VZCZCXRO3570
RR RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0071/01 0270047
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270047Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2309
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4284
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0014
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0138
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0492
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0405
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0611
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0423
RUEHJA/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 0009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 WELLINGTON 000071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PD - ANNE GRIMES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA KPAO NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND CLEARANCE FOR EAP/PD COUNTRY 
COORDINATOR ANNE GRIMES 
 
REF: SECSTATE 012498 
 
¶1.   (SBU) EMBASSY WELCOMES AND GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE 
TO ANNE GRIMES, EAP/PD COUNTRY COORDINATOR, TO TRAVEL TO 
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, MARCH 2-7, 2006, FOR PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY CONSULTATIONS. 
 
¶2.   (U) EMBASSY HAS BOOKED MS. GRIMES AT THE DUXTON 
HOTEL. DETAILS FOLLOW: 
 
DUXTON HOTEL, AUCKLAND 
100 GREYS AVENUE 
AUCKLAND CENTRAL, NEW ZEALAND 
IN: MARCH 2, 2006 
OUT: MARCH 3, 2006 
TELEPHONE: 64(9)375-1800 
FAX: 64(9)375-1801 
EMAIL: RES@AUCKLAND.DUXTON.CO.NZ 
RATE: NZ$157.50 INCLUDING GST PER NIGHT 
 
DUXTON HOTEL, WELLINGTON 
170 WAKEFIELD STREET 
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND 
IN: MARCH 3, 2006 
OUT: MARCH 7, 2006 
TELEPHONE: 64(4)473-3900 
FAX: 64(4)385-3281 
EMAIL: RESERVATIONS@WELLINGTON.DUXTON.CO.NZ 
RATE: NZ$195 PLUS 12.5% GST PER NIGHT 
 
¶3. (SBU) POINT OF CONTACT AT EMBASSY WELLINGTON IS ROY 
GLOVER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER. CONTACT DETAILS AS 
FOLLOWS: 
 
OFFICE: 64(4)462-6082 
FAX: 64(4)499-0490 
CELL: 027-451-2542 
HOME: 64(4)566-3551 
E-MAIL:  GLOVERRA@STATE.GOV; GLOVEROY@YAHOO.COM 
 
¶4. (SBU) ALL TDY VISITORS TO EMBASSY WELLINGTON ARE 
REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE FOR A 
SECURITY BRIEFING IF THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED AN APPROVED 
OVERSEAS PERSONAL SECURITY-TRAINING COURSE. 
 
¶5. (U) VISITORS SHOULD USE LOCAL TAXI SERVICE, WHICH IS 
GENERALLY SAFE, RELIABLE, AND FREQUENT.  TAXI FARE FROM 
THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN WELLINGTON HOTELS IS 
APPROXIMATELY NZD30. A COMMERCIAL SHUTTLE SERVICE IS ALSO 
OFFERED AT THE AIRPORT. 
 
¶6. (U) TRAVELERS CAN EXCHANGE CURRENCY AT THE AIRPORT 
UPON ARRIVAL, AND ATM MACHINES ARE READILY AVAILABLE 
THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND.  CHECK-CASHING PRIVILEGES AT THE 
EMBASSY ARE RESTRICTED TO TRAVELER'S CHECKS ONLY UP TO 
US$300.00.  PERSONAL CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 
 
¶7. (SBU) BIOSECURITY FINES: 
 
THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND HAS INSTITUTED FINES FOR 
NON-DECLARED BIOSECURITY HAZARDS ON TRAVELERS ENTERING 
NEW ZEALAND WITH UNDECLARED PLANT, ANIMAL, OR FOOD 
MATERIAL.  TRAVELERS FOUND CARRYING THESE UNDECLARED 
ITEMS WILL BE IMMEDIATELY FINED NZ$200.00 (US$150.00). 
BIOSECURITY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN NEW ZEALAND AND FINES 
WILL BE ADMINISTERED IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT WARNINGS. 
 
¶8. (SBU) SECURITY INFORMATION: 
 
¶A. (SBU) ALL U.S. CITIZEN PERSONNEL SERVING UNDER THE 
CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORITY IN A TEMPORARY STATUS OF 30 
DAYS OR MORE MUST COMPLETE APPROPRIATE OVERSEAS PERSONAL 
SECURITY TRAINING PRIOR TO TRAVEL (04 STATE 66580). 
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE SECURITY OVERSEAS 
SEMINAR COURSE AT THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE (FSI) 
AFTER JUNE 1, 2000, MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.  ALL OTHER TDY 
PERSONNEL MUST EITHER (1) COMPLETE THE APPROVED SEMINAR 
AT FSI ENTITLED "SERVING ABROAD FOR FAMILIES & EMPLOYEES" 
(SAFE), OR (2) HAVE THEIR AGENCY CERTIFY TO THE 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY THAT 
THE EMPLOYEE HAS UNDERGONE EQUIVALENT SECURITY TRAINING. 
THE CONTACT FOR THIS TRAINING IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR 
 
WELLINGTON 00000071  002 OF 003 
 
 
TRAINING AT (703) 205-2617.  COUNTRY CLEARANCE WILL NOT 
BE GRANTED FOR ANY TRAVELER WITH PLANNED TDY IN EXCESS OF 
30 DAYS IF THIS INFORMATION IS NOT STATED/CERTIFIED. POC 
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS RSO WELLINGTON. 
 
¶B. (SBU) THE U.S. MISSION TO NEW ZEALAND CURRENTLY RATES 
THE THREAT FROM TRANSNATIONAL AND INDIGENOUS TERRORISM AS 
LOW.  THERE ARE NO TERRORIST GROUPS OR SUPPORT GROUPS 
BELIEVED TO BE OPERATING IN NEW ZEALAND AT THIS TIME.  IN 
LIGHT OF THE WORLDWIDE SECURITY ALERT ALL VISITORS SHOULD 
HEIGHTEN THEIR SECURITY AWARENESS AND REPORT ANY UNUSUAL 
INCIDENTS TO THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER. 
 
¶C. (SBU) ANONYMOUS TELEPHONIC THREATS AND OBSCURE THREAT 
MAIL HAVE OCCASIONALLY TARGETED U.S. DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS 
IN NEW ZEALAND.  IN RESPONSE TO U.S. POLICIES AND 
ACTIONS, VARIOUS GROUPS IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE DEMONSTRATED 
OCCASIONALLY AT THE EMBASSY IN WELLINGTON AND AT THE 
CONSULATE IN AUCKLAND.  THESE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE USUALLY 
SMALL AND ARE PEACEFULLY CONDUCTED.  DURING THESE 
DEMONSTRATIONS, THE HOST COUNTRY POLICE AND PROTECTIVE 
SERVICES NORMALLY PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE 
EMBASSY AND CONSULATE. 
 
¶D. (SBU) NEW ZEALAND IS CONSIDERED A MEDIUM THREAT CRIME 
ENVIRONMENT. AS SUCH, WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND HAVE 
EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT AND PETTY CRIMES, BUT 
THEY ARE USUALLY NON-CONFRONTATIONAL IN NATURE.  HOWEVER, 
HOME INVASION ROBBERIES AND ASSAULTS, ONCE VERY RARE, ARE 
BECOMING MORE FREQUENT.  BURGLARIES AND THEFTS OCCUR 
COUNTRYWIDE BUT PRIMARILY IN THE LARGE CITIES OF 
AUCKLAND, CHRISTCHURCH AND WELLINGTON, AND VISITORS 
SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY AWARE THAT STREET CRIME, SUCH AS 
SCAMS AND PICKPOCKETS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE IN THESE 
CITIES.  COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN, 
ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, TO AVOID BECOMING A TARGET OF 
OPPORTUNITY. 
 
¶E. (SBU) GENERALLY, NEW ZEALAND DOES NOT PLAY A 
SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE WORLD DRUG SITUATION; HOWEVER, 
EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT NEW ZEALAND HAS BEEN UTILIZED AS 
A TRANSIT POINT FOR SHIPMENTS OF ECSTASY, HEROIN AND 
COCAINE TO AUSTRALIA.  THE MOST ABUSED DRUG IN NEW 
ZEALAND IS LOCALLY PRODUCED METHAMPHETAMINE AND CANNABIS. 
THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASED AMOUNTS OF LAB SEIZURES AND 
VIOLENT CRIME ASSOCIATED WITH GROUPS ATTEMPTING TO 
CONTROL THIS MARKET. 
 
¶F. (U) ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARE GENERALLY 
SAFE AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY; HOWEVER, AT NIGHT VISITORS 
SHOULD USE COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS SO AS TO NOT BECOME A 
TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY. 
 
¶G. (U) THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IN AUCKLAND CAN BE DIFFICULT 
WITH A MODERATE AMOUNT OF CONGESTION. WELLINGTON AND 
CHRISTCHURCH TRAFFIC IS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER; HOWEVER, 
DURING RUSH HOUR MODERATE DELAYS CAN BE EXPECTED. 
VISITORS ARE ADVISED THAT TRAFFIC DRIVES ON THE LEFT-HAND 
SIDE OF THE ROAD. VISITORS ARE ADVISED THAT TRAFFIC 
ACCIDENTS ARE COMMON AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO PULL OVER SO 
THAT POLICE MAY TAKE AN ACCIDENT REPORT.  HOWEVER, 
VISITORS WHO EXPERIENCE HOSTILITY OR ANTI-AMERICAN 
SENTIMENT SHOULD DEPART THE SCENE IMMEDIATELY AND NOTIFY 
THE RSO. 
 
¶H. (SBU) TRAVELERS INTENDING TO BRING AND USE ANY USG 
PROVIDED ELECTRONIC OR PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT MUST 
CONTACT THE RSO PRIOR TO INTRODUCING THAT EQUIPMENT INTO 
THE CHANCERY.  PERSONAL ELECTRONIC OR PHOTOGRAPHIC 
EQUIPMENT IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE CHANCERY. ONLY IN 
SEVERELY LIMITED CASES WILL A NOTEBOOK OR LAPTOP COMPUTER 
BE PERMITTED TO BE USED IN THE CHANCERY. 
 
¶I. (U) PRECAUTIONS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO NOT DISCUSS 
SENSITIVE OR CLASSIFIED INFORMATION OUTSIDE SECURE 
ENVIRONMENTS OR OVER UNSECURED AND/OR CELLULAR 
TELEPHONES, AND TO SECURELY SAFEGUARD CLASSIFIED OR 
SENSITIVE INFORMATION AT THE CHANCERY AND NOT AT HOTELS 
OR RESIDENCES. 
 
¶J. (U) VISITORS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT'S CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET FOR NEW ZEALAND 
 
WELLINGTON 00000071  003 OF 003 
 
 
AND THE MOST RECENT WORLDWIDE CAUTION PUBLIC 
ANNOUNCEMENTS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE VIA THE INTERNET AT 
HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV 
 
¶K. (U) IN ESSENCE, VISITORS TO NEW ZEALAND MUST EXERCISE 
APPROPRIATE CAUTION AND BE ALERT TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS 
WITH REGARD TO THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY.  SUSPICIOUS 
INCIDENTS/ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO RSO WELLINGTON 
(TELEPHONE (64)(4)462-6000, 24 HOURS/DAY). 
 
BURNETT