Mission News 2011

Mission News February 2011

February 22 - AmeriCarna Reception
From Ambassador Huebner's Blog: One of the first events in which we participated upon my return from Washington in February was AmeriCARna. AmeriCARna is a celebration of classic American cars and related cultural phenomena, including 1950s and 1960s American rock-and-roll music. Held each year on both the North and South Islands, AmeriCARna involves a street cruise with hundreds of classic cars, a large festival, live music, games for the kids, plenty of food, and shopping stalls. [read more] [photos]
February 18 - Freightliner Coronado Launch
On Friday, February 18, 2011, Freightliner, a leading U.S. truck manufacturer, launched its new Coronado truck in New Zealand at the Christchurch Air Force Museum. The event was a tribute to American culture and Freightliner’s long history of supplying trucks for the U.S. and New Zealand markets. For approximately 20 years, Freightliner has sold trucks in New Zealand to end users in mainly New Zealand’s forestry and mining sectors. During this period, Freightliner has sold approximately 1,500 trucks in New Zealand. The event included over 300 existing and prospective customers in New Zealand.
Readout of the President’s call to Prime Minister Key of New Zealand
The President called Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand to express deep
condolences over the devastating earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand, on February 22, and to reaffirm the offer of American assistance as New Zealand recovers. The President noted that a U.S. search and rescue team was on its way to New Zealand, and said the United States was ready to provide whatever further support was needed in this difficult time. The President underscored the close and enduring friendship between the American people and the people of New Zealand. Prime Minister Key described the determination of the people of Christchurch and New Zealand in the face of this tragedy, and expressed
appreciation for U.S. support.
Media release - U.S. response to the Christchurch Earthquake
Over the last 24 hours, the United States Mission New Zealand has been working very closely with the emergency responders in Christchurch. U.S. Ambassador David Huebner says, “We have been concentrating our full attention since 12:51pm on Tuesday on practical ways in which the U.S. could quickly help those affected by this tragedy.” The steps taken include:

* U.S.-based search and rescue teams were quickly put on standby, and equipment and personnel were positioned to facilitate deployment. When the Government of New Zealand signaled that such assistance would be useful, a USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team, which includes the Los Angeles County (California) Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team, was dispatched. This “heavy team” is en route and will bring more than seventy specialized personnel and all necessary equipment to rescue those trapped, in even the most precarious situations. Full text

Mission News March 2011

March 15 - Ambassador Huebner and Dr. Duane McWaine hosted an afternoon tea for former New Zealand Ambassadors to the U.S.

On March 15, 2011 Ambassador Huebner and Dr. Duane McWaine hosted an afternoon tea for former New Zealand Ambassadors to the United States of America at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, Camperdown. In attendance were, Mr. Dennis & Mrs. Anne McLean, Mr. Frank & Mrs. Lyn Corner, Mr. Mervyn & Mrs. Francoise Norrish.[photos]
UPDATE: March 30, 2011 - The passing of Ambassador Denis McLean: U.S Ambassador David Huebner said this afternoon that he was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ambassador Denis McLean: newzealand.usembassy.gov/mclean.html
March 09 - Clendon House Visit
On Wednesday March 9 Ambassador Huebner and Dr McWaine visited Clendon House, Rawene, on the Hokianga Harbour on Northland’s west coast. The historic site of the final home of the first US Consul General in New Zealand, Clendon House will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2012.
March 09 - U.S. Ambassador and Dr McWaine visited two Northland schools.
On Wednesday March 9, the Ambassador and Dr McWaine visited two Northland schools: Kamo High in Whangarei and Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa. At Kamo High the Ambassador spoke with about 40 senior Social Studies students on topics revolving around their study of U.S. history and culture. At Bay of Islands College, the Ambassador – having been welcomed to the school during an impressive powhiri by the student-driven kapa haka group – spoke to the entire student body at assembly, then met with senior students over lunch.
March 08 - U.S. Ambassador visit Rodney College
On Tuesday March 8, Ambassador Huebner and Dr McWaine visited Rodney College in Wellsford, north of Auckland where they were welcomed by the school’s kapa haka group and dignitaries. He spoke to about 250 senior students at the college assembly, then had a Q&A session with about 100 senior girls, in recognition of it being International Women’s Day.

Mission News May/June 2011

June 02 - The Political Challenges of Pricing Carbon - 2011 Fulbright U.S. Senior Scholar Frank Alcock
Frank Alcock talked on the political challenges and potential tradeoffs governments must consider when attempting to put a price on carbon emissions. Pricing carbon emissions is not the only mechanism through which governments can induce innovation and emissions reductions but they are a critical component of comprehensive green growth strategy. The status of New Zealand’s ETS initiative was contrasted and compared to parallel efforts in Australia, the United States and European Union. [watch webchat]
May 06 - U.S. Ambassador Huebner views the First Light House at Frank Kitts Park, Wellington.
On May 6, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Huebner viewed the temporary location of the First Light House at Frank Kitts Park, Wellington.

Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand’s capital city, has been selected as one of 20 university teams to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 – the only entry, ever, from the southern hemisphere. [photos] [blog post] [First Light website]
May 03 - Judge Peggy Hora spoke at U.S. Embassy Wellington on Smart Justice.
It's all about Smart Justice - a range of new ideas and approaches on how the justice system could work differently. These include therapeutic jurisprudence and restorative justice.

"We have to be smart on crime and spend our dwindling dollars wisely on justice initiatives."

"Incarceration does nothing to reduce reoffending for many non-violent offenders, who could be better managed through court-supervised treatment and community corrections." Judge Peggy Fulton Hora. [listen and download] [photos]
May 01 - Judge Eugene Hyman spoke on Radio New Zealand
On March 10, 2011 Judge Eugene Hyman spoke at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington and recently spoke on Radio New Zealand.

From the Radio New Zealand website: Judge Eugene Hyman of the California court system has been something of a pioneer in promoting a youth and family court revolution, and a stern critic of the 3 strikes law both in California and here in New Zealand. [listen] [photos]

Mission News 2011

August 10 - Ōtaki school’s U.S.A. Eagles rippa it up in Auckland
Ōtaki was selected from a pool of 583 schools throughout New Zealand to represent the United States at the Rippa World Cup in Auckland on August 8-9. An initiative of the New Zealand Rugby Union, the tournament offered year-six boys and girls an opportunity to participate in a kids’ version of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.. [view photos] [Ambassador's Blog] [Rugby Blog]
June 22 - Libraries, Social Media and Disaster Management - Mike Huff

During catastrophic natural disasters, a nation’s citizens actively seek out information related to health, safety, and official government communications. Libraries need to be poised to provide that information in the event that a crisis strikes their communities. In this presentation, Information Resource Officer (Librarian) Michael Huff reviewed his experience in managing social media communications by the U.S. Embassy Japan and its library during the Tohoku earthquake crisis, from March 11 until April 16, 2011. Putting what he learned in the context of how information has been disseminated in other countries during other crises, Mr. Huff outlined a list of best practices for libraries to consider in planning for natural disasters.. [watch webcast] [view photos]
May 30 - Memorial Day Service
Remarks by the President at a Memorial Day Service - THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you so much. Please be seated.

Thank you, Secretary Gates, and thank you for your extraordinary service to our nation. I think that Bob Gates will go down as one of our finest Secretaries of Defense in our history, and it’s been an honor to serve with him.
[read more] [photos from the Service's in Wellington]
May 29 and July 30 - The Golden Bear Arrives - Wellington, Auckland
A group of about 250 students from California sailed into Wellington at the end of May and Auckland in July. The students were sailing in on TS Golden Bear, the training ship of the California Maritime Academy. While in Wellington, some of the students took part in a rugby match against a local University team. [view photos] [U.S. Ambassador's Blog Posts Wellington: 1| 2 and Auckland: 1] [rugby photos]