WikiLeaks cable: NZ's response to message on NATO support

Photo / Mark Mitchell

November 14, 2005
NZ's response to message on NATO support

date:2005-11-14T03:24:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:05WELLINGTON884
destination:This record is a partial extract of the original cable.
The full text of the original cable is not available.
classification:CONFIDENTIAL
reference:05STATE194572|05STATE195483|05WELLINGTON848
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000884

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015
TAGS: EAID, AEMR, ASEC, MASS, PGOV, ...
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000884

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015
TAGS: EAID, AEMR, ASEC, MASS, PGOV, PREF, PREL, PK, NZ, NATO
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE TO MESSAGE ON NATO SUPPORT

REF: A. WELLINGTON 848
B. STATE 195483
C. STATE 194572

(U) Classified by: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B.
Hadda. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Post's defense attache on October 28 delivered the ref
C demarche -- encouraging New Zealand's contribution to the
NATO relief effort in Pakistan -- to Air Vice-Marshal David
Bamfield, vice chief of the New Zealand Defense Force (ref
A). In a letter dated November 2, Air Marshal Bruce
Ferguson, chief of the New Zealand Defense Force, responded
that New Zealand would be unable to provide a military
contribution to the operations in Pakistan due to limited
resources. The letter noted that the government was
contributing in other ways, having pledged NZ $1.5 million
(US $1.05 million) to be spent on shelter, medicines and
other essential supplies (ref A).

2. (C) The letter also said, "New Zealand shares the concerns
of the United States and NATO in the wake of the enormous
destruction and suffering caused by this disaster. ... New
Zealand recognises the substantial contribution the United
States is making to the relief effort. The United States is
always among the first to step up to help in these situations
and your country's efforts in this relief effort are truly
commendable."
McCormick