1,490 Leaked cables refer to New Zealand

Nearly 1,500 of the US embassy cables leaked to the international media by Wikileaks refer specifically to New Zealand. These cables have been given to the Sunday Star Times which is slowly making the stories public. The biggest secret now public is that full collaboration between New Zealand and US intelligence agencies was resumed in August last year. This was kept secret by both countries governments and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was warned not to acknowledge the news in public when she visited New Zealand last month.

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Also revealed is the news that former ambassador Charles Swindell sought to have New Zealand change its anti-nuclear stance, writing "I believe this country's upcoming elections and its desire for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States make 2005 the best opportunity we have had in twenty years to convince New Zealand to reconsider its ban on nuclear-propelled vessels." Swindell identified then National Party leader Don Brash and now Attorney-General Chris Finlayson as key to that process. In 2004 Brash promised a senior US Congressional delegation that the ban on nuclear ships visiting New Zealand would be 'gone by lunchtime'.

Another startling story in the influence the US attempted to wield in New Zealand's media. Free trips to the US were given to TVNZ's political editor Guyon Espiner, Radio New Zealand National Nine to Noon host Kathryn Ryan, TVNZ's One News boss Cliff Joiner and Garth Bray, and 3News' chief-of-staff Justine Short, reporter Ali Ikram -who was noted as being “regarded as the New Zealand journalist with the best contacts in the Islamic community"- and Audrey Young, Political Editor of the country's largest daily newspaper, The New Zealand Herald. The US embassy then tracked the career path of these journalists as they rose to their prominent positions.