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WHICH WOULD ENSURE GOOD MEDIA INTEREST. WE CAN SEAT 70 COMFORTABLY. BASED ON RECENT EXPERIENCE, WE CAN PROBABLY ATTRACT A BETTER TURN-OUT THAN ANY ALTERNATIVE HOST FOR THE TALK. THERE IS ALSO THE POINT THAT THOSE LIKELY TO BE INTERESTED IN THE TOPIC WILL BE FROM A WIDER RANGE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS THAN ARE COVERED BY ANY SINGLE BODY HERE.
5. GRATEFUL TO KNOW IF THE LORD PRESIDENT WOULD WISH TO OFFER INTERVIEWS FOR RADIO AND NEWSPAPERS (WITH PHOTOCALLS) IN EACH CITY VISITED? WE RECOMMEND THIS, SINCE IT IS LOCAL INTEREST WHICH WILL APPEAL TO THE MEDIA AND NO PAPER IS NATIONAL IN ITS READERSHIP. WE HOPE THE BBC WORLD SERVICE (NEW ZEALAND) IN AUCKLAND MIGHT INTERVIEW THE LORD PRESIDENT FOR TRANSMISSION VIA LONDON (SOME ENCOURAGEMENT AT THE UK END MIGHT HELP).
6.
I WILL GIVE A DINNER FOR THE LORD PRESIDENT TO MEET MINISTERS AND MPS. WE EXPECT THE NEW ZEALANDERS TO OFFER SOME HOSPITALITY (PROBABLY LOWER KEY IF THE VISIT DOES NOT HAVE GUEST OF GOVERNMENT STATUS). WE WILL SUGGEST SOME CULTURAL EVENTS. GRATEFUL FOR AN INDICATION OF THE LORD PRESIDENT'S PREFERENCES EG THEATRE, MUSIC, DANCE. WE NOTE HIS INTEREST IN A MAORI EVENT IF POSSIBLE. THE ANTARCTIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION IS ABOUT TO OPEN A MAJOR EXHIBITION IN CHRISTCHURCH AND WE MIGHT INCLUDE A VISIT TO IT.
7. GRATEFUL TO KNOW MRS NEWTON'S INTERESTS SO THAT WE CAN SET UP A SUITABLE PROGRAMME. MY WIFE LOOKS FORWARD TO ESCORTING HER IN WELLINGTON.
ADMINISTRATION
8.
IN THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S ABSENCE ON LEAVE, I WILL MEET ON ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. IF THE LORD PRESIDENT AND YOU ARE CONTENT, I PROPOSE THAT BARBARA PROCTER (SECOND SECRETARY, CHANCERY) ACCOMPANY THE PARTY FOR THEIR CALLS IN CHRISTCHURCH, SINCE WE WOULD OTHERWISE BE VERY SHORT-STAFFED HERE. HOWEVER, I WOULD ACCOMPANY THROUGHOUT THE WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND PROGRAMMES.
9.
WE WILL BOOK HOTEL ACCOMMODATION THROUGHOUT. IN WELLINGTON I RECOMMEND THE PARKROYAL RATHER THAN OUR MARKER HOTEL (THE JAMES COOK). RATES ARE NZ 165 AND 145 RESPECTIVELY (CLASS A
SUBSISTENCE RATE FOR WELLINGTON NZ 270 PER NIGHT). CLASS A RATE FOR AUCKLAND IS 298 PER NIGHT AND FOR CHRISTCHURCH 257. YOU MAY WISH TO FOLLOW CANBERRA'S SUGGESTION AND CONSIDER A BID FOR CONFERENCE RATES FOR THE VISIT. PLEASE CONFIRM WHETHER MRS NEWTON
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