WikiLeaks cable: NZ agrees to fund homeland security presidential directive

Photo / Mark Mitchell

December 8, 2006
New Zealand agrees to fund homeland security presidential directive (HSPD)-6 terrorist lookout initiative

date:2006-12-08T02:53:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:06WELLINGTON970
destination:VZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL #0970 3420253 ZNY CCCCC
ZZH P 080253Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
PRIORITY 3579 INFO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA
WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC
PRIORITY RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/TSA HQ WASHINGTON
DC PRIORITY
classification:CONFIDENTIAL
reference:06STATE19032
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000970

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

CA/VO/BIP, L/CA, EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2016
TAGS: CVIS, PTER, P...
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000970

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

CA/VO/BIP, L/CA, EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2016
TAGS: CVIS, PTER, PINR, PGOV, PREL, NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND AGREES TO FUND HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL
DIRECTIVE (HSPD)-6 TERRORIST LOOKOUT INITIATIVE
REF: STATE 19032

Classified By: Classified by DCM David J. Keegan, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Summary: GNZ has approved necessary funding needed to implement an HSPD-6 agreement with the United States, and would like NZ's liaison in Washington to meet with CA to go over next steps. End summary.

2. (C) PE Couns and Econoff met on December 1 with XXX, manager of the counter-terrorism branch of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Ash Johnson, liaison at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, to discuss GNZ's review of a possible HSPD-6 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. XXX said that NZSIS remains GNZ's choice for a lead agency for this project, and the Ministries needed to approve funding of the project (i.e., the "O-Desk") would meet on December 6. (NB: As XXX predicted, the O-Desk met and approved funding on the 6th).

3. (C) XXX said there is high-level support for the project; PM Clark herself called it "a no-brainer." He also said NZSIS hoped to review and complete comments on the U.S. draft agreement by December 8. To ensure that Washington is fully apprised of developments, Johnson has requested a meeting with CA for the week of December 11 to go over specifics with the hope of starting negotiations soon thereafter. Johnston will continue to be the main point of contact at the New Zealand Embassy for the purpose of these negotiations, as well as to liaise with USG agencies if there are any "hits" once the system is up and running. (A main use for the funds needed to implement the agreement will be to send a second NZ liaison to Washington, to ensure that someone will always be on the ground there if a hit is made.)

4. (C) PE Couns and Econoff also used the December 1 meeting to deliver the questions raised in reftel asking for details on host government efforts/ability to collect expanded biometric and biographic data to bolster counter-terrorist efforts. XXX confirmed that while GNZ officials had discussed many of the questions already in general terms with USG counterparts, they'd not done so in much detail. He promised to convey any comments to Emboffs.

McCormick