Cablegate: Tfus01: New Zealand Offers Assistance

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

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000675

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON AEMR ASEC CASC MARR AMGT US NZ
SUBJECT: TFUS01: NEW ZEALAND OFFERS ASSISTANCE

REF: STATE 162226

1. The Government of New Zealand has made a general offer of
assistance to the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina. In addition, the government has approved specific
areas of assistance, and the New Zealand Embassy has been
instructed to convey those offers to USG officials on
September 2 local time.

2. The specific offers include:

For now:
-- Search and rescue team: It has trained with FEMA and can
be deployed at short notice.
-- Police disaster ID teams: These forensic teams were
deployed to Thailand to help identify tsunami victims.

For the recovery phase:
-- NZ Disaster Management Team that has been involved in
flood recovery in New Zealand. The team would be pleased to
go to the affected region to meet officials there, or to
invite the officials to New Zealand if that would be
preferable to the officials.

3. Air New Zealand also has asked if it could provide
assistance. The airline suggests that it could help
transport stranded people (victims and families) and deliver
cargo and equipment, as examples of what it might be able to
do. It is open to addressing other transportation needs.
The point of contact at Air New Zealand is: Rick Osborne,
manager, government and international relations, public and
government affairs, tel 011-64-9-336-2905; cell
011-64-21-737-667; e-mail Rick.Osborne@airnz.co.nz. (New
Zealand is 16 hours ahead of Washington.)

4. New Zealand Prime Minister Clark, who sent letters of
sympathy to the President and the Secretary, stopped at
Consulate Auckland on September 2 to sign a condolence book.
The mission has received numerous calls from New Zealanders
offering condolences and assistance. (We are advising them
to donate cash through non-governmental organizations.) The
local Red Cross and Salvation Army have launched drives and
set up toll-free phone lines to raise funds for the
hurricane's victims.

5. Post welcomes any questions or instructions.
Burnett

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