VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWL #0394 1450710
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 250710Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4285
INFO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 0627
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/FO AND EAP/ANP 
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA 
OSD FOR JESSICA POWERS AND LIZ PHU 
PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR NZ
SUBJECT: NZDF TO PROVIDE P-3 ORION TO PSI EXERCISE 
 
Classified By: ACTING DCM KATHERINE B. HADDA, 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
¶1. (C) NZDF Director of International Defence Relations Wayne 
Higgins told Emboffs today that Chief of Defence Force 
Mataparae has approved an NZDF P-3 Orion's participation in a 
regional, Operations Expert Group (OEG)-led PSI exercise, to 
be held in Japan October 15-18.  The decision was made 
following a request from Japan.  Higgins said that it would 
be a struggle for NZDF to contribute the plane given the 
Orion upgrades now underway, but when Japan stepped up to 
host the exercise the GNZ wanted to offer support.  He added 
that NZDF gives priority to contributing assets to regional 
PSI exercises, given that New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and 
Singapore are the only Asia-Pacific regional OEG members. 
 
¶2.  (C) Higgins said NZDF is informing the Embassy of the 
decision now in order to give the USG ample time to process 
any necessary waivers for U.S. participation in the exercise. 
 They will also pass this information to U.S. officials 
through the NZ Embassy in Washington. 
 
 
Keegan