

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07WELLINGTON464, NZ OPPOSITION LEADER JOHN KEY'S JUNE 26-9 TRIP TO
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07WELLINGTON464.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07WELLINGTON464 | 2007-06-20 06:45 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Wellington |
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHWL #0464/01 1710645
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 200645Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4395
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 4870
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0284
C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000464
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR D, EAP/FO, EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV NZ
SUBJECT: NZ OPPOSITION LEADER JOHN KEY'S JUNE 26-9 TRIP TO
WASHINGTON
REF: WELLINGTON 198
Classified By: Acting DCM Katherine B. Hadda,
For reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C/NF) Summary: A disciplined and effective performer in
Parliament, National Party Leader John Key has moved quickly
since taking command late last year to signal that his party
is a government-in-waiting. He has managed to unseat PM
Helen Clark as preferred Prime Minister in NZ opinion polls,
the first politician to do so since Clark became Prime
Minister eight years ago. During a lunch on June 20, Key has
told Ambassador McCormick that he views his June 26-9
Washington trip as a chance to introduce himself to U.S.
officials, explain his Party's desire to retain New Zealand's
anti-nuclear policy, and to get a better sense of how the
United States handles major world issues such as climate
change and China's rise. We believe he also regards the trip
as a way to further burnish his credentials as a statesman.
A former Merrill Lynch currency trader, Key goes out of his
way to express his admiration for the United States. End
Summary.
-------------------------
Key's Visit to Washington
-------------------------
¶2. (C) In addition to meeting with the Deputy Secretary of
State and A/S Hill, Key has meetings scheduled with Deputy
USTR Bhatia, Chairman Connaughton of the Council on
Environmental Quality, and Congressman Faleomavaega. He also
hopes to meet with senior Treasury and NSC officials,
Senators Boxer, Levin, Smith, and Lugar, and Friends of New
Zealand Caucus Co-Chairs Congressmen Brady and Tauscher. He
will travel to Ottawa on
June 27 to meet with PM Harper.
¶3. (C/NF) Key is especially interested in discussing China's
increasing political and economic rise. His advisors tell us
this is because National recognizes that we want to cooperate
more with New Zealand in the Pacific Islands and believes New
Zealand must understand of how U.S. officials view China's
role in the region in order to more effectively work with us.
Key also told the Ambassador he has been getting policy
advice from a non-NZ Economist who specializes in China, whom
he did not name. Key would also like to discuss what the
United States would like New Zealand to do from a practical
view on defense issues. He told the Ambassador that he tends
to believe that New Zealand should do a few things well
rather than spread itself too thin, and would like to get our
take on this. Key and his advisors also say that if they are
elected they will suggest New Zealand and the United States
cooperate more on UN reform. They describe their view on the
United Nations as more pragmatic than PM Clark's, whom they
say is an idealistic globalist. They also say that the best
path to UN reform could be for the U.S. to run reform issues
through New Zealand and other small countries with good
multilateral credentials.
¶4. (C/NF) Key stressed many times to the Ambassador his
desire to discuss climate change and environment issues with
U.S. officials. When we asked him how National would address
these issues if elected he was a bit vague, however, only
stressing that he would reform New Zealand's onerous Resource
Management Act to make it easier to develop wind and other
alternate energy sources.
----------------------------
Background: Who is John Key?
----------------------------
¶5. (SBU) When John Key was elected by his caucus colleagues
as the new leader of the traditionally conservative National
Party on November 27 2006, following the resignation of Dr.
Don Brash, many commentators saw it as the fulfillment of his
political destiny. Ever since entering Parliament in 2002
following a highly successful career as a Merrill Lynch
currency trader, Key had been regarded by political pundits
as a possible future National Partly leader. A mere two
years after entering politics, Key was ranked at tenth place
in the National caucus, and was the party's spokesperson for
finance. This was an extraordinary rapid rise by a political
newcomer.
¶6. (SBU) After the 2005 election, Brash promoted him to
number four in the caucus in recognition of his role in
selling the party's tax package during the campaign. He was
widely identified by election watchers as the most effective
politician during the entire campaign. At the last election,
Key retained his parliamentary seat with an impressive 12,778
vote majority.
¶7. (SBU) Politically, John Key is considered less
ideologically strident and more moderate than his
predecessor, Dr. Don Brash. He is considered relatively
socially liberal by his colleagues and has embraced the
causes of environment advocacy and climate change, subjects
which he hopes to pursue during his Washington meetings. Just
before becoming leader, Key attended the UK Conservative
Party Conference in Bournemouth, and he has expressed
admiration for UK Tory leader David Cameron's efforts to
broaden his party's appeal. A quick and able study, Key is
likely to emulate Cameron's pragmatic attempts to soften the
image of his own historically conservative party by moving
more to the center of New Zealand politics.
-----------------------------------------
Key on Foreign Policy, the United States,
and the Nuclear Issue
-----------------------------------------
¶8. (SBU) Key has said publicly he believes that it is in the
national interest to have as little as space as possible
between National and Labour on matters of foreign policy.
Nevertheless, when Prime Minister Clark issued a statement
distancing herself from Duty Minister Jim Anderton's January
2007 criticism of President Bush's new policy directive on
Iraq, Key told the press he believed that Anderton was merely
repeating what he had heard around the Cabinet table. Key
has proposed more public consultation on defense goals and
strategies and a closer defense relationship with Australia,
and stressed the need to build on relationships with South
Pacific nations.
¶9. (C/NF) Key has worked in the United States and speaks
favorably of the U.S. He has been friendly to Mission New
Zealand and was scheduled to travel to Washington on the
International Visitor Program earlier this year but canceled
at the last minute, presumably to compete for the National
Leadership once it was clear Dr. Brash would soon be forced
out by his caucus. Post expects the United States will
continue to have a good working relationship with National
under his leadership.
¶10. (SBU) Soon after becoming party leader Key commented
that "I have a very much more positive view of the United
States and its role in world affairs than most ministers in
the Clark Government." He has also noted that although the
ANZUS defense alliance has "essentially been dead for 20
years now", he believes that there is scope for a
constructive relationship between New Zealand and the United
States beyond the pact. However, he also moved quickly to
clarify that a National Government under his premiership will
not change NZ's anti-nuclear policy. In his statement, Key
declared that he believes that "New Zealanders have a
long-held view that (the anti-nuclear legislation) is
important to (New Zealand's) nation-building. I think they
see it as New Zealand standing up strongly for something it
believes in. I believe in that position and I see absolutely
no reason to change it."
¶11. (C) Key told the Ambassador that he wishes to explain
this position to U.S. officials during his Washington
meetings. We expect he will explain that he needed to bring
his party's position alongside the Government in order to
neutralize what had been for National a political problem:
The National Party's position on retaining the anti-nuclear
legislation in the pre-Key period was vague at best and some
Nat officials suggested that they might scrap the policy if
elected. This allowed the Labour Government to score many
easy political points off National.
---------------------------------------
National doing extremely well under Key
---------------------------------------
¶12. (C) Under Key's leadership, National has led the Labour
Government in political polling and its margin is widening at
a considerable rate. The three most recent political polls
all show that National is well ahead of Labour Government,
with an average 20-point advantage. Much of National's
success is driven by Key's high personal popularity rating.
He has experienced an extraordinarily long honeymoon period
which shows no show of abating. Key told the Ambassador on
June 20 that he believes his success is partly due to a
series of Labour Government bungles over the past months,
such as the Philip Field fiasco, as well as a growing
electorate sense that the Government is intervening too much
in the private lives of ordinary New Zealanders. Said Key,
"Anti-smacking, removing reference to Christ from the
Parliamentary Prayer, banning junk foods in schools -- are
these big issues?"
-------
Comment
-------
¶13. (C/NF) As Auckland Consul General Desrocher observed in
Reftel, Key's "Nice Guy" approach at times begs the question
of how he will effectively separate himself from the Labour
Government in the minds of the electorate. But we were
struck during his lunch with the Ambassador how much he has
clearly been thinking about how to put a National-type spin
on a range of issues. While it is still far too early to
call how the November 2008 elections will play out, polls
suggest that Key is on track to be New Zealand's next Prime
Minister. His eagerness to meet with senior Washington
officials suggests that he thinks this is very likely as
well. End Comment.
MCCORMICK