New Zealand media said details only emerged after a request was made under the official information act.

BBC: Air New Zealand pilot 'fell asleep' during flight

The e-mail -- first obtained by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch under the Freedom of Information Act -- stated that Pentagon official Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy, approved the arrangement to award a non-competitive contract to Halliburton.

CNN: Democrats want Cheney-Halliburton probe

The former MI5 officer was found guilty of disclosing information, documents and information from telephone taps in breach of the Official Secrets Act.

BBC: David Shayler and Annie Machon