[mainevent]

They also have a very cozy intelligence relationship with the US government and, along with the UK, Canada and Australia, are in fact classed as a "2nd party partner" by the United States. [1]

[1] http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/secret-documents-n...

[ra]

Agreed. NZ is one of the five eyes and relies quite heavily on the ANZUS treaty for defence.

In Snowdons case I'd avoid NZ - even if it was possible to get there without flying through psuedo-US controlled airspace.