18/OIR/267
Dear Liam
Official Information Act 1982 Request
I refer to your email dated 31 May 2018 asking for the following information:
1. Please supply all or as much information in relation to the effectiveness of Aviation Security
(Avsec) screening at Wellington Airport. As I understand Avsec Officers are subject to
random and regular audits.
2. Under what legislative authority do Avsec Officers have from not being screened when
entering into a "sterile" area?”
Effectiveness of Avsec Officers
We wrote to you on 11 June 2018 in relation to the information you requested in point 1 above,
asking you to clarify your request. You responded with your amended request on the same date.
Under the Official Information Act 1982, your amended request can be treated as a new request and
therefore, we will respond to that part of your request by 9 July 2018.
Requirement to Screen Avsec Officers
While we are not in a position to give you our detailed legal view in relation to the information you
request in point 2, we bring to your attention Part 8 of the Civil Aviation Act 1990, the Aviation
Crimes Act 1972, and Part 140 of the Civil Aviation Rules. The legal advice relating to how this
legislation is being interpreted to apply to Avsec officers is legally privileged. To maintain
professional legal privilege, that part of your request is refused in accordance with section 9(2)(h) of
the Official Information Act 1982.
You have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
our decision. The Ombudsman’s contact details are:
Address:
The Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsmen
PO Box 10152
Wellington 6143
Phone/Fax: 0800 802 602 / (04) 471 2254
Email:
[email address]
Website:
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint
If you have any queries about your request, please contact me at
[CAA request email] or on (04) 560 9472.
Yours sincerely
Tania Nedelcheva
Senior Solicitor
Level 15, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011 – PO Box 3555, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 560 9400, Fax: +64 4 569 2024, Email: [email address], Web: www.caa.govt.nz