOCUS NZ Research Network Information information concerning RNZAF Response to both investigate Unidentified co-ordinating An exception was made in the case of the Kaikoura Lights Sightings in the late 1 970s, due to public interest and an Instruction from the Government of the day. I enclose a copy of the press release which summarises all of the salient findings of this investigation and it includes a summary of Defences views at the time. The Royal New Zealand Air Force does hold files on unidentified objects and related issues. These variously contain information of a military nature and some reports and personal information supplied by private persons. If released, the latter, In respect of UFOs and related issues, has the potential to expose the authors to public ridicule and/or harassment Statutory powers exist under the Official Information Act 1982 to withhold such information and these files will remain on our privacy marked and classified lists. If you are dissatisfied with the content of this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and review of my decision through the Office of the Ombudsmen. Cheers Mike SQNLDR Mike Cunningham AD Corporate Support From: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:35 a.m. To: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Cc: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Subject: FW: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY I agree with Warren's response - all yours now. Kelly Byrne D PLANS (F) From: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:05 a. m. To: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Cc: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR; FORTUNE ROD, WGCDR Subject: OIA 1156 & 1158 : Draft REPLY DRAFT REPLY TO OIA 1156 & 1158 transmission attachment) A.W. Dale PLANS 2(F) Air Staff Attachments: From: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR To: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Subject: FW: UNCLASSIFIED: OIA 1158 FOR REPLY BY 5 FEB 09 From: GUY PETE, GPCAPT To: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Subject: FW: UNCLASSIRED: OIA 1158 FOR REPLY BY 5 FEB 09 As Discussed, ACAF PLANS Air Staff From: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Sent: Tuesday, 10 March 2009 09:27 To: GUY PETE, GPCAPT UNCLASSIFIED: GIday Sir Cheers Mike SQNLDR Mike Cunningham AD Corporate Support From: BASILE DIANE, MRS Sent: Tuesday, 27 January 2009 8:49 a. m. CHRISTOPHER, CUNNINGHAM UNCLASSIFIED: Morning Gentlemen sightings, understand Information Do you wish any further action on this OIA meantime ??? REGARDS DIANE DIANE BASILE EXECUTIVE SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR WELLINGTON email:
[email protected] From: FORD MEUSSA, MKS Sent: Monday, 26 January 2009 3:35 p.m. To: W OAK JENNIFER, MRS; BASILE DIANE, MRS Cc: C, .KE ADA, MRS; SCRIVENER MIKE, MR; CLAYTON CHRISTOPHER, MR Subject: UNCLASSIFIED: OIA 1158 FOR REPLY BY 5 FEB 09 Good afternoon OIA 1158 2009 - Covering Minute.pdf Q OIA 1 158 2009 Suzanne Hansen.pdf Attached is the above OIA 1158 for reply by 5 Feb 09. Please forward responses and/or any queries to Christopher Clayton, Min Coord, Ext 7035 or Mike Scrivener, Snr Min Coord, Ext 7037. Administration Assistant Organisational Support DEFENCE HOUSE SEA^LE ANNE, MRS From: DALE WARREN. SQNLDR To: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Cc: CUNNINGHAM MIKE. SQNLDR; FORTUNE ROD, WGCDR Attachments: OIA 1156 and 1158.doc; DEFENCE NEWS RELEASE RNZAF REPORT ON UFOs.pdf DRAFT REPLY TO OIA 1156 & 1158 1 . As directed, herewith for your review and, if agreed, onward transmission to DSCF is a draft response (with one attachment) for OIA 1156. It should also suffice as a reponse to OIA 1 1 58. A.W. Dale PLANS 2(F) Air Staff Attachments: 2. Defence Media Release: Defence News Release - RNZAF Report on UFOs From: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR To: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR Subject: FW: UNCLASSIFIED: OIA 1158 FOR REPLY BY 5 FEB 09 From: GUY PETE, GPCAPT To: BYRNE KELLY, WGCDR Subject: FW: UNCLASSIFIED: OIA 1158 FOR REPLY BY 5 FEB 09 As Discussed, ACAF PLANS Air Staff From: CUNNINGHAM MIKE, SQNLDR Sent: Tuesday, 10 March 2009 09:27 To: GUY PETE, GPCAPT Cc: DALE WARREN, SQNLDR; FORTUNE ROD, WGCDR Subject: FW: UNCLASSIFIED: OIA 1158 FOR REPLY BY 5 FEB 09 Giday Sir Sorry but could PLANS please provide an answer to the OlA's 1 1 56 and 1 1 58??? I will come over and talk about