Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09WELLINGTON157
2009-06-16 04:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Wellington
Cable title:
NEW ZEALAND -- 2009 TIP REPORT DELIVERED
how-toVZCZCXRO9441 RR RUEHNZ DE RUEHWL #0157 1670446 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 160448Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0005 INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0001 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000157
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G/TIP AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PREL SMIG NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND -- 2009 TIP REPORT DELIVERED
REF: A) STATE 61811; B) STATE 59732; C) STATE 005577
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000157
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G/TIP AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PREL SMIG NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND -- 2009 TIP REPORT DELIVERED
REF: A) STATE 61811; B) STATE 59732; C) STATE 005577
1. (SBU) On Tuesday June 16 (New Zealand time),Charge' and
Econoff delivered the pre-release copy of the 2009 TIP Report to
Peter Rider, Director for UN, Human Rights, and Commonwealth
(UNHRC) and Paul Roberts, Policy Officer UNHRC at the New Zealand
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The NZ officials said that
they were grateful to have an opportunity to review the report
prior to its official release. Mr. Roberts said they would brief
their Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully on the contents
of the Report and discuss its recommendations with him and the NZ
inter-agency governmental working group. While both MFAT officials
gave the report a cursory review, they were familiar with the TIP
process and prior years' survey of New Zealand. Rider and Roberts
said they would provide a more considered response to the
recommendations once they had an opportunity to study and discuss
internally. In their initial response they felt there was some
disagreement between U.S. and NZ on the correct definition of
specific elements of enumerated criminal activity. Charge said that
the Embassy would welcome the opportunity to meet with the GNZ
inter-agency working group.
2. (SBU) Charge' also offered the possibility of more focused press
briefings and the possibility of a DVC between Washington officials
and the New Zealand press to better explain the contents of the
2009 TIP Report. MFAT officials expressed appreciation for the
offer but wished to postpone their response so as to better
ascertain the media interest in the topic. If as in previous years
the annual report receives cursory mention in the newspaper then
MFAT officials felt it may be more productive for both governments
to work cooperatively in private on the recommendations rather than
debate publicly differences publicly thus drawing unwanted media
attention. GNZ officials would prefer not to give the press an
opportunity to exaggerate perceived criticism of NZ by the U.S.
Embassy will coordinate with Washington on media guidance and relay
the official response by the GNZ to the recommendations in the
report.
KEEGAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G/TIP AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PREL SMIG NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND -- 2009 TIP REPORT DELIVERED
REF: A) STATE 61811; B) STATE 59732; C) STATE 005577
1. (SBU) On Tuesday June 16 (New Zealand time),Charge' and
Econoff delivered the pre-release copy of the 2009 TIP Report to
Peter Rider, Director for UN, Human Rights, and Commonwealth
(UNHRC) and Paul Roberts, Policy Officer UNHRC at the New Zealand
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The NZ officials said that
they were grateful to have an opportunity to review the report
prior to its official release. Mr. Roberts said they would brief
their Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully on the contents
of the Report and discuss its recommendations with him and the NZ
inter-agency governmental working group. While both MFAT officials
gave the report a cursory review, they were familiar with the TIP
process and prior years' survey of New Zealand. Rider and Roberts
said they would provide a more considered response to the
recommendations once they had an opportunity to study and discuss
internally. In their initial response they felt there was some
disagreement between U.S. and NZ on the correct definition of
specific elements of enumerated criminal activity. Charge said that
the Embassy would welcome the opportunity to meet with the GNZ
inter-agency working group.
2. (SBU) Charge' also offered the possibility of more focused press
briefings and the possibility of a DVC between Washington officials
and the New Zealand press to better explain the contents of the
2009 TIP Report. MFAT officials expressed appreciation for the
offer but wished to postpone their response so as to better
ascertain the media interest in the topic. If as in previous years
the annual report receives cursory mention in the newspaper then
MFAT officials felt it may be more productive for both governments
to work cooperatively in private on the recommendations rather than
debate publicly differences publicly thus drawing unwanted media
attention. GNZ officials would prefer not to give the press an
opportunity to exaggerate perceived criticism of NZ by the U.S.
Embassy will coordinate with Washington on media guidance and relay
the official response by the GNZ to the recommendations in the
report.
KEEGAN