NEW ZEALAND COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SHELBY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000658 SIPDIS FOR EAP/ANP - THOMAS RAMSEY FOR H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN NZ AS CODEL SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SHELBY, AUGUST 7 - 9, 2004. REF: STATE 163811 ¶1. Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to the delegation led by Senator Richard Shelby to visit Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand August 7-9, 2004. Members of the CODEL are: Senator Richard Shelby, Dr. Annette Shelby and Representative Robert Cramer. Accompanying staff are: Ms. Kathy Casey, Ms. Anne Caldwell, and Ms Victoria Cox. Accompanying DOD escort is: LTC Lon Pribble. The purpose of the visit is to meet with high- level officials regarding financial, economic, trade, and security issues. ¶2. Schedule and administrative items reftel are being addressed separately. The following NOTIONAL schedule is included as directed, but details are subject to change: Saturday, AUGUST 7 16:00 -- CODEL arrives at Christchurch Airport via MilAir C- ¶37. Met by Charge David Burnett and Mrs. Burnett. (NZ will spray the inside of the airplane, before anyone is allowed to deplane, on arrival in Christchurch. Crew and delegation onboard should be aware of this as well as the prohibition on bringing any fruit/nuts/vegetables etc. off the plane.) 16:45 -- Check in to Crowne Plaza Hotel Corner Kilmore & Durham Streets, Christchurch Tel: +64 3 365-7799 Fax: +64 3 365-0082 19:00 -- No-host dinner with Charge David Burnett and control officer Tim Zuniga-Brown. (Venue TBD) RON -- Crowne Plaza Hotel. Control Room staffed from 0600-2300 daily. Accommodation Exchange will be offered in Control Room upon arrival. Sunday, AUGUST 8 Breakfast - at hotel. 10:00 -- Delegation tour of Christchurch Arts Gallery. 11:00 -- Delegation departs for windshield tour of Christchurch en route to Pegasus Bay Winery. 12:00 -- Arrive Pegasus Bay Winery. No-Host lunch/wine tasting. (POC - Bob Franklin, Visits Manager, Department of Internal Affairs. Tel: 470-2910; cell: 027-448-3710.) 14:00 -- Delegation returns to Christchurch (Crowne Plaza). 19:00 -- Dinner hosted by Minister Jim Anderton (Economic Development and Industry) Location: TBD. RON -- Crowne Plaza. Monday, AUGUST 9 06:00 -- Baggage call. 07:30 -- Check out of Crowne Plaza. Depart for Airport. 08:30 -- Depart Christchurch via MilAir. 09:10 -- Arrive Wellington Airport. 10:00 -- Brief windshield tour of Wellington. Or -- (T) Tour of WETA Workshop and studios 11:00 -- Meeting with NZ Reserve Bank Governor Allan Bollard. 12:00 -- Meeting with Opposition - National Party (T) 12:30 -- Lunch hosted by Charge Burnett. Il Casino Restaurant. 14:30 -- Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Michael Cullen. Venue TBD. 15:00 -- Meeting with Minister for Defense and Tourism Michael Burton. Venue TBD. 15:30 -- Meeting with Minister for Trade James Sutton. 16:00 -- Depart for Airport. 16:30 -- Depart Wellington for Sydney, Australia via Mil Air. ¶3. Control officer for the visit is Pol/Econ Counselor Tim Brown. Contact details are as follows: Office: 64-4-462-6033 or 6063 Fax: 64-4-472-3538 Cell: 027-451-2539 Home: 64-4-567-6830 E-Mail: Zuniga-Brown@state.gov ¶4. Biosecurity Fines: The government of New Zealand instituted fines for non- declared biosecurity hazards on travelers entering New Zealand with undeclared plant, animal or food material. Travelers found carrying these undeclared items will be immediately fined NZ$200 (US $150). Biosecurity is a serious issue in New Zealand and fines will be administered immediately and without warnings. ¶5. Security Assessment: a. There are no local terrorist groups or support groups believed to be operating in New Zealand at this time. In light of the worldwide security alert all visitors should heighten their security awareness and report any unusual incidents to the regional security office. b. Anonymous telephonic threats and obscure threat mail have occasionally targeted U.S. diplomatic missions in New Zealand. In response to U.S. policies and actions, various groups in New Zealand have demonstrated occasionally at the embassy in Wellington and at the consulate in Auckland. These demonstrations were of a small scale and were peacefully conducted. During these demonstrations, the host country police and protective services provided adequate protection to the embassy and consulate. c. While New Zealand is considered a low threat crime environment, Wellington and Auckland have experienced an increase in violent and petty crimes. Home invasion robberies and assaults, once very rare, are becoming more frequent. Burglaries and thefts occur countrywide. Visitors should be aware that street crime is a daily occurrence in the larger cities, including Wellington and Auckland. Common sense precautions should be taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of opportunity. d. All forms of public transportation are generally safe at all times of the day. Swindells