30 September 2019
Our Reference: IR-01-19-24154
Pryce Payne
[FYI request #11133 email]
Dear Mr Payne
I am writing to you in response to your request dated 3 September 2019. Your request has
been considered pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, specifically you requested:
“Information as to if there was a response to the Christchurch terror attacks by the
NZDF by 1NZSAS. There has been images circulating online of men not in police
uniform with rifles”.
I can confirm that Police Officers from Australia and Hong Kong, and NZDF personnel were
attending a New Zealand Police led firearms training course and all assisted Christchurch
Police for a short time on March 15. These individuals have advanced specialist medical
first aid training and were deployed to the two scenes to provide immediate medical
assistance.
Personnel from the course did not deploy in Police uniform but were under the direct
supervision of New Zealand Police. There are a number of photographs circulating of
course personnel in civilian clothing, some carrying firearms as it was still believed an
armed offender was at large at that time.
Yours sincerely
Acting Superintendent Andrew Sissons
National Manager: Response and Operations
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz