Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AE AF AM AR AJ AU AORC AG AEMR AMGT APER AGMT AL AFIN AO AMED ADCO AS ABUD ABLD ASUP ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG APECO AID AND AMBASSADOR AN ARM AY AODE AMG ASCH AMCHAMS ARF APCS APEC ASEAN AGAO ANET ADPM ACOA ACABQ AORL AFFAIRS ATRN ACS AFSI AFSN ADANA ASIG AA AX AUC AC AECL AADP AGRICULTURE AMEX ACAO ACBAQ AQ AORG ADM AINF AIT ASEX AGR AROC ATFN AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AZ AVERY
BA BY BU BR BE BL BO BK BM BILAT BH BEXP BF BTIO BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BG BWC BB BD BX BP BRUSSELS BN BIDEN BT
CW CH CF CD CV CVIS CM CE CA CJAN CLINTON CIA CU CASC CI CO CACM CDB CN CMGT CS CG CBW CIS CR CONDOLEEZZA CPAS CAN CWC CY COUNTER CDG CL CT CIC CIDA CSW CHR CB CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM CTR COM CICTE CFED CJUS CKGR CBSA CEUDA CARSON CONS CITEL CLMT CROS CITT CAC CVR CDC CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE CARICOM COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CTM CNARC
DA DR DPRK DJ DEA DEPT DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEFENSE DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DO DE DEAX DOE DK DS
ECON EFIN ETRD EUN EFIS EG ETTC EZ EPET EAID EAGR ENRG ECUN EU ELAB ECPS EAIR EINV ELTN EWWT EIND EMIN EI ECIN ENVR ELECTIONS EINVEFIN EN ES ER EC EUC EINT EINVETC ENGR ET EK ENIV ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECONOMY EAP EFTA EUR EUMEM EXIM ERD ENERG EUREM ESA ERNG EXTERNAL EPA EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS ELN EINN EFINECONCS ENNP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ECONOMIC EAIDS EDU ETRA ETRN EFIM EIAR ETRC EAIG EXBS EURN ECIP EREL ECA ENGY ECONCS ECONEFIN ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINDETRD
FR FJ FI FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FINANCE FOR FO FDA FAC FM FTA FISO FMLN FBI FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR
GM GE GG GA GZ GV GH GT GR GY GAERC GOI GAZA GOV GTMO GL GLOBAL GTIP GCC GANGS GERARD GF
HO HURI HA HILLARY HR HU HUMOR HK HUMAN HSTC HEBRON HI HYMPSK
IR IZ IS IAEA INRB IRAJ IQ IN IT IMO INTERPOL ICAO IO IC ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI ICTY ID IPR IWC ILC INTELSAT IL IBRD IMF IA IRC ICRC ILO ITU ITRA IV IDA IAHRC ICJ ISRAELI IRS INMARSAT ISRAEL ISLAMISTS INDO IZPREL ITPHUM ITPGOV ITF IBET IEFIN INR IACI INTERNAL IDP IGAD IEA ICTR IIP INRA INRO IF
JO JA JAMES JM JP JOSEPH JOHNNIE JOHN JUS
KJUS KSCA KNNP KU KCOR KCRM KDEM KTFN KHLS KPAL KWBG KACT KGHG KPAO KTIA KIRF KWMN KS KG KZ KN KMDR KISL KSPR KHIV KPRP KAWK KR KUNR KDRG KCIP KGCC KTIP KSUM KPKO KVIR KAWC KPIN KGIC KRAD KIPR KOLY KCFE KMCA KE KV KICC KNPP KBCT KSEP KFRD KFLU KVPR KOCI KBIO KSTH KMPI KCRS KOMC KTBT KPLS KIRC KREL KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLO KBTS KSTC KTDB KFSC KX KFTFN KNEI KIDE KREC KMRS KICA KPAONZ KCGC KSAF KRGY KCMR KRVC KVRP KSEO KCOM KAID KTEX KNUC KNAR KNUP KNNPMNUC KLIG KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KHDP KGIT KNSD KOMS KWMM KPAI KHSA KTLA KO KMFO KRCM KCSY KSAC KTRD KPWR KID KWNM KRIM KPOA KCHG KOM KSCI KFIN KMOC KESS KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KPRV KBTR KERG KTER KDDG KPAK KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LG LU LH LI LO LOG LAB LTTE LA LABOR LT
MARR MOPS MU MTCRE MNUC MY MASS MCAP MOPPS MAR MPOS MO ML MR MASC MX MD MP MA MTRE MIL MCC MZ MK MDC MRCRE MAPS MV MI MEPN MAPP MEETINGS MAS MTS MLS MILI MTCR MG MC MARAD MIK MILITARY MEDIA MEPI MUCN MEPP MT MERCOSUR MW MASSMNUC MQADHAFI
NZ NATO NG NI NO NATIONAL NU NPT NIPP NL NPG NS NA NGO NP NSG NDP NAFTA NR NC NH NE NSF NPA NK NSSP NRR NATOPREL NSC NT NW NORAD NEW NV NSFO NAR NASA NZUS
OTRA OVIP OPRC OPDC OSCE OAS ODIP OIIP OFDP OVP OREP OFFICIALS OSAC OEXC OPCW OIE OIC OFDA OSCI OPIC OBSP OECD ON OCII OHUM OES OCS OMIG OPAD OTR
PGOV PREL PHUM PINR PTER PSOE PINS PARM PK PBTS PEPR PM POLITICAL PARTIES PREF PBIO PROP PA PSI PINT PO PKFK PL PAK PE POLITICS PINL POL PHSA PU PF POV PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PARMS PRGOV PNAT POLINT PRAM PMAR PG PAO PROG PRELP PPA PCUL PSEPC PSA PREO PAHO PGIV PREFA PALESTINIAN PAIGH POSTS PTBS PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PAS PUNE POLICY PDEM PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PHUMPGOV PMIL PNG PP PS PHUH PECON POGOV PY PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL
QA
RS RU RW REGION RP RICE ROBERT RSP RUPREL RM RO RCMP RSO RELATIONS REACTION REPORT RIGHTS ROOD RF RFE RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP SA SY SF SYR SENV SCUL SOCI SNAR SO SU SG STEINBERG SHUM SW SMIG SR SZ SIPRS SI SAARC SPCE SARS SN SYRIA SANC SL SCRS SC SENVKGHG SAN SNARCS SHI SWE SNARIZ SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS SEVN SSA SH SOFA SK ST
TPHY TU TRGY TI TX TS TW TC TFIN TD TSPA TH TT TIP TBIO TSPL TZ TERRORISM TRSY TN THPY TINT TF TL TV TK TO TP TURKEY TNGD TBID TAGS TR
UP US UNSC UK UZ UE UNESCO UV UNGA UN UNMIK UNO UY UAE UNEP UG UNHCR UNHRC USUN UNAUS USTR USNC USOAS UNCHR UNCSD UNDP USEU USPS UNDC UNDESCO UNCHC UNFICYP UNC UNODC UNPUOS UNCND UNICEF UNCHS UNVIE USAID UNIDROIT
VE VZ VN VT VTPREL VM VTIZ VTEG VI VAT VC
WTO WMO WI WTRQ WHO WWARD WA WB WBG WITH WTRO WHA WMD WIPO WS WZ WHTI WFP WEU
XF XA XL XM XR XS XT XK XY XC XG XW XD XV XX XB XE XZ XH XTAG XQ XU XI
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZU ZO ZB ZL ZK ZEALAND ZN ZA ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05WELLINGTON96, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER CLARK IN STATE OF THE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05WELLINGTON96.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05WELLINGTON96 | 2005-02-02 03:03 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Wellington

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000096

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR EAP/ANP
    NSC FOR GREEN

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL NZ
    SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER CLARK IN STATE OF THE
    NATION: "NO WORRIES"; MEDIA REACTION MUTED

    REF: WELLINGTON 78

    Classified By: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION KATHERINE B. HADDA, FOR R
    EASONS 1.4(B,D)

     ¶1. (C) Summary:  In her opening speech of the year, PM Helen
    Clark launched the opening salvo of her election campaign.
    She indirectly countered Opposition leader Don Brash,s
    welfare policy speech (reftel) by outlining childcare and
    other policies she defined as the best way to encourage women
    to return to the workplace.  While the Prime Minister
    affirmed her interest in a US FTA, in almost the same breath
    she took a swipe at the National Party (and no doubt at the
    Embassy and other U.S. officials) by reiterating her
    Government's support for NZ's iconic anti-nuclear
    legislation.  Labor productivity and economic growth were a
    common thread throughout the speech, with special focus on
    the "ownership society" and increasing productivity to OECD
    standards.  PM Clark pointed to Asia as the way forward for
    NZ economically and politically, but aside from declaring
    interest in FTAs did not go into detail on the country's role
    in the region.

    ¶2.  (C) Opposition party MPs, who like the rest of New
    Zealanders knew most of the content of the heavily-leaked
    speech before it was delivered, immediately criticized the
    Labour Government as complacent, greedy, and out of touch.
    But reflecting the speech's failure to break new ground, an
    internal rift in the Opposition National Party dominated the
    next day's headlines, relegating Clark's presentation and the
    opposition response to a media byline.  End Summary.

    Foreign Policy Pro-NZ or anti-US?
    ---------------------------------

    ¶2. (C)  While Clark's State of the Nation address focused
    almost exclusively on the domestic agenda, Clark made a point
    of celebrating NZ's independent foreign policy, with its
    focus on human rights, disarmament and peacekeeping.  As part
    of this "independence," Clark again utilized her party's
    misquote of National Party leader Don Brash by declaring that
    NZ's iconic "nuclear-free status won't be gone by lunchtime
    with a Labour-led government."  Consistent with the GoNZ's
    recent foreign policy focus, Clark called for a continuation
    of NZ's dynamic trade agenda, together with a call for
    increased (and unspecified) engagement with Asia.  Making
    clear that the GoNZ's priorities were to continue its robust
    pace of negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs,) Clark
    pointed proudly to positive developments in FTAs with
    Thailand, China, Singapore and Chile, ASEAN and Malaysia.
    Clark noted "we remain ready to enter negotiations with the
    United States.  The mutual benefits of an FTA between us are
    clear."

    Policy Highlights
    -----------------

    ¶3. (U) Domestically, Clark hammered home Labour's
    achievements in economic growth, health, education, and
    reduction of crime.  While leaving major policy announcements
    for the 2005 budget and future election pledges, Clark
    delineated eight "key areas of activity and policy
    development," largely listing on-going GoNZ programs and
    previously announced initiatives.  The areas included:
    lifting labor productivity, lifting participation rates in
    the workforce, infrastructure development, new savings
    initiatives, Maori development, a dynamic trade agenda,
    increased engagement with Asia and building national identity
    and pride.

    Securing NZ's Economic Growth
    ------------------------------

    ¶3. (U) Labour productivity and economic growth were a common
    thread throughout the speech, with a special focus on the
    "ownership society."  While driving home NZ's low
    unemployment, high economic surplus and strong GDP growth,
    Clark outlined policy areas designed to expand and secure
    recent economic benefits across a broader portion of society.
     Striking back at Opposition leader Don Brash's criticism of
    Labour's welfare policies (reftel), Clark pointed to Labour's
    changes to the Superannuation scheme and mortgage insurance
    programs as first steps in encouraging increased savings
    rates.  She hinted at future policies designed to "encourage
    a co-coordinated lifetime approach to savings."  To lift
    labor productivity Clark announced continued investment in
    skilled migration and a proposal to encourage expatriate
    NZers to return home.

    ¶4. (U) In her most controversial policy, Clark announced a
    need to increase women's participation in the workforce,
    which currently lags behind OECD averages.  Here Clark
    highlighted the Working For Families package in the 2004
    budget, with its paid parental leave and additional childcare
    subsidies, as offering assistance to working mothers.  By
    stressing that such assistance would also enable mothers
    receiving state benefits to return to the workforce, Clark
    also took an indirect jab at Brash's welfare critique.
    Admitting that childcare was not the only obstacle to
    returning to work, Clark also pointed to the GoNZ's program
    to address pay equity issues in the public sector.  United
    Future leader Peter Dunne, whose party is in an alliance with
    Labour, called this policy "neo-Soviet," asking why women
    should sacrifice quality of life for the good of national
    productivity.

    Rebuttals: Overshadowed By Scandal
    ----------------------------------

    ¶5. (U) Opposition leader Don Brash gave an articulate
    rebuttal to Clark's comments, claiming that this was a
    classic tax and spend government.  He condemned Clark for
    merely "outlining what the Government will do with taxpayer's
    money."  Brash reiterated National's mantra of personal
    responsibility, and summarized his recent policy statements
    on welfare, race relations and economic development.  Despite
    his detailed response, Brash's remarks were completely
    overshadowed in the next day's media reports by his decision
    to remove MP Katherine Rich's from her welfare portfolio,
    after she publicly disagreed with aspects of his recent
    welfare speech.

    ¶6. (U) ACT Party leader Rodney Hide provided the sole foreign
    policy commentary of the day, rebuking PM Clark for her
    statements on the FTA, noting that Clark would "stand ready"
    to negotiate an FTA until "hell froze over" since she didn't
    like the Americans.  Noting Clark's decision to begin her
    speech with references to NZ's post-tsunami aid package, Hide
    reprimanded Clark for not mentioning the US' substantial
    support to the affected region.  He also bemoaned that her
    speech and the remarks of other opposition MPs had failed to
    mention the successful elections in Iraq, which were a great
    step forward for democracy in that country.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶7. (C) Comment:  Clark is sticking to her trademark approach
    ) a gradual development of policies, with no surprises - but
    it appears she may have erred on the side of caution.  While
    media reporting on in the past week was substantial, with all
    key elements of the speech leaked early, reporting on the
    State of the Nation speech was minimal.  National's "sacking"
    of Katherine Rich dominated public discussion.  Proving the
    adage that no coverage is bad coverage, Brash has taken a
    page from Clark's "solidarity" playbook and used the
    opportunity to demonstrate that sometimes a strong leader has
    to take a stand, and not allow internal dissent.
    Swindells

`