NEW ZEALAND EXPANDS ITS CHANCERY IN VANUATU FOR

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000445 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/ANP AND INR/EAP NSC FOR VICTOR CHA AND MICHAEL GREEN SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA LIZ PHU PACOM FOR J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND EXPANDS ITS CHANCERY IN VANUATU FOR GROWING AID PROGRAM REF: IIR 6 869 0072 06 ¶1. (SBU) On June 7, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters opened new, larger offices for the New Zealand High Commission in Port Vila, Vanuatu. On June 8, Poloff spoke with New Zealand's High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Paul Willis, who said the Commission had leased one-and-half floors of new office space to accommodate growth in staff for its significantly expanding NZAID development assistance program, staff for additional diplomatic and consular activities, additional space to receive visitors and GNZ delegations, and to accommodate any future growth of other government agencies. New Zealand established diplomatic relations with Vanuatu in 1987, Willis said. ¶2. (U) While New Zealand's development assistance for Vanuatu averaged USD 3.4 million (NZD 5.4 million) per year over the five-year period from FY2001 to FY2005, the allocation for this fiscal year rose to USD 4.6 million (NZD 7.25 million) and will rise progressively to USD 10.4 million (NZD 16.5 million) in FY2008, according a five-year strategy agreed to during March 2005 consultations between New Zealand and Vanuatu. The increased ODA allocation will build on existing programs in education and human resource development (50 percent),strengthening governance (30 percent),and improving prospects for sustained economic development (20 percent). McCormick