WikiLeaks cable: NZ PM sorts out Ministers' portfolios
February 2, 2006 NZ PM sorts out Ministers' portfolios
date:2006-02-02T07:15:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:06WELLINGTON90 destination:VZCZCXYZ0008 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL
#0090 0330715 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 020715Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2348 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC
WASHDC 0028 classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:05WELLINGTON807 ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000090
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR-BWEISEL STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA-MBGOODMAN AND EAP/ANP-DRICCI C... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON
000090
SIPDIS
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STATE PASS USTR-BWEISEL STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA-MBGOODMAN AND EAP/ANP-DRICCI COMMERCE FOR ABENAISSA/4530/ITA/MAC/AP/OSAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 TAGS: ETRD, PGOV, PREL, NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S PM SORTS OUT MINISTERS' PORTFOLIOS
REF: 05 WELLINGTON 807
(U) Classified by: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B. Hadda. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) New Zealand Prime Minister Clark has decided that Jim Sutton, who on December 31 wrapped up his tenure as trade
negotiations minister, will remain a minister of state inside Cabinet. Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff has taken over
as trade negotiations minister. The prime minister provided Sutton with a face-saving way to be eased out of an
important role in government, while not answering critics who questioned why she put out to pasture a seasoned and
effective trade negotiator at a critical stage in the World Trade Organization talks.
2. (U) After the September 17 elections in which Sutton lost his electorate seat but returned to Parliament by virtue of
his ranking on the Labour Party's at-large list, PM Clark designated Goff as the next trade negotiations minister -- a
position that Sutton had held for six years. Clark on December 22 appointed Sutton as a minister of state, and the
turnover in the trade negotiations portfolio was postponed to December 31 to allow Sutton to participate in the Doha
Round negotiations in Hong Kong. In late January, Clark informed government ministers that Sutton would remain in
Cabinet, a privilege not usually extended to ministers of state.
3. (C) The prime minister had given Goff the option of removing from his portfolio the responsibility for representing
New Zealand at WTO talks, but he chose not to do so, according to an adviser. Goff -- who attended the WTO
mini-ministerial in January in Davos, Switzerland -- also is the minister of defense, disarmament and arms control,
Pacific Island affairs and trade.
4. (C) Sutton had lost touch with his electorate due in large part to his globe-trotting role as trade negotiations
minister. At age 64, he is perceived to be in the twilight of his legislative career. There also is no love lost between
the prime minister and Sutton, who in 1996 was one of five Labour MPs who asked Clark to step aside as party leader.
Meanwhile, giving Goff the trade negotiations portfolio was seen as a means to compensate him for sacrificing his
previous position as foreign minister, which went to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as a prize for his support
in forming the government (reftel).
5. (U) Sutton will focus on bilateral and regional trade issues, lead trade missions and back up Goff in the WTO talks.
6. (U) Biographies of Sutton and Goff can be found on Embassy Wellington's website on the classified intranet:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/wellington. McCormick
ENDS