NEW ZEALAND: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 001069

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT KINCANNON AND MCCUTCHEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN KHLS KPAO NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: A. STATE 271719


B. STATE 245841

C. STATE 259427


1. Post offers the following submission for this year's
terrorism report:

BEGIN TEXT OF SUBMISSION


2. New Zealand has implemented all 12 UN terrorism
conventions. A Counter-terrorism bill passed in October 2003
increased the government's ability to prosecute terrorist
activities and threats. The legislation ascribes severe
penalties for dealing with unmarked plastics explosives and
nuclear or radioactive material, harboring terrorists,
contaminating food or water, and other terrorism-related
offenses. The 2003 bill follows directly from the Terrorism
Suppression Act of October 2002, which allowed New Zealand to
become a party to the UN Conventions on Terrorism Bombings
and Terrorist Financing.

3. In December 2004, the Government introduced a bill into
Parliament to extend by two years New Zealand's UN Security
Council-related designations of terrorism organizations. As
passed, the 2002 bill mandates that all such designations
expire in 2005 unless renewed by order of New Zealand's High
Court. The new bill would push that date to 2007. As of
December 2004, New Zealand had designated 420 terrorist
organizations and was considering adding more to the list.

4. In September 2003, New Zealand appointed its first
Ambassador for Counter-terrorism to coordinate New Zealand's
response to terrorist acts, monitor international
developments, and attend international meetings, in order to
ensure that New Zealand has a stronger capacity to develop
and implement policies on global terrorism and related
security issues. In its 2004 budget, New Zealand allocated
funds for the creation of specially-dedicated National
Security Teams to counter terrorism. In May 2004, New
Zealand hosted a counter-terrorism meeting for Pacific Island
Forum members. The meeting, which was funded through the
Government's Pacific Island Security Fund, discussed the
region's counter-terrorism obligations and the range of
international assistance available to help countries meet
these requirements.

5. New Zealand relies heavily on its aviation sector for
tourism and to remain connected to the rest of the world, and
takes seriously its security obligations under the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). New
Zealand expects to have ICAO-mandated explosive detection
systems in place at New Zealand's international airports by
October 2005.

6. New Zealand continues to support Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan, including by leading the Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamiyan. The country deployed
61 military engineers (the Light Engineering Group, or LEG)
to Iraq for one year to aid in reconstruction efforts there.
The Government allocated NZD 10 million (about USD 7.2
million) for each of fiscal years 2003/4 and 2004/5 for aid
and development work in Afghanistan and Iraq. The money was
disbursed through the PRT's and LEG's reconstruction work, as
well as through the UN and NGOs.

END TEXT OF SUBMISSION.

Swindells