Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06WELLINGTON43
2006-01-18 00:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Wellington
Cable title:  

NEW ZEALAND CLEARANCE FOR RIRO PAMELA DRAGOVICH

Tags:  OTRA KIRC OIIP KPAO NZ 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000043 

SIPDIS

JAKARTA FOR RIRO PDRAGOVICH

E.O. 12985: N/A
TAGS: OTRA KIRC OIIP KPAO NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND CLEARANCE FOR RIRO PAMELA DRAGOVICH

REF: 2005 JAKARTA 017033

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000043

SIPDIS

JAKARTA FOR RIRO PDRAGOVICH

E.O. 12985: N/A
TAGS: OTRA KIRC OIIP KPAO NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND CLEARANCE FOR RIRO PAMELA DRAGOVICH

REF: 2005 JAKARTA 017033


1. (SBU) EMBASSY WELCOMES AND GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE
TO PAMELA DRAGOVICH, REGIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCE
OFFICER (RIRO),TO TRAVEL TO WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND,
FROM JANUARY 30 TO FEBRUARY 5, 2006. THE PURPOSE OF THE
VISIT IS TO TRAIN THE NEW REFERENCE LIBRARIAN AND ADVISE
ON RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS IN THE AMERICAN REFERENCE
CENTER.


2. EMBASSY HAS BOOKED MS. DRAGOVICH AT QUEST ST. PAUL'S
APARTMENT IN WELLINGTON. DETAILS AS FOLLOWS:

QUEST ST. PAUL'S
37 PIPITEA STREET
THORNDON, WELLINGTON, NZ
IN: JANUARY 29, 2006
OUT: FEBRUARY 5, 2006
TELEPHONE: 64 (4) 494-7000
FAX: 64 (4) 494-7001
EMAIL: RESERVATIONS@STPAULS.CO.NZ
RATE: NZ$151.87 PER NIGHT (INCL. GST)


3. (SBU) POINT OF CONTACT AT EMBASSY WELLINGTON IS
CHRISTINE VIVIAN, AMERICAN REFERENCE CENTER (ARC)
DIRECTOR. CONTACT DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

OFFICE: 64 (4) 462-6112
FAX: 64 (4) 499-0490
CELL: 021 418 044
HOME: 64 (4) 472-8486
E-MAIL: VIVIANC@STATE.GOV


4. (SBU) ALL TDY VISITORS TO EMBASSY WELLINGTON ARE
REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE FOR A
SECURITY BRIEFING IF THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED AN APPROVED
OVERSEAS PERSONAL SECURITY-TRAINING COURSE.


5. (U) VISITORS SHOULD USE LOCAL TAXI SERVICE, WHICH IS
GENERALLY SAFE, RELIABLE, AND FREQUENT. TAXI FARE FROM
THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN WELLINGTON HOTELS IS
APPROXIMATELY NZD30. A COMMERCIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE IS ALSO
OFFERED AT THE AIRPORT.


6. (U) TRAVELERS CAN EXCHANGE CURRENCY AT THE AIRPORT
UPON ARRIVAL, AND ATM MACHINES ARE READILY AVAILABLE
THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND. CHECK CASHING PRIVILEGES AT THE
EMBASSY ARE RESTRICTED TO TRAVELER'S CHECKS ONLY UP TO
US$300.00. PERSONAL CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.


7. (SBU) 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$200.00 (US$150.00). BIOSECURITY IS
A SERIOUS ISSUE IN NEW ZEALAND, AND FINES WILL BE
ADMINISTERED IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT WARNINGS.


8. (SBU) SECURITY INFORMATION:


A. (SBU) ALL U.S. CITIZEN PERSONNEL SERVING UNDER THE

CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORITY IN A TEMPORARY STATUS OF 30
DAYS OR MORE MUST COMPLETE APPROPRIATE OVERSEAS PERSONAL
SECURITY TRAINING PRIOR TO TRAVEL (04 STATE 66580).
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE SECURITY OVERSEAS
SEMINAR COURSE AT THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE (FSI)
AFTER JUNE 1, 2000, MEET THIS REQUIREMENT. ALL OTHER TDY
PERSONNEL MUST EITHER (1) COMPLETE THE APPROVED SEMINAR
AT FSI, ENTITLED "SERVING ABROAD FOR FAMILIES &
EMPLOYEES" (SAFE),OR (2) HAVE THEIR AGENCY CERTIFY TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY
THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS UNDERGONE EQUIVALENT SECURITY
TRAINING. THE CONTACT FOR THIS TRAINING IS ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR FOR TRAINING AT (703) 205-2617. COUNTRY
CLEARANCE WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR ANY TRAVELER WITH
PLANNED TDY IN EXCESS OF 30 DAYS IF THIS INFORMATION IS
NOT STATED/CERTIFIED. POC FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS
RSO WELLINGTON.


B. (SBU) THE U.S. MISSION TO NEW ZEALAND CURRENTLY RATES
THE THREAT FROM TRANSNATIONAL AND INDIGENOUS TERRORISM AS
LOW. THERE ARE NO 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 OFFICER.


C. (SBU) 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 ARE USUALLY
SMALL AND ARE PEACEFULLY CONDUCTED. DURING THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS, THE HOST COUNTRY POLICE AND PROTECTIVE
SERVICES NORMALLY PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE
EMBASSY AND CONSULATE.


D. (SBU) NEW ZEALAND IS CONSIDERED A MEDIUM THREAT CRIME
ENVIRONMENT. AS SUCH, WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND HAVE
EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT AND PETTY CRIMES, BUT
THEY ARE USUALLY NON-CONFRONTATIONAL IN NATURE. HOWEVER,
HOME INVASION ROBBERIES AND ASSAULTS, ONCE VERY RARE, ARE
BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. BURGLARIES AND THEFTS OCCUR
COUNTRYWIDE BUT PRIMARILY IN THE LARGE CITIES OF
AUCKLAND, CHRISTCHURCH, AND WELLINGTON; AND VISITORS
SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY AWARE THAT STREET CRIME, SUCH AS
SCAMS AND PICKPOCKETS, IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE IN THESE
CITIES. COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN,
ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, TO AVOID BECOMING A TARGET OF
OPPORTUNITY.

E. (SBU) GENERALLY, NEW ZEALAND DOES NOT PLAY A
SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE WORLD DRUG SITUATION; HOWEVER,
EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT NEW ZEALAND HAS BEEN UTILIZED AS
A TRANSIT POINT FOR SHIPMENTS OF ECSTASY, HEROIN, AND
COCAINE TO AUSTRALIA. THE MOST ABUSED DRUG IN NEW
ZEALAND IS LOCALLY PRODUCED METHAMPHETAMINE AND CANNABIS.
THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASED AMOUNTS OF LAB SEIZURES AND
VIOLENT CRIME ASSOCIATED WITH GROUPS ATTEMPTING TO
CONTROL THIS MARKET.


F. (U) ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARE GENERALLY
SAFE AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY; HOWEVER, AT NIGHT VISITORS
SHOULD USE COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS SO AS TO AVOID
BECOMING A TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY.


G. (U) THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IN AUCKLAND CAN BE
DIFFICULT, WITH A MODERATE AMOUNT OF CONGESTION.
WELLINGTON AND CHRISTCHURCH TRAFFIC IS SIGNIFICANTLY
BETTER; HOWEVER, DURING RUSH HOUR MODERATE DELAYS CAN BE
EXPECTED. VISITORS ARE ADVISED THAT TRAFFIC DRIVES ON THE
LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD. VISITORS ARE ADVISED THAT
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE COMMON AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO PULL
OVER SO THAT POLICE MAY TAKE AN ACCIDENT REPORT.
HOWEVER, VISITORS WHO EXPERIENCE HOSTILITY OR ANTI-
AMERICAN SENTIMENT SHOULD DEPART THE SCENE IMMEDIATELY
AND NOTIFY THE RSO.


H. (SBU) TRAVELERS INTENDING TO BRING AND USE ANY USG-
PROVIDED ELECTRONIC OR PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT MUST
CONTACT THE RSO PRIOR TO INTRODUCING SUCH EQUIPMENT INTO
THE CHANCERY. PERSONAL ELECTRONIC OR PHOTOGRAPHIC
EQUIPMENT IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE CHANCERY. ONLY IN
SEVERELY LIMITED CASES WILL A NOTEBOOK OR LAPTOP COMPUTER
BE PERMITTED TO BE USED IN THE CHANCERY.


I. (U) PRECAUTIONS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN NOT TO DISCUSS
SENSITIVE OR CLASSIFIED INFORMATION OUTSIDE SECURE
ENVIRONMENTS OR OVER UNSECURED AND/OR CELLULAR TELEPHONES
AND TO SECURELY SAFEGUARD CLASSIFIED OR SENSITIVE
INFORMATION AT THE CHANCERY AND NOT AT HOTELS OR
RESIDENCES.


J. (U) VISITORS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT'S CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET FOR NEW ZEALAND
AND THE MOST RECENT WORLDWIDE CAUTION PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE VIA THE INTERNET AT
HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV


K. (U) IN ESSENCE, VISITORS TO NEW ZEALAND MUST EXERCISE
APPROPRIATE CAUTION AND BE ALERT TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS
WITH REGARD TO THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY. SUSPICIOUS
INCIDENTS/ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO RSO WELLINGTON
(TELEPHONE (64)(4)462-6000, 24 HOURS/DAY).

BURNETT