WikiLeaks cable: Scene-setter for Helen Clark's US visit
This is one of the diplomatic cables about New Zealand held by Wikileaks.
March 2, 2007 Deputy Chief of Mission David Keegan Scene-setter for visit by Prime Minister Helen Clark to Washington
1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Clark has announced to New Zealanders that she will use her March 20-21 visit to
Washington to discuss key regional and world events with the President and other Senior Officials. In reality, she has a
broader agenda as well: to improve the tone of her dialogue with us and to send a message to the NZ electorate that
cooperating with the U.S. is normal and advances New Zealand's interests. Now in her third term in office, Clark has
over the years developed a deeper understanding of the breadth and benefits of the US-New Zealand relationship. She
recognises that sound bites matter, and in response has begun to modulate her public statements to be more positive
about the relationship. She also strenuously avoids saying anything critical about U.S. policy. Although a strengthened
centrist domestic political opposition may motivate Clark to be more open to us, most of her efforts to improve
bilateral cooperation have not been made public, indicating genuine commitment. Over the past year, she has quietly
filled a number of key positions with officials who are well disposed towards the United States, and she and her
Ministers now treat official meetings with us as opportunities to advance common agendas rather than either public
relations coups or something to deny. The PM closely monitors and supports the "Matrix" process as well as deeper US-NZ
cooperation in intelligence and other issues. She particularly appreciates our cooperation in the Pacific and
Antarctica. End Summary.
2. (C) A micromanager, Clark will come to Washington extremely well briefed on the issues. She will likely suggest small
but concrete ways to cooperate within the boundaries of the Presidential Directive, such as by regularizing our dialogue
on scientific and Pacific Island issues. She will probably announce that New Zealand will extend its military
deployments in Afghanistan through September 2009. Clark will not seek any dramatic changes to bilateral policy, which
she recognizes would be more than either side's system could bear. Nor will she make a heavy pitch for an FTA as she did
during her 2002 visit, instead leaving that for Trade Minister Goff's trip to Washington later this year.
3. (C) We should use this visit to urge continued tangible commitments to the improving bilateral cooperation and NZ's
defense modernization. We should also elicit a greater willingness to publicize our successes where possible. Clark will
be setting the pace for improving U.S.-New Zealand relations for the foreseeable future. This visit provides us an
opportunity to encourage her to stay the course and to resist negative pressures from those in her party who prefer to
keep us at arm's length.
MOVING UP THE LEARNING CURVE: WE MATTER
4. (C) With over seven years in office, Clark is now the longest serving Labour Prime Minister in New Zealand history.
Although she has no clear successor and may run for an unprecedented fourth term, she is clearly already focused on her
legacy. Arriving in office well to the left of the political spectrum, Clark began her tenure by stressing New Zealand's
role as a small but principled player favoring multilateral (ideally UN-based) solutions to the world's problems. Since
then, she has witnessed such events as 9/11, cooperation between NZDF and US troops in Afghanistan, and shortcomings of
the UN system (such as its inability to react to the 2005 Tsunami). As a result, she has over time focused more on New
Zealand's role in the Pacific region and its relations with Australia and other bilateral allies.
5. (C) Through learning on the job, Clark has clearly developed a more sophisticated understanding of the breadth and
importance of the US-New Zealand relationship. Her desire to improve relations with the Administration may be due in
part to the influence of Foreign Minister Winston Peters, but we see evidence that Clark herself wants to improve US-New
Zealand ties. Contacts tell us she has especially valued our close cooperation following the coup in Fiji, and during
her recent meetings with PM Howard she praised EAP DAS Davies' trip to the Solomons. The Ambassador reports that Clark
is obviously impressed by our dedication to environmental protection and generous support for New Zealand activities in
Antarctica, which she witnessed first hand during this year's celebrations of USNZ cooperation on the ice.
6. (C/NF) Recognizing that her Government had initially resisted improving the U.S. relationship, Clark has since the
2005 election appointed to key positions a number of officials well disposed towards working with the United States. In
addition to Foreign Minister Winston Peters (arguably a marriage of convenience), she has appointed Warren Tucker as
Director of the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), Bruce Ferguson as Director of the Government Communications
Security Bureau (GCSB), Roy Ferguson as NZ Ambassador to Washington; and John McKinnon as Secretary of Defence. Together
with Peters and Simon Murdoch, second in command at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these officials have improved their
agencies' coordination on U.S. policy and instructed staff to be helpful to us wherever possible. For example, NZSIS had
for months resisted housing equipment needed to implement a possible HSPD-6 agreement with the United States. Soon after
his arrival, Tucker ordered NZSIS to be the host, paving the way for negotiations.
7. (C) Clark has been more mindful of the public side of our relationship as well. She participated in the Embassy's 4
July reception even though she never attends national day events. She was also gracious guest at a media-covered
reception at the Ambassador's residence last May in honor of her favorite Kiwi composer. Mindful that her 2003 remarks
about the Iraq war have not been forgotten, Clark now slaps down her Cabinet Ministers for similar offenses. When on
January 12 Duty Minister Jim Anderton issued a blistering critique of the President's plan to send more troops to Iraq,
Clark quickly disavowed the comments and removed Anderton from duty within the day. She was roundly criticized in the
media for her actions, but did not budge. After confirming her visit to Washington on March 1, a reporter asked what
Clark would say if the President asked her views on the war. Clark merely said she doubted that would happen, adding
that New Zealand is not in Iraq and it would be ""gratuitous to offer any advice.""
CLARK REALLY DOES WANT CLOSER TIES
8. (C) Some observers claim Clark only wants to mend fences with the United States to wrest center ground from the
opposition National Party, which is gaining in the polls. We doubt this is her main motive. For one thing, polling
suggests up to half of all Kiwis believe New Zealand does not need a closer relationship with the United States, and the
anti-American sentiment in the left side of her own caucus is well known. Although Labour is losing ground in opinion
polls, Clark is far from being in such crisis that she needs to change her foreign policy to get votes. New National
leader John Key is charming and confident, but has been in Parliament for only five years and his practical agenda
remains fuzzy. In contrast, while many Kiwis consider Clark cold and some question her integrity, we have yet to meet
any who regard her as anything less than competent. The majority seem proud of the way she has helped forge a new,
modern identity for the country: clean, green, multicultural, multilateral, creative, and yes - nuclear free. Nor is
there a chance of the type of leadership putsch within Labour that has plagued National in recent years.
9. (C) New Zealand is small, but concrete improvements in bilateral cooperation over the past year, including via the
""Matrix"" process initiated in Bangkok last year, have brought tangible, positive gains for U.S. interests. We continue
to cooperate closely on events in Fiji and have come to value the views of Kiwi officials regarding events in E.Timor,
the Solomon Islands, and Tonga. We are increasing behind-the-scenes dialogue on N.Korea and Iran, both of which have
diplomatic relations with New Zealand. The ""Matrix"" process has also been helpful in enabling both sides to stay
joined up in response to other events, such as ensuring that the recent fire on board a Japanese whaling vessel in
Antarctic waters would not lead to an environmental disaster.
10. (S/NF) Improvements on the defense and intelligence side have also borne fruit. As Minister in Charge of the NZSIS
and GCSB, Clark is read into all major operations involving U.S. intelligence. She understands the implications of a
post-9/11 world for New Zealand's security. She also realized after the Fiji coup that New Zealand had become too
reliant on Australian intelligence. Clark grasps that NZ must "give to get" and that some of our cooperative operations
- such as monitoring radicalizing Kiwi jihadists - strengthen her country's security. But she also has been willing to
address targets of marginal benefit to New Zealand that could do her political harm if made public. Over the past year,
she has supported increased counterterrorism cooperation with us.
11. (C/NF) While the Presidential Directive still limits our defense relationship, New Zealand's push since 2004 to
modernize its forces have improved our ability to work together in those areas in which we can cooperate. In support of
NZ military activities in the Pacific Islands, Timor Leste, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, there have been more high-level
U.S. military visits to New Zealand over the past 6 months than in the previous two years. This March alone, there will
be visits by two Admirals for maritime security consultations with New Zealand, France, and the UK, as well as a yearly
call by PACAF Commander General Hester. There have been more U.S. military waivers for multilateral exercises including
the NZDF as well. Unlike in the past, the PM and her Government have focused on the substance behind these visits and
exercises instead of touting them to the press as a sign that NZ's nuclear ban no longer matters to the United States.
New Zealand continues to be an active participant in the Proliferation Security Initiative, has helped explain the
importance of this effort to Pacific Island states, and will for the first time host an Operational Experts Group
Meeting in Auckland March 2628.
Key Issues
12. (C/NF) Regional/Global Security: In her public statements announcing the visit, Clark has said that she hopes to
discuss with senior US officials common interests in counter-terrorism/Afghanistan; regional security and good
governance in the PICs and E.Timor; and DPRK, Iran and other nonproliferation issues. Although she told a journalist
that Iraq is unlikely to come up, MFAT staff tells us that she knows that this is a major issue on the mind of the
Administration. They also say she is likely to raise concerns over China's role in the Asia Pacific region. Clark will
likely announce during her visit that New Zealand will extend its deployments to Afghanistan through September 2009, the
longest extension since the Afghan war began. She may also propose that both sides agree to regular consultations on
Pacific Island issues. We agree this could send a positive public signal about our joint work in the region, although in
reality fast moving events make it a certainty that we will continue to communicate in real time as well. We would also
have to ensure that the search for agenda items and ""deliverables"" did not overwhelm our constructive dialogue.
13. (S/NF) Intelligence: Although it will be obviously impossible to publicly highlight the exact nature of NZ's
intelligence cooperation during Clark's visit, she undoubtedly would appreciate having it acknowledged behind closed
doors. We should also encourage New Zealand to agree to some public recognition of the HSPD-6 MOU that we understand
will be signed during the visit. A public signing ceremony the Embassy hosted when we concluded the US-NZ Regional Alert
Movement agreement received positive press play here, which indicates that not all intelligence cooperation issues are
tabu to Kiwis.
14. (C) Environment and other issues: Since the Antarctic celebrations in January, Clark has become more aware of the
close level of cooperation between US and NZ scientists both on and off the ice. She may propose new areas for
cooperation in Antarctica and suggest both sides review the US-NZ Science and Technology Agreement to consider possible
new joint research efforts. GNZ officials were struck by parallel references to climate change and sustainable energy in
both the President's and PM's opening statements to their legislature this year, and Clark may raise this as well. She
may also propose cooperation on efforts towards sustainable fisheries. Clark will almost certainly acknowledge U.S.
leadership in WTO Doha negotiations.
15. (C) The Public message: Clark will deliver three speeches while in the United States. Unlike her speech there in
2002 on New Zealand's desire for an FTA, Clark's address in Washington will present a more positive focus on overall
US-NZ relations. This reflects both her understanding that an FTA is not possible for now and her desire to speak to the
broader relationship. Clark will deliver a second speech in Chicago covering WTO and economic issues (including a soft
FTA pitch) and a third in Seattle on innovation in New Zealand.
COMMENT
16. (C) PM Clark will continue to set the course for improved USNZ relations. It is clear there will be no change in New
Zealand's anti-nuclear policy in the medium term; even the new opposition leader John Key has announced that the
National Party wants to maintain the ban. National also continues to be vulnerable to accusations of being too close to
the United States, which cost it significant support at the 2005 election. If elected in 2008, the Nats will have more
political room to work with us if they can build on progress made under this Government towards better US-NZ ties. A
re-elected Labour Government will do the same. This visit provides a chance to encourage Clark to set the bar high. We
may have setbacks along the way, but the better our mutual understanding of what each side can expect from each other,
the less likely that these hiccups will undermine our progress.
ENDS