TFUS01: NEW ZEALAND TO CONTRIBUTE CASH FOR

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000679 SIPDIS STATE PASS USAID/OFDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR EAID PREL US NZ SUBJECT: TFUS01: NEW ZEALAND TO CONTRIBUTE CASH FOR HURRICANE RELIEF REF: A. SECSTATE 163414 ¶B. SECSTATE 163366 ¶C. WELLINGTON 675 ¶1. New Zealand Prime Minister Clark announced September 6 that her government would contribute NZ $2 million (US $1.4 million) through the Red Cross for hurricane relief. The contribution is in addition to the government's previously announced offers of a search and rescue team, disaster victim identification team and post-disaster recovery personnel (ref C). ¶2. In her announcement, PM Clark said, "The United States is always quick to help others in need in similar circumstances. This is a time for its friends, like New Zealand, to show their support." The Charge called the Prime Minister, thanking her for the government's assistance as well as for the outpouring of support from New Zealanders. PM Clark said that she appreciated the call and its sentiments and that New Zealand stood with the United States, ready to be of help with the resources it had available. Post also issued a media statement (Paragraph 6). ¶3. Post on September 6 delivered ref A remarks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, thanking the government for the offer of disaster assistance teams. In addition, post gave to the Ministry the list of U.S. priority needs (ref B). ¶4. Responding to ref A, following are points of contact for the New Zealand disaster assistance teams (New Zealand is 16 hours ahead of Washington): (a) For the Urban Search and Rescue Team: Jim Stuart-Black, national manager-special operations, New Zealand Fire Service, tel 011-64-4-496-3741, e-mail jim.stuart-black@fire.org.nz. (b) For the Police Disaster Victim Identification team: The principal police contact is: John Van der Heyden, superintendent, New Zealand Police, tel 011-64-4-474-9567, e-mail john.van.der.heyden@police.govt.nz. The key police operational planning contact is: John Rivers, superintendent, New Zealand Police, tel 011-64-4-474-9583 or mobile 011-64-27-295-0070, e-mail john.rivers@police.govt.nz. (c) For the disaster recovery management personnel: John Norton, director, Civil Defence and Emergency Management, tel 011-64-4-495-6815, e-mail john.norton@dia.govt.nz. ¶5. Post's point of contact on this matter: Katherine Hadda, pol-econ counselor office tel: 011-64-4-462-6063 mobile: 011-64-27-451-2539 e-mail: HaddaKB2@state.gov ¶6. Post issued the following media statement in response to the government's contribution: Begin statement: The United States Embassy in Wellington deeply appreciates New Zealand's further contribution to help those Americans affected by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. "I want to express our sincere appreciation for the generosity of New Zealanders and their government at this trying time," said Charge d'Affaires (Acting Ambassador) David Burnett. "This afternoon I spoke to the Prime Minister to convey personally the gratitude of the United States to the many New Zealanders who have expressed concern or offered assistance. "In addition to those personal contributions I note that today's contribution of $NZ 2 million to the Red Cross is a very direct way of making a difference to those whose lives have been shattered by this disaster. "We also gratefully acknowledge New Zealand's offer of disaster management personnel. We're working with the New Zealand Government and with those on the ground in the United States to establish the most effective way to make use of those staff." End statement. Burnett