Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12522 / 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 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10

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

### 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 06WELLINGTON773, DELAY IN USG APPROVAL OF NEW ZEALAND'S A-4 PLANE SALE A

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. #06WELLINGTON773.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06WELLINGTON773 | 2006-10-02 03:32 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Wellington

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHWL #0773/01 2750332
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 020332Z OCT 06
    FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3332
    INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 4558
    RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
    RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000773

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR P (FAGIN), PM/RSAT, EAP/FO, EAP/RSP, AND EAP/ANP
    NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
    SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA (JPOWERS)
    PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2016
    TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON MOPS NZ
    SUBJECT: DELAY IN USG APPROVAL OF NEW ZEALAND'S A-4 PLANE SALE A
    FISCAL AND POLITICAL HEADACHE FOR GNZ

    REF: A. 9/21/06 RICCI/EMBASSY E-MAIL (NOTAL)
         ¶B. 8/29/06 RICCI/EMBASSY E-MAIL (NOTAL)
         ¶C. WELLINGTON 449

    Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David J. Keegan,
    for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

    ¶1.  (SBU) This message contains an action request at para
    ¶8.

    ¶2.  (C) Summary:  The New Zealand Defence Force is
    evaluating how the further delay or cancellation of the
    GNZ's proposed sale of its last air combat planes to a
    private U.S. buyer could impact defense planning.  NZDF
    will probably be able to readjust its spending to make up
    for the shortfall, or else may ask the Government for
    additional funds.  The political ramifications of the delay
    could be more difficult for the Government: the opposition
    National Party claims that Labour purposely presented the
    sale as a done deal before the election in order to gain
    votes.  The Nat's linkage of the issue to Labour's campaign
    could not come at a worse time for the Government, already
    facing voter unrest over its clumsy handling of accusations
    that the party knowingly misused taxpayer money on its
    campaign.  Embassy Wellington anticipates media interest in
    this case, and would appreciate guidance soonest.  End
    Summary.

    ¶3.  (C) Ref A reported that a September 21 meeting between PM
    Assistant Secretary Hillen and New Zealand Ambassador Roy Ferguson on
    September 21 identified two factors complicating New Zealand's
    proposed sale of its A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft to a U.S. private
    company:

    i) the proposed sale of U.S. combat aircraft to private hands in the
    U.S. raises new U.S. policy concerns in the post 9/11 era.  Comments
    from the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense are still
    pending before  the State Department can make its decision, and

    ii) there are several active investigations on the resale of
    "non-demilitarized" property, some of which DoD may refer to the
    Department of Justice for possible criminal proceedings.

    ----------------------------------------
    Implications for NZDF: Show Me the Money
    ----------------------------------------

    ¶4.  (C) The delay in the sale could negatively affect New
    Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) planning. Last month (Ref b),
    Vice Chief of the NZ Defence Force (NZDF) David Bamfield
    told DoD that GNZ has included money from the sale as part
    of NZDF's 2007 naval budget.  At that time, NZDF Assistant
    Chief for Development Brigadier Rhys Jones told the DATT
    that NZDF's Long Term Development Plan (LTDP, see ref C) assumes the
    money from the sale will be available for the Defense Force's general
    use in future years.  While it is not specifically tied to the Navy's
    budget, Rhys Jones said the upgrades for the navy's ANZAC Frigates
    are the most likely program to be affected if the sale does not go
    through.

    ¶5.  (C) On September 26, Deputy Secretary of Defense
    Christopher Seed confirmed to the DATT that the NZDF Long
    Term Development Plan (LTDP) includes money from the sale
    of the eight A-4 Skyhawk fighters and eight Aeromacche
    fighters as the source of funding for various LTDP and
    other Defense programs.  He also confirmed that although
    the sales are not directly tied to navy programs, the ANZAC
    frigate upgrades are most likely to be affected because of
    NZDF's spending schedule.

    ¶6.  (C) Seed said the Government would have to look at a
    range of options to manage the shortfall of funds if the
    sale does not go through.  These could include a decision
    to sell the eight Aeromacches separately since they do not
    require U.S. approval, which would net an estimated NZD 75
    million out of the estimated NZD 110 million expected for
    the sale of all 16 planes. Another option would be to make
    adjustments to the planned redevelopment of Ohakea Air
    Base; to replace or make changes to the planned maintenance
    and upgrades to New Zealand's only supply ship, HMNZS
    Endeavour; or to request that the Government allocate more
    money to the LTDP.  Seed seemed confident that if the sale
    is delayed NZDF could find ways to adjust its spending to

    do everything planned under the LDTP, using the funds from
    the sale once it goes through.  He indicated that while the
    GNZ has not yet calculated the costs or implications if
    the sale is canceled, they are beginning to consider the
    possibility.

    --------------------------------------------- ----
    Yet Another Potential Election Problem for Labour
    --------------------------------------------- ----

    ¶7.  (C) While the NZDF may be able to adjust its spending
    if the A-4 sale is delayed or canceled, the Government will
    likely have a harder time dealing with the political
    ramifications.  The deal to sell the Skyhawks and
    Aermacchis was announced two weeks before the September
    2005 general election.  The opposition National Party has
    recently asked Defense Minister Goff for a full explanation
    of why the deal remains stuck a year later, and has pointed
    out that the planes' continued maintenance is costing
    taxpayers an estimated NZD 130,000 (USD 82,000) a month, on
    top of the NZD 1.5 million (USD 945,000) already paid in
    agents fees. National's Defense spokesman Murray McCully
    has accused Mark Burton Minister for Defense at the time of
    the announced sale, of "pre-election window dressing" for
    having trumped up the sale without indicating it might be
    difficult to get USG approval.  In response, current
    Defense Minister Phil Goff said the Government's
    announcement of the sale noted that it was contingent on
    State Department clearance, a process which the GNZ has
    been unable to speed up. Goff also pointed out that because
    of the limited market there are no other buyers on the
    horizon.

    --------------------------
    Comment and Action Request
    --------------------------

    ¶8.  (C) While Kiwi voters do not normally focus on defense
    issues, this case may prove an exception. National will use
    the delayed or canceled sale to reinforce its contention
    that the Government has not only misled the public but also
    has once again exercised bad judgment on a defense matter.
    The Labour Government has been criticized for poor defense
    procurement decisions in recent years and its 2001 decision
    to disband the combat air wing was strongly derided by
    National and former defense officials at the time. In
    addition, National's claim that the Government used the
    sale as an election ploy ties into its broader effort to
    attack Labour for its 2005 election tactics. Labour is
    already flailing badly over its decision to defy the
    findings of a soon-to-be- released Inspector General report
    that says Labour illegally spent taxpayer money for its
    campaign.

    ¶9.  (C) Action Request:  We understand that Washington
    agencies are working on talking points that Mission New
    Zealand can use to answer future media inquiries about this
    case.  Although the Parliamentary recess has pushed the
    issue off the front pages for now, we anticipate we will
    get questions so would appreciate receiving guidance
    soonest.

    Keegan

`