The Government won't comment on a leaked diplomatic cable which indicates the New Zealand-United States intelligence relationship was fully restored in August last year.The previously secret cable from the US Embassy in Wellington was one of several relea
The Government won't comment on a leaked diplomatic cable which indicates the New Zealand-United States intelligence relationship was fully restored in August last year.
The previously secret cable from the US Embassy in Wellington was one of several released by the WikiLeaks website which have been obtained by the Sunday Star-Times.
Confirmation that the relationship was being restored came from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in October last year.
"We are resuming our intelligence-sharing co-operation, which we think is very significant," she said at a press conference.
At the time, Prime Minister John Key would not comment and today that had not changed.
"It is the New Zealand Government's longstanding practise not to comment on intelligence matters," a spokesman for Mr Key told NZPA.
Other cables indicate Mrs Clinton's announcement of resumed intelligence ties was inadvertent, because she had been advised in January last year -- shortly before she was due to visit New Zealand, a trip that was postponed -- not to say anything about it.
Among the cables was one which said Mr Key was personally pro-American.
"The Prime Minister is not surprised or concerned about the pro-American reference," the spokesman said.
"The PM has been welcoming of the improvement in the relationship over the last few years to the point where it's the best in 25 years, as seen in the recent visit by Secretary of State Clinton."
Other cables indicated moves to increase the "defence engagement" in early 2008, with both governments agreeing publicity should be avoided.
Green Party MP Keith Locke said it was unacceptable that the resumption of intelligence ties was kept from the public and Parliament.
"Kiwis are proud of our nuclear-free stance, and our refusal to join the invasion of Iraq, and don't want us to get fully into bed with the United States government," he said.
