

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 08WELLINGTON55, CODEL FALEOMAVAEGA STRESSES USG SUPPORT FOR PACIFIC; STRONG
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. #08WELLINGTON55.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08WELLINGTON55 | 2008-02-21 01:04 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Wellington |
VZCZCXRO3009
RR RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0055/01 0520104
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210104Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5076
INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 1625
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 5107
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0644
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 WELLINGTON 000055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR STATE FOR EAP/ANP
PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI NZ
SUBJECT: CODEL FALEOMAVAEGA STRESSES USG SUPPORT FOR PACIFIC; STRONG
BILATERAL TIES WITH NEW ZEALAND
¶1. (U) Summary. Codel Faleomavaega visited New Zealand from
January 31 to February 7. In Auckland, the Codel met with ConGen
staff to discuss consular issues and traveled to Whangarei for the
Waitangi Day celebrations on February 5-6. On February 4, the Codel
held meetings in Wellington with Minister for Pacific Island Affairs
Winnie Laban and Minister for Climate Change David Parker, and paid
a courtesy call on the Ambassador. The Ambassador welcomed the
Codel's visit and Congressman Faleomavaega's longstanding interest
in Pacific affairs; he urged the Congressman to promote renewed
Congressional engagement through the Asia Pacific Parliamentary
Forum (APPF). The Codel also visited the Maori Language Commission
and heard of the Commission's ongoing efforts to increase Maori
fluency among Maori peoples as well as more broadly within New
Zealand society. In all of his meetings, the Codel underscored the
warm US-NZ bilateral relationship and USG interest in East Asia,
particularly in the Pacific Islands. End Summary.
Remote Visa Processing for Samoan Applicants
--------------------------------------------
¶2. (U) On February 1, Congressman Faleomavaega met with Consul
General John Desrocher and Consular Chief Nick Greanias in ConGen
Auckland offices. The principal subject of discussion was the
Remote NIV Adjudication Program in Independent Samoa, wherein a
conoff from Auckland visits Apia every quarter for one week for the
sole purpose of doing NIV interviews. Congressman Faleomavaega, who
had pushed hard for the institution of the program in late 2006,
said he wanted to make sure the program was running well and
requested a progress report. In a wide-ranging discussion, all
participants agreed that it was functioning as intended, saving 125
Samoan residents every three months the expense and trouble of a
trip to Auckland or elsewhere for an NIV interview. Everyone also
agreed on the need to seek out any technical improvements that
speeded up the interviews on Apia. For example, if local systems
capacity increased to enable a conoff to conduct an interview in six
minutes - still a very long time by consular standards - from the
current 12 minutes, the capacity each week in Apia would at least
double, thereby matching present need. Desrocher and Greanias
promised to keep Faleomavaega posted on any developments in this
area. The Congressman noted that he was getting numerous inquiries
from constituents asking if their Tongan spouses could take
advantage of the program. Greanias confirmed that there is nothing
barring Tongans in Samoa from seeking visas in Apia, but that few
have taken advantage of remote processing so far.
¶3. (SBU) On February 7, Codel Faleomavaega met with GNZ Minister
for Pacific Island Affairs Winnie Laban. Congressman Faleomavaega
noted that, in his capacity as Chairman of Asia and Pacific
Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he is
interested in pursuing stronger USG engagement in the region and
greater Washington focus on the Pacific Island nations. The
Congressman thanked New Zealand for its cooperation with the US,
noting that remittances and trade from New Zealand to the Pacific
has contributed to stability. He added that despite the modest
population of the island countries, the region supplies over half of
the world's tuna and seabed mineral mining may be economically
viable in the future. East Asia is the U.S.' largest trading
partner and the USG military plays a key role in regional stability
and security.
¶4. (SBU) Minister Laban responded that she remains optimistic
about the Pacific region's future and commended the positive US-NZ
bilateral relationship. New Zealand is a small country, but wants
to support sustainable development among the island nations. She
added that the NZ Business Council will host a business exposition
in Auckland from March 5-6 to promote the private sector of the
Pacific Islands. Laban pointed to two-way trade as a hallmark of
New Zealand's approach to helping the islands strengthen their
economies. One-way trade will only foster continued aid dependency,
she said. Congressman Faleomavaega stressed the need for better
education and improved management of fisheries; he commented that
the leasing arrangements of some islands are not equitable. The
Congressman discussed prospects for aquaculture development using
Israeli research models.
¶5. (SBU) In his meeting with Minister for Climate Change David
Parker, Congressman Faleomavaega applauded the Clark government's
proposed climate change policy. Minister Parker said that the GNZ
supported the USG position that developing countries need to
contribute; equivalent effort is a sound principle. He argued that
developed countries need to discuss capital flows to the developing
world and how best to promote clean development. There are policies
and cheap fixes that might be achieved through legislation and
regulatory framework - developed countries should not have to
WELLINGTON 00000055 002 OF 003
finance everything. Parker deplored the attitude of some attendees
at Bali that the developed world should foot the bill for climate
change. For New Zealand, the country can do well on the energy
front as New Zealand is blessed with renewable energy resources,
continued Parker.
¶6. (SBU) Congressman Faleomavaega outlined his role on the global
environment within the House of Representatives, and informed Parker
that he would hold hearings on vulnerable islands in the next month.
Tuvalu is one example of a low-lying country that could be in a
dangerous situation as the ocean rises, and the Congressman promised
to stay in touch with the GNZ on these issues. Parker responded
that such countries must pursue adaptation, look to new technologies
such as solar energy, and rethink subsidies that damage their energy
policies. US companies are starting to do more with innovative
technologies, and Parker cited one US venture capitalist fund
financing solar technology research with mirrors vice photovoltaic
cells. Parker summed up by saying that the world is not short of
energy, but people are focused on using the wrong technologies.
Protection of natural resources, e.g., fisheries, is often sidelined
due to corruption, the Minister added.
Ambassador, Codel Discuss US-NZ Bilateral Relations
--------------------------------------------- ------
¶7. (SBU) During a February 4 courtesy call, the Ambassador
welcomed Faleomavaega's visit, outlined the positive areas of
bilateral engagement with New Zealand (e.g., Afghanistan, science
and technology, Antarctica) and briefed the Congressman on USTR's
recent P-4 announcement. He welcomed his interest in Maori language
preservation in New Zealand, describing it as the "gold standard."
Congressman Faleomavaega agreed that the nuclear issue should no
longer detract from strengthening bilateral ties, and mentioned
prospects for a fiber optic broadband line in Samoa. He and the
Ambassador discussed the need for greater fisheries protection in
the southern Pacific, aquaculture development and issues surrounding
canneries in the Pacific islands. The Ambassador urged that
Congress re-engage with the region through the Asia Pacific
Parliamentary Forum (APPF).
Maori Language: Model for Indigenous Language Promotion
--------------------------------------------- ---------
¶8. (U) At the Maori Language Commission, Faleomavaega met with
Huhana Rokx, Chief Executive of the Commission, who was accompanied
by a number of staff members. Congressman Faleomavaega explained
his interest in developing stronger ties with the Commission due to
identifying best practices that might be useful for Samoan language
preservation. The Congressman noted the growing lack of Samoan
language knowledge among Samoan youth; there may be applications for
Native American languages as well. Language is the umbilical cord
that ties people to their culture, noted the Congressman, who added
that the Hawaiian language is making a resurgence.
¶9. (U) CEO Rokx briefed the Congressman on the Commission's
progress in launching the publication of a Maori dictionary as the
first step towards a more thorough research of the origins of the
Maori language and its relationship to other Polynesian languages.
The CEO underscored the close working relationship that the
Commission has with the education sector, which has been key to
language revitalization efforts. The Commission is also stressing
intergenerational use of language within the home, increased adult
education, and the use of radio and television to increase home
exposure to the Maori language. Rokx said the Commission,
established in 1987, remains focused on increasing Maori language
literacy. When 80 percent of the Maori population is involved in
achieving some level of fluency, then the Commission's work will be
well on its way, she noted. One of the limiting factors at present
is the lack of skilled Maori language instructors.
Waitangi Day
------------
¶10. (SBU) On February 5 and 6, Codel Faleomavaega and conoff
traveled to Waitangi, northern New Zealand, to participate in events
surrounding Waitangi Day, New Zealand's de facto national day. The
Codel attended the Governor-General's receptions in Waitangi on
February 5 and had a private dinner that night with Foreign Minister
Winston Peters. During the reception, Faleomavaega had pull-aside
meetings with Prime Minister Helen Clark, opposition leader John
Key, and Minister of (among other portfolios) Youth Namia Mahuta.
All these meetings kept in the general spirit of emphasizing ways
for the relationship between New Zealand and the United States to
grow in understanding and mutual benefit. The dinner with Peters,
WELLINGTON 00000055 003 OF 003
an old friend of the Congressman, was highly convivial. The single
policy message between the two principals was the shared concern
that the United States should be better represented in Pacific
matters; in the resulting vacuum, China and Taiwan have played a
stronger role.
¶11. (SBU) Codel Faleomavaega did not have the opportunity to clear
this message.
KEEGAN