MEDIA REACTION TO NEW ZEALAND'S AVIATION SECURITY

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000250 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EB/TRA/OTP, EAP/ANP - DAN RICCI, DHS/FAMS SYDNEY FOR TSA REP, MONTREAL FOR ICAO REP E.O. 12985: N/A TAGS: EAIR PGOV PTER KTIA PREL NZ SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION TO NEW ZEALAND'S AVIATION SECURITY LEGISLATION. ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request at paras 2 and 5. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: In compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements, the GNZ recently introduced Aviation Security Legislation which will enhance the powers of airport security officials and strengthen background checks on screeners and other airport personnel. The bill would also allow foreign international carriers to arrive and depart New Zealand with air marshals on board. The marshals' provision has generated a series of biased local media reports and comments by non-Government MPs claiming that foreign governments will be able to place armed marshals on board New Zealand carriers. The reports also claim that the GNZ is taking this step to curry favor in Washington. Post has not yet received press inquiries about the stories but likely will soon. We request Washington provide contingency guidance. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In the past week, news media in New Zealand have put a somewhat dramatic (and erroneous) spin on the Government's recently introduced legislation to enhance New Zealand's civil aviation security measures. The reports follow the March 13th announcement by Minister of Transport Safety, Harry Duynhoven that the government's new legislation is intended to strengthen aviation security to comply with ICAO standards. He also stressed that the legislation would not require NZ to accept marshals, but allow the Government to do so in response to specific, credible threats. On March 14, the New Zealand Herald announced that as a result of the legislation, "foreign armed marshals will be allowed on to Air New Zealand international flights" and linked the move to the PM's March 20-21 trip to Washington. On March 21, the Dominion Post repeated the misinformation about the legislation, and also suggested that the timing of the legislation was meant to coincide with Prime Minister Clark's visit to Washington in an attempt to curry favor. Post has kept TSA rep, Penny Anderson located in Sydney, apprised of these developments. Fact vs. Fiction -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The "Aviation Security Legislation Bill" amends the Aviation Crimes Act 1972 and the Civil Aviation Act 1990. The proposals include providing aviation security officers with search and seizure powers within specified limits, enabling the screening and searching of airport staff, strengthening provisions for checking the background of people working in areas critical to aviation security and providing appropriate natural justice provisions for people whose backgrounds are checked. The section of the bill attracting media attention enables foreign in-flight security officers to enter and depart New Zealand and enabling New Zealand to deploy in-flight security officers, should the government decide to do so. ¶4. (SBU) Rebecca Gallagher-Scott, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Transport confirmed that the legislation does not speak to "foreign" air marshals being permitted on New Zealand carriers but does allow foreign carriers on international flights to arrive and depart with air marshals onboard. The ruling Labor Party expects the legislation, which has already passed its first reading, to pass with the support of the National Party. The Green Party is the only party on record opposing the bill. Said MP Keith Locke, "In the years since the U.S. put air marshals on planes they've not dealt with any terrorist but have terrorized many passengers." (NB: Oddly, the Dom Post article said the National Party's John Hay also linked the legislation to the PM's U.S. visit. Post will raise our concern about this misinformation with National Party contacts.) Requested Guidance -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post anticipates that as the bill approaches passage it will attract more media attention. We request guidance, particularly including information about the successful implementation of the air marshal program in other ICAO countries. McCormick