WikiLeaks: NZ's response to appeal for Pakistan earthquake..

October 28, 2005 NZ's response to appeal for Pakistan earthquake assistance and to message on Nato support

source:Embassy Wellington origin:05WELLINGTON848 destination:This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:05STATE195483

TAGS: EAID, AEMR, ASEC, MASS, PGOV, PREF, PREL, PK, NZ, NATO SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE TO APPEAL FOR PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE ASSISTANCE AND TO MESSAGE ON NATO SUPPORT

REF: A. STATE 195483

B. STATE 194572

Classified by: Charge d'Affaires David R. Burnett. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (U) Post on October 25 delivered the ref A demarche -- seeking New Zealand's contribution to earthquake relief and rehabilitation in Pakistan -- to the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). Jane Coster of NZAID reported October 28 that New Zealand had contributed NZ $1.5 million (US $1.05 million) for the relief effort, paid through the United Nations Development Program and the Red Cross.

2. (C) Post's defense attache on October 28 delivered the ref B demarche -- encouraging New Zealand's contribution to the NATO relief effort -- to Air Vice-Marshal David Bamfield, vice chief of the New Zealand Defense Force. Bamfield said his government would consider whether it could contribute. Separately, econoff alerted Coster to the NATO effort and the request that New Zealand consider participating in it. Burnett

ENDS