Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12931 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### 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 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 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 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 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 2002/12
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 Consulate Karachi
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
ASEC AR AF AGR AFIN AMGT ABLD AU AEMR AJ AID AMCHAMS AMED AS APER AE AORC AECL ABUD AM AG AL AUC APEC AY APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ANET AFFAIRS AND ADPM ASEAN ADM AGAO AINF ATRN ALOW ACOA AROC AA AADP ARF APCS ADANA ADCO AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS
BA BR BL BO BRUSSELS BT BM BU BY BG BEXP BK BH BD BP BTIO BB BE BILAT BC BX BIDEN BF BBSR BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CY CA CD CVIS CACS CH CS CO CONS CDG CE CMGT CPAS CU CIC CASC CG CI CHR CAPC CJAN CBW CLINTON CW CWC CTR CIDA CODEL CROS CM CV CF COM COPUOS CT CARSON CBSA CN CHIEF CR CONDOLEEZZA CDC CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CFED CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL
DR DJ DA DHS DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ETTC EC EAIR EWWT EAGR EUN ECON EINV ETRD EMIN ENRG EFIN EAID EG ES ELAB EUR EN EPET EIND ELTN EU ECUN EI EZ EFIS ENIV ER ET EXIM ECIN ECPS EINT ELN ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EK EUREM EFINECONCS EFTA ENERG ELECTIONS EAIDS ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS
FI FR FMLN FISO FAS FJ FAC FTAA FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FINANCE FBI FDA FARC FAO FINR FTA FOR FOI FO
GG GR GT GM GAERC GH GY GOV GA GERARD GTIP GV GOI GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GCC GE GZ GAZA
HA HK HU HILLARY HSTC HO HR HYMPSK HUMAN HI HURI HEBRON HUMOR
IR IZ IC IAEA IS ICRC ICAO IN IO IT IV IAHRC IWC ICJ ITRA IMO IRC IRAQI ILO ISRAELI ITU IMF IBRD IQ ILC ID IEFIN ICTY ITALY IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR
JP JA JO JM JOHNNIE JOHN JAMES JUS JOSEPH
KOMC KRVC KSCA KPKO KNNP KCOR KTFN KDEM KJUS KCRM KGHG KISL KIRF KFRD KWMN KNEI KN KS KE KPAO KVPR KHLS KV KOLY KGIT KFLU KFLO KSAF KGIC KU KTIP KMDR KIPR KPAL KNSD KTIA KSEP KAWC KG KWBG KBIO KIDE KPLS KTDB KMPI KBTR KDRG KZ KUNR KHDP KSAC KACT KRAD KSUM KIRC KCFE KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KBCT KVIR KHSA KMCA KCRS KVRP KTER KSPR KSTC KSTH KPOA KFIN KTEX KCMR KMOC KCIP KAWK KTBT KPRV KO KX KMFO KENV KCRCM KBTS KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KPRP KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KFSC KID KMIG
LE LY LG LH LA LOG LU LABOR LI LTTE LAB LO LT
MOPS MO MASS MNUC MCAP MARR MU MTCRE MC MX MIL MG MR MAS MT MI MPOS MD ML MRCRE MTRE MY MASC MK MTCR MAPP MZ MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPS
NZ NATO NA NU NL NI NO NASA NP NEW NE NSG NPT NPG NS NR NG NSF NGO NSSP NATIONAL NDP NIPP NZUS NH NAFTA NC NRR NT NAR NK NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD
OTRA OVIP OPRC OAS OSCE OIIP OREP OEXC OPDC OPIC OFDP ODIP OHUM OSCI OVP OPCW OECD OPAD ODC OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PREL PTER PK PGOV PINR PO PINS PREF PARM PBTS PHUM PA PE POL PM PAHO PL PHSA PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PALESTINIAN PAS PREO PAO PAK PDOV POV PCI PGOF PG PRAM PSI POLITICAL PROP PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS
QA
RS RU RO RM RP RW RFE RCMP REGION RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REACTION REPORT RSO
SA SENV SR SG SNAR SU SOCI SP SL SY SMIG SW SO SCUL SZ SI SIPRS SAARC SYR SYRIA SWE SARS SNARIZ SF SEN SCRS SC STEINBERG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN
TPHY TU TSPA TBIO TSPL TRGY TW TZ TC TX TT TIP TS TNGD TF TL TV TN TI TH TP TD TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UP UNSC UNO UN UY UNGA USEU UZ US UNESCO UG USTR UNHRC UNCND USUN UV UNMIK USNC UNHCR UNAUS UNCHR USOAS UNEP USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT
VE VT VTPREL VZ VTIZ VN VM VTEG VAT VC VI
WTRO WBG WHTI WHO WS WTO WIPO WI WMD WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XL XK XG XV XR XT XB XF XM XA XW XX XY XS XE XZ XU XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZEALAND ZU ZP ZR ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZK 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

`