This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000647
SIPDIS
NSC FOR MGREEN
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP
EO 12958 DECL: 07/30/2014
TAGS PREL, PGOV, NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND MINISTER HOSTS MIKE MOORE’S
“FAHRENHEIT 9/11” FUNDRAISER (ALMOST)
Classified By: DCM David R. Burnett
1. (SBU) Embassy Wellington learned July 30 that GNZ Cabinet Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs was reportedly
hosting a special screening of Michael Moore’s controversial movie “Fahrenheit 9/11” as a local Labour Party fundraising
event. DCM contacted the Prime Minister’s office to ask whether it could shed some light on the matter and was told by
PM office staff that they were not aware of the issue but would look into it. DCM then contacted Minister Hobbs’ office
but the Minister’s office declined to make her available to discuss the matter. Hobbs’ staff later informed Embassy that
Hobbs would not be hosting the fundraiser. However, she would be attending the event.
2. (C) COMMENT: There’s a reason this particular Minister is nicknamed “Boo Boo” Hobbs. That said, it is probable that
this potential fiasco may only have been averted because of our phone calls - it is apparent to us that neither the
Minister nor anyone else in the Labour government seems to have thought there was anything wrong with a senior Minister
hosting such an event. Ambassador will use a scheduled meeting with the Prime Minister to tell Clark of the near
instantaneous press queries for USG comment in this matter and remind her that we would really rather not get dragged
into internal NZ political issues, such as Ministerial fundraising events for Clark’s Labour Party. Swindells