Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12553 / 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 2011/05/11 2011/05/12

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

`