Airways is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA exists to make official information more open and accessible. It allows people to request information we hold, helps them understand what the government does, supports public participation in decision‑making, and promotes transparency and accountability of Ministers and officials.

 

This page explains how to make an OIA request to Airways, what to include, and what you can expect from us.

What information can be requested?

You can request any official information held by Airways, including documents, reports, correspondence, data, or records.

Some information may be withheld or refused where the OIA allows this (for example, for safety, security, confidentiality, or privacy reasons).

To help us process your request efficiently, please include as much relevant information as possible from the list below.

If there is not enough detail, we may need to contact you for clarification, which can delay our response.

Please include the following information where applicable:

  • Type of data requested (e.g. flight data, communications records or aircraft movement)
  • Time zone (e.g. UTC or NZ local time)
  • Start date of the occurrence
  • End date of the occurrence
  • Start time of the data requested
  • End time of the data requested
  • Location of the occurrence
  • Lateral radius of the data requested (A specific and limited scope is encouraged for OIA requests)
  • Reason for the request (Optional, but helpful for understanding the context and scope)

 

Submit an OIA request

What happens after you submit a request?

  • We will acknowledge your request as soon as reasonably practicable
  • We must make a decision and respond no later than 20 working days after receiving your request
  • If more time is required, we may extend the timeframe in accordance with the OIA and will let you know

Charges

Airways may charge for providing official information in accordance with the OIA charging guidelines published by the Ombudsman. If a charge is likely to apply, we will advise you of the estimated cost and seek your agreement before proceeding. Charges are not usually applied to simple requests. However, it may be reasonable to recover some costs where a request requires considerable labour or materials.