Cablegate: New Zealand: Status On Hspd-6 Terrorist Screening
VZCZCXRO8552
RR RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0547 1950123
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140123Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3036
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4483
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0838
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000547
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR CA/P/IP-ERIN TREACY AND EAP/ANP-DAN RICCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS PTER PINR PGOV PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND: STATUS ON HSPD-6 TERRORIST SCREENING
INFORMATION SHARING INITIATIVE
REF: STATE 109771; YAMAMOTO-WHITNEY E-MAIL 06/24/06 (NOTAL)
1. (U) Following is an update on the status of New Zealand's efforts
regarding the HSPD-6 initiative:
2. (SBU) The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS),
which is the lead agency for the HSPD-6 initiative in New Zealand,
is continuing to review the draft agreement. Because the agreement
is a memorandum of understanding and not a treaty, it will not
require Cabinet or government approval. NZSIS hopes its director
will approve and then send a memorandum on the initiative to the
Prime Minister's office the week of July 17, which then would allow
negotiations to begin on the agreement. NZSIS acknowledged a delay
in completion of the memorandum, which it had hoped to finish in
June (ref B).
3. (SBU) NZSIS noted that the initiative has broad agreement among
officials in the government, including NZSIS, police, immigration
and customs. However, while NZSIS considers an agreement to be
achievable, it faces a tough challenge in obtaining funding to
implement the initiative. The agency will need funding for computer
hardware, to provide 24-hours, seven-days-a-week staffing, and to
increase staff at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington. NZSIS is
relatively optimistic it will obtain the additional funding. If
difficulties arise, it will notify post.
4. (SBU) Beginning July 14, Embassy's point of contact on this
initiative will be Acting DCM Katherine B. Hadda, telephone
64-4-462-6063; fax 64-4-472-3537; e-mail address
haddaKB2@state.gov.
MCCORMICK