Official Information Act Request – LRAD Deployment (2 March 2022, Wellington)

Tēnā koe Tracy,

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) requests attached.

 Your reference number is IR-01-26-14407.

 You can expect a response to your request on or before 21 May 2026 unless an extension is needed. 
Ngā mihi

 Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)

Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |

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To: Official Information Act Requests
New Zealand Police

I make the following request under the Official Information Act 1982.

This request relates to the deployment and use of a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) by Police during operations at Parliament Grounds, Wellington, on 2 March 2022.

This request is confined to formal, authoritative, and operational records.
 

1. Deployment Authority and Planning

– All documents evidencing the decision to deploy an LRAD, including operational orders, tactical plans, risk assessments, and approvals.
– Identification of decision-maker(s).
– Whether deployment formed part of pre-event planning or reactive decision-making.

2. Policy and Operational Thresholds

– Policies or guidelines governing LRAD deployment and use.
– Thresholds for escalation from communication to aversive use.
– Requirements for necessity, proportionality, and consideration of alternatives.

3. Evidential Basis for Use

– Records relied upon to justify LRAD use, including logs, SITREPs, intelligence, and threat records.
– All supporting audio-visual material.

4. Timing and Escalation Sequence

– Timeline showing when LRAD was deployed, activated, and escalated.
– Events relied upon to justify escalation.

5. Alternatives Considered

– Documents identifying alternative tactics considered and reasons for rejection.

6. National Usage and Comparative Data

– All instances of LRAD deployment before and after 2 March 2022.
– Date, location, and purpose of each deployment.

7. Training and Certification

– Operator training, certification, and safety guidance.

8. Post-Event Review

– Reviews, debriefs, or evaluations of LRAD use.

9. Procurement and Availability

– Dates LRAD devices were procured and approved.
– Procurement documents and approvals.
– Whether specifically prepared for the protest.
– Deployment timing to Wellington and authority for deployment.

10. Source, Ownership, and Operation

– Supplier and procurement records.
– Ownership (Police or other agency).
– Inter-agency agreements.
– Identity and role of operators.
– Training and authorisation records.

11. Risk Assessment and Justification

– Risk and threat assessments justifying LRAD use.
– Nature of threat identified.
– Threshold for use and how met.
– Briefings to Ministers or officials.
– Post-event evaluations of risk accuracy and justification.

Format:
I request this information in electronic form where possible.
 

If any part of this request is likely to be refused under section 18(f), I am willing to refine the request. Please advise.
 

I remind the agency of its duty under section 13 to provide reasonable assistance.

I look forward to your response within the statutory timeframe.

Tracy