

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07WELLINGTON461, NEW ZEALAND - MINISTER ON POLITICS, ISLAM AND
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07WELLINGTON461.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07WELLINGTON461 | 2007-06-20 04:04 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Wellington |
VZCZCXRO0198
PP RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHPB
DE RUEHWL #0461/01 1710442
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 200442Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4389
INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0147
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 WELLINGTON 000461
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECPS PINR KISL NZ AS
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND - MINISTER ON POLITICS, ISLAM AND
IMMIGRATION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRANSTASMAN COOPERATION
REF: A. WELLINGTON 413
¶B. WELLINGTON 284
Classified by Consul General John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
(U) This message was drafted by ConGen Auckland and approved
by Embassy Wellington.
¶1. (C) Summary. Up-and-coming Labour Party Minister David
Cunliffe is confident about his party's reelection chances
despite poor recent poll numbers. He is also confident about
successfully dismantling New Zealand's telecommunications
monopoly despite the challenges. Cunliffe is concerned about
anti-Muslim sentiment among Kiwis, as well as efforts by
radical imams to emigrate to New Zealand to preach. He
predicted efforts to salvage plans for a joint drugs
regulatory agency with Australia would fail. End summary.
--------------------------------------------- -------------
If a week is a long time in politics, 18 months is forever
--------------------------------------------- -------------
¶2. (C) Over lunch with ConGen Auckland PO on June 15, David
Cunliffe, New Zealand's minister for both immigration and
telecommunications, acknowledged the Labour Party's dismal
showing in recent polls (ref A) but expressed apparently
genuine optimism about Labour's prospects for returning to
power in next year's elections. Given that Labour has been
in power for eight years and that the opposition National
Party has a fresh new face at the top (John Key), Cunliffe
said, it is no surprise that National is polling so well.
Pointing out that elections are as far as 18 months away,
Cunliffe said Labour had plenty of time to make up the lost
ground and would do so.
¶3. (C) Cunliffe said there was last year debate within
Labour regarding how to respond to the then-National Party
leader, the intellectually respected but politically awkward
Don Brash. Many in the Labour caucus, Cunliffe said,
believed that Brash's clumsiness was a gift to Labour, and
that Labour should do all it could to ensure Brash remained
leader of the opposition. Most Labour MPs, however, argued
that Key would certainly unseat Brash before the next
election. If it was inevitable that Key rather than Brash
would lead National into the next election, the argument
went, it was in Labour's interest to have Key in the
opposition leader's seat as soon as possible so that the
friction of politics could rub away some of his glow. Better
to run against Key when he's been opposition leader for 18
months rather than only 4-6 months. Therefore Labour kept
the heat on Brash, doing whatever they could to speed his
downfall.
---------------------
Battling the Monopoly
---------------------
¶4. (C) Cunliffe was also upbeat about his telecommunications
portfolio, despite the challenges. He is currently trying to
break up Telecom, which enjoys a monopoly in most New Zealand
telecommunications sectors and what Cunliffe called a "cozy
duopoly" with Vodafone in mobile telephony. New Zealand's
overpriced cellular services, Cunliffe said, made clear there
was room for a third provider. He expected the entry of a
third player in the market to be announced reasonably soon.
He said that, in slowing investment and throwing up
roadblocks to reform, Telecom was behaving exactly as any
monopoly would when faced with being dismantled. He
acknowledged that significant government investment in the
sector might be required, particulary in broadband, where
NZ's performance against other OECD members has lagged and
where the country's vast and nearly empty rural areas make
providing universal coverage a challenge. He noted that
people have become very dependent on broadband access in just
a few years and reported that his constituent office received
far more complaints about broadband access than about any
other issue, including the recent, highly-unpopular
anti-spanking legislation (ref B).
-----------
Immigration
-----------
WELLINGTON 00000461 002 OF 003
¶5. (C) Cunliffe's constituency is one-third foreign born,
the largest percentage of any electorate. He said that,
while New Zealanders are generally very tolerant of different
cultures, the country did suffer from cyclical waves of
anti-immigration sentiment - anti-Pacific in the eighties,
anti-Asian in the nineties, and anti-Muslim today. When the
PO expressed surprise at the latter, given that Muslims,
particularly Arab Muslims, are nearly invisible even in
multicultural Auckland, Cunliffe acknowledged that the
population was small, but concentrated. He said that Muslims
drew suspicion and hostility from other Kiwis who view them,
for no good reason, as a security threat. While emphasizing
that New Zealand Muslims are loyal to their adopted country
and inclined to leave the conflicts of their homelands behind
them, Cunliffe expressed some concern that more radical imams
are trying to enter the country and stir up trouble. Asked
what tools he had to exclude those who have committed no
crimes but still might be considered a threat, Cunliffe
turned coy. "Some people simply find their visas don't get
renewed," he said. Cunliffe was confident that such imams
are being pushed to New Zealand by radical elements outside
the country, rather than pulled into New Zealand by
congregations seeking more extreme preachers.
¶6. (C) Cunliffe reported that Asian immigrants' approach to
politics was evolving. The first generation from China,
Taiwan, and Korea eschewed politics, focussing instead on
growing their businesses and educating their children. The
next generation, however, is more active in politics.
Cunliffe, whose electorate office issues some documents in
Korean, has a number of young Asian staff members. According
to Cunliffe, both major parties are trying to reach out to
this generation. They are not perceived as having a natural
political home. He described them as largely nonideological,
choosing party allegiance based on their judgement of how
best to fulfill their ambitions rather than out of loyalty to
a certain political point of view. Asian voting patterns
tend to reflect the neighborhood, Cunliffe said, they vote
National in National areas and Labour in traditionally Labour
communities.
-------------------------------
God and Politics in New Zealand
-------------------------------
¶7. (C) Cunliffe also discussed the intersection of religion
and politics in New Zealand, in the context of disgraced
Labour MP Taito Philip Field's maneuvers to set up a
Christian political party. Cunliffe said that New Zealanders
are not as secular as generally thought. Their Christianity,
however, tends to be overlooked in politics because it is not
focussed in a particular part of the spectrum. Christianity
in New Zealand, Cunliffe explained, runs the gamut from
liberation theology on the left, to more traditional European
Christian democracy in the center to evangelical
fundamentalism on the right. Cunliffe argued that no
religious party would be able to cross the 5% threshhold for
entry into parliament as the potentially most potent
religious force, the evangelicals, were too divided, but he
allowed that a particularly charismatic religious politician
might be able to win a constituency seat and pull a few
colleagues into Parliament on his/her coattails. Cunliffe
thought the odds of this were long and that neither Field nor
Brian Tamaki, the head of the high profile evangelical
Destiny Church, could be that politician. Nonetheless,
Cunliffe added, Labour recognized that it had neglected those
New Zealanders to whom faith is important, a failing the
party would attempt to rectify between now and the election.
¶8. (C) If so, apparently not everyone in the Labour caucus
got the memo. In a separate conversation, Labour backbencher
Ross Robertson lambasted fellow Labour MP Winnie Laban's
recent proposal to abolish Parliament's opening prayer.
Robertson had spent a subsequent constituency meeting dealing
exclusively with angry questions about the proposal. Asked
why Laban would propose something sure to alienate many while
inspiring few, Robertson shrugged and suggested that Laban
was trying to make friends with Labour's very secular far
left. (Comment: Laban is well known to Mission New Zealand,
and we would guess her proposal is more likely linked to her
role in New Zealand's inter-faith dialogue, a forum she
strongly supports. End comment.)
WELLINGTON 00000461 003 OF 003
--------------------------------------------- -------
Transtasman Drugs Agency - Good Policy, Bad Politics
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶9. (C) The upbeat Cunliffe turned negative when asked about
Foreign Minister and New Zealand First party leader Winston
Peters' efforts to salvage the government's attempt to set up
with Australia a joint drug regulatory agency. Cunliffe
suggested the proposal was dead and was disappointed that the
government had ever pursued it. From a management and
efficiency perspective, Cunliffe said, such an agency made
perfect sense, "a no-brainer." But it was a political
mistake. Cunliffe explained that there were far more votes
to lose than to gain. An arcane exercise in setting up a
regulatory agency would not exactly energize Labour's base,
but it would offend a significant number of people. Holistic
treatment adherents (many of whom are Cunliffe constituents)
fear the agency will outlaw alternative medicines while
ultranationalists see any cooperation with Australia as a
step down New Zealand's path towards becoming just another
Australian territory. Cunliffe predicted Peters' efforts to
save the proposal would fail.
---------
Bio Notes
---------
¶10. (C) Cunliffe is a former diplomat and is widely touted
as one of Labour's future leaders. Asked why he left the
diplomatic service, he said he was more tempermentally suited
to politics than to diplomacy. Another reason he cited for
leaving was so that his spouse, whom he described as the
family's breadwinner, could return to her law practice.
Cunliffe, who spent six years studying and working in the
U.S., comes across as genuinely pro-American. While a
student, he worked on Senator Kennedy's re-election campaign
against Governor Romney. Cunliffe has a mixed reputation
among his colleagues, some of whom have complained to Emboffs
that he is arrogant and (ironically) undiplomatic.
MCCORMICK