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