Copy lif of 36 NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFO) FILES COPIES FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC File Number: AIR 39/3/3 Volume 3 File Title: Reports of UFOs File Timespan: Opened: 1979 - Closed 1980 File Declassified: September 2010 Location of Original File: Held at Archives New Zealand Access to Original File: Restricted until 2050 File Contains: Reports of UFO sightings from members of the public and military personnel. Correspondence from / to UFO research groups in NZ and requests for UFO information from overseas researchers. Press release summary of investigation into the 1975 Kaikoura sightings. 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 originai files held by Archives New Zealand is restricted up until the year 2080 for Personal Privacy reasons. These copied fiies 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 1 952 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. Date of last document /? 1)2.1 J^SsD Please Tick the Amrnpriate Boxes: No NZ Documents on File ^ 'Nociassified Documents on File [ PHJ^reif ' NZDocum _ NoClassifi Its Cleared for Access INZ Documents on F: ign Source Documents on File Some Foreign or Special-Source Documents placed on restricted Parallel File Some NZ (Non-NZDF) Documents placed on Restricted Parallel File Some I I All Foreign Source Documeni I I Cleared for Access Te r<ua Mahara o te Kawanaianga NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT LOANS SERVICE PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS SHEET This item is part of the holdings of Archives New Zealand, and is a PUBLIC ARCHIVE on TEMPORARY LOAN to vour office. Accession: U/-75~-5 Box/Fiie: /// Shelf No: 3^/ g Do not remove any item from' this fiie ' Do not any item to this fiie Do not write on or erase anything from this file Do not flag, label, or otherwise damage this file This loan is valid for three months from' ....2. 8. AUG. .2010 PLEASE RETURN WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS TO Government Loans Service Archives New Zealand Head Office Ground Floor Reception, 10 Mulgraye Street WELLINGTON OR ASK FOR AN EXTENSION Email:
[email protected] Unless returned within 3 months, or extended, overdue charges will apply. FILE RELEASE STATEMENT VETTING COMPLETED AND: A^^^lassified documents on file. documents have been declassified Qther-?'IZ Govt Bcpt-claooificd documents have becH- cleared for access 'Jile-Isee separation .'ihocti hr.rnwini n.i.iu.JingtraT'gfrr;; 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. fiwu _TO RTY\OI-OG'\ OT UXftVAT ^ Tvufi fi(T 15 Decambar 190Q dr Patar G. Kaane 55 Grawilla Auehue Flindara Park 5025 SOUTH AUSTRklAf Dear Sir, Thank yoil'for your latter of 5 Decambar. publishing itsinitial^ralsasB*^^'' The RNZAF study will not be tha material I passed to you is released to the public. Houeuer a summary of the findings of that release peper used to carry the material passed to yoi aotiulties to the media. The footnote is only included to prompt neus editors. 4.U ,52 iiatanoB there is nothing further that I can add to have already passed to you. Houeuer there have been indepandent reports including a book called "Kalkoura UFO's" Illlnguorth. by Hpddor and Stoughton and is priced here at $12.95. ;I thank, > you for your inquiry. .Yoiirs faithfully, Squadron teadpr RNZAF Public Relations Officer. 25 November 19B0 Mr Peter G. Keane 55 Graville Ave Flinders Park 5Q25 SOUTH AUSTRALIA Dear Sir, Thank you for your letter of 13 November seeking a copy of the RNZAF study into Unidentified Flying Objeota in the Claronoe River/Kaikoura regions. The report on the RNZAF a invaatigation haa not bean made public. Hou/evar a statsmant containing the findings of the invaatigation uaa released at the tima. I have enclosed a copy This particular study uaa an ieolatad investigation. The RNZAF doss not normally undertake detailed inveatigationa into sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects. Ue do houaver, consult uith other Government agencies in an endeavour to alimlnate any obvious explanations. I thank you for your interest. Yours faithfully, (C. D. COLE) Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Relations 25 Nouember 1980 nr H, Nickson 167 Ssabank Road Morsoyside L45 7QL Island of Nau Zsaland. the information you Yours faithfully, (c. D. COLE) Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Rb] itions Officer H. NICKSON, M.Ch.S. 37 SEABANK ROAD WALLASEY , MERSEYSIDE Ef\jc^MT} ^ eVCw/cv.*x- uu LKB929BFA892 HH PP RZYXCE ZNV RRRRR FH RNZflF flUCKLRNB TO RZYXCEZNZBEF fl[R RZYWTT/OPHQ RHZflF 706 REF TELECON XOTW flNB flIROPS flflB fllRSTRFF OPHQ 1222302 SUBJECT USIBENTIFIEB RflBftR RETURN PB RNBOOER 7625 DEPflRTEB WELLINGTON 122328Z TO INOESTIGflTE PB FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF FO REPORT PB fl UNITES STATES UNIBENT TYPE SERNO 972 BBG SER NO 1066 B POSITION 122 MAG 47 NN WELLINGTON 122345Z C SER NO 972 STEAMING 030M720KTS SER NO 1066 STEAMING OISMZISKTS B 972 FLYING HELICOPTER GRUMMAN SEASTRIKE E NZ7625 ANBOUER BUXFIELB RESTRICTED NO UNCLASSIFIED reply or reference RESTRICTED NO UNCLASSIFIED nr HifrU. Haatings 5 Carkaak Straat HARUBOROUGH Dear Kslth, Thank you for your latter saaking inforaation on Uni-iantlfiad Flying Objacta for a achool project. Pleasa aesfeipt lay ainoaro apologiea for not replying soonar but I haua ' I am afraid I am unable to help you as tha RN2AF does noV undertake detailed investigations into UFO sightings. ' There era a number of organisations in Neu Zealand that undertake research into sightings and I uould suggest that you contj&ot tha New Zaaland UFO Studio CentrSf 5 Ngshu Crescent, Eladon, Wellington. I thank you for your enquiry. Yours faithfully, Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Relations Officer nr Oarran U nitohell 434 Ragill Road Ksnalngton Gardana South Auatraila 5068 Thank you for your lottar ooncsrning invaatioationa by the HNZAr into racant sightings of Unldantifiad Flying Objects. I an afraid you have bean aialad by AAP raporta amphaalaing radar obsarwotiona and Air Forca Inusstlgationa into recant UFO sightings. The RNZAF does not conduct datailsd invastlgatlons into sightings and I am not auara of any rsportsd radar obsarvations. Nor am I auars of any activity similar to tha Kaikoura sightings of last year. Soma sighting* wars reportad in the Hutt Valley area near Uallington. I thank you for your Inquiry. Yours faithfully, Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Relations Officer fli Harry Harris 346 nanohaatar Road Usat Timparlay Aittlncham Osar Sir, I thank you for your lattar of 15 April anoloaing a copy of your lattar of 12 Ftbruary -to which you had not raeaivad a raply. Obvioualy tha malls ara alow for your lattar of 12 Fabruary raachad this Headquartara on 7 flay. Tha daeiaion not to maka tha report a public documant was raada by tha Air Staff at tha time. Howavar a aummary of tha report including tha findings, was ralsased and a copy of this was passed to yoii on 22 March 1979. Yours faithfully, Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Relations Officer Dear Sir, . re; 'U.F.O. matter, I enclose a photocopy of my letter to you on 12th February last I would be Dear Sir, A little time has lapsed since you on behalf of the EKZAr released a Pre,ess statement in early Jan 1979 which expressed findings on the December 1978 Kaikaura, Cape Campbell, Clarence River Mouth area, radar-visual and photographic record of the unusual phenomena reported in those coastal zones. Would you still have a copy of that Press Release which you could spare, I would like to add it to my files. Illness and attendant difficulties have precluded my making this request much sooner. As you and your fellow Officers will be very much aware, the subject of these particular ufo events are still much in the liiislight with two bools dealing directly with the saga due for publication shortly and a third not far away which will include the xkalmx content of these Kaikaura events. May I have the pleasure of receiving copy of the Press Release as requested and any further public released material on the events in question you or your information department may have offered subsequently. Oat Sit, I thank you fot yout lattat of 17 3anuary aaaking a Rota dataliad and aelantifie axpXanatian of, X aaauaa, tha Kaikouta unldantlftad flyinp abjadt alahtlnsa 14 aontha ago, YoUt lattat of 9 Ootobat, 1979, uaa not taeotdad aa baing I iMiat tafat yoa % fey lattat of 28 3una in uhioh X indioatad that tha RNZlr Jpapovt an tha aightinga touid not ba taiaaaad, that paliey ia unahangad. Kawavat X undatatand that tha Raw Zaaland UFO Studiaa Cantta eattiad out alHitudy an tha aightinga and an apptoaoh to tha Cantta thtough 6t 3 f cWSoBk of 5 Ngahua Cxaaoant, Cladon, Now Zaaland, aay ptowida tha infotmatlon you aaak. Youta faithfully. {C p CPU) Squadton iaadar RNZAf Public Ralatlona Of float 3 Saptsmbar 1979 Mr Niall Fanning 12 Uintar Road Geeaon Park Dear Sir, Thank you for your letter seeking information on Unidentified Flying Objects. It is regretted that I am unable to provide you uith this information. The RNZAF does not undertake detailed inveatigations into reports on Unidentified Flying Objects. If a report la paased on to ua we do, howavar, consult a number of other Government agencies to eliminate any obvious explanations. Yours faithfully, (C.D. COLE) Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Relations Officer Avon School, Hamlet Street, STEATFOED. 25 September Dear Sir , I would like to know a little about the sightings of D.F0.8 because I am reading about this topic. Here is a little' about it. TherdJ* these two b.oys that find a gismo and then they ask there mother what it is, but she doesn't know so then they ask there father and he doesn't know either. But they don't know t^at it has fallen off a U.F.O. And that's a. bit about the booh- So could you please send me some information on H.F.O.e. Yours faithfully, Kerry Lehmann 5 Octotier 1979 Kerry LebBenn Avon ibooi Healet istreet Thonk you very ueh for your letter concerning the book you ere reeding on Unidentified Flying Obdeote. I so elso pueeiMeds to whet the gietno Bight be. pSAF does not undertake detailed inveotlgatlone Into reports on U?Os nor do we colltflit iofortnation on thais I thorofora regrat that I am unabla to halp you* Your book certainly sounds intoreeting. Squadron Leader fiHSAP Public Kelationa Officer nisa Johanna Parry 6 Bratt Avranua AUCKLAND 9 Oaar Johanna, Thank you for your lattar, paaaad to ma by our Auckland offloa, taaklng inrormatlon and photograph# of Unidantiflad Tlylng Objacta. Unfortunataly your lattar haa baan dalayad in tha peat and orily roaoflad na thla fflorning. I ragrat that I do not hold information or photeorapha oonearning Unidantiflad Plying Objacta, aa tha RNZAP'Htpaa not undartaka datailad invaatigatlpna into raporta of UFOa. If a raport la paaaad to ua ua do houaver conault a numbar of Sovarnmant aganciaa to oliminata any obv/loua aaplanationa. Youra faithfully, (C.D. COLE) Squadron Laador RNZAF Public Ralatlona Officar ^bhc IX^laiLbf)S off icer I In'n/s/ry op aej^nc<e Dear Sir^ ofnim-'m"! k\k UQu haue ^onne ..Piffury^ pnojVci^. CoulPI / p/eos<^ Aave tr' olj tne ~s Smcsre./o iqadq I'h.r'fPj Hr Harry Harris 346 nanchastsr Road Uost Tinperlay Aitrincham Osar Sir, I thank you for your lattar of 1 Juna tha RNZAF's raport on tha invaatigatien into tha tha Kalkoura coast. concarning sightings off At ths tins of tha Inssstigation it was dacidsd that a suanary of tha findings would bs aads public in tha fora of a naws rslaass. A copy of that suMsary waa paassd to you aarliar. This policy in roapaot of cslsasing tha raport is still adhsrad to and is unlikaly to changa. Yours faithfully, (C.D. cdtET Squadron Lsadar RNZAF Public Relations Officer Or J.F. daBock 5 Ngahua Craacant Oaar Sir, Thank you for your lattar of 5 3una anoioaing Dr Bruoa Haoeabaa'a proviaional raport an tha Kalkeura UFO alghtlnga and aaaking our participation in an adviaory committaa. Tha RNZAF doaa not undartaka dotailad Invaatlgationa into raperta of Unldantlflad Flying Objacta. The Invaatigatlon carriad out aarllar on tha Kaikoura alghtlnga waa an iaolatad The RNZAF doaa, houavar, oenault a number of Govarnmant aganelaa on raoelpt of a r apart, to alltninata any obvioua axplanatlona. I thank you for tha opportunity to join tha Centra's advisory committsa uhloh, for tha reasons outlined, must ba Tours faithfully. (C,D. COLE) Squadron Leader RNZAF Public Relations Officer The Oicacter of Clll Dofonco, Bowan Stata Building, UCLLINGTON 1. Aa you uiU aaa froa tha attachad prasa elifiping nt AMry claiaa to haua a good taaidc lacord for prawmitiona about public awanta. It aaaaa that what ha haa to aay ia oora a aubjact for tha Ciwil Oafanca rathar than tha Oafanea organization. You oay faal you will naad further isforaation. In tha aaantiaa I have rapliad aaylng that I uaa rafarrlng tha aattar to you. B, B. e. WcLEAN (D.B.G. NoLaan) Sacratary of Oafanca Nt C. Anary, 25 Hilton Read, HiQholirr, DUNEOIN, 2R0. Osar Hr Aeary, Skylab. X know that the Rlniatsr will otganlratlsn coordinate accordingly collaagua, d. B. G. WcLEAN (D.B.G. RcLaan) Sacratary of Dafanca Wellington to the poesdhillty that a large niece of Wkylah ulll fell on the capital anfl laPfl in the suburb of Kelburn, The dates I have been giyen are between I3th-^0th Tune, 1979. T bis- information has been receiyed from 2 quite separate Psyohio source ff- and I think some credence should be placed upon it. There la-the possibility of widespread dajsage to property by fire and the more serious danger of Injury to civilian nersonnel . I feel that the best way this- Information can be explained is- by personsl Interylew with either your good self or the Minister. Tan you please reply by return mall, as I am shortly to leaye Cunedln on a lecture tour