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Nuclear free
new Zealand
Nuclear Testing
• After the Second World War the United
States, along with their French and British
allies, frequently tested nuclear weapons
in the Pacific region.
• In 1963 the British, American and Soviet
governments agreed to ban atmospheric
tests.
French nuclear test at Mururoa Atoll in 1970
• New Zealand was involved in ongoing protest
over French nuclear testing from the mid-1960s
when France began testing nuclear weapons in
French Polynesia.
• Mururoa Atoll became the focal point for both the
tests and opposition to them. Greenpeace
vessels sailed into the test site in 1972.
• In 1973 the New Zealand and Australian
governments took France to the International
Court of Justice in an attempt to ban tests.
France ignored the court's ruling that they cease
testing.
• The third Labour government, led by Norman
Kirk, responded by sending two navy frigates,
HMNZS Canterbury and Otago, into the test
area. Fraser Colman a Cabinet minister was
also selected to accompany this protest.
• He witnesses both the first and second
atmospheric tests that the French conducted.
• These protests achieved some success. When
the new French President was elected in 1974
he ordered the tests to move underground.
Nuclear Ship Visits
• The visit of the nuclear-powered frigate USS
Texas in 1983 sparked protest in New Zealand.
• Prior to this two nuclear-powered cruisers, the
USS Truxtun and the USS Long Beach, had
attracted protest when they visited New Zealand
in 1976.
• Similar action was taken for the visits of the
submarines USS Pintado in 1978 and USS
Haddo in 1979.
Members of the Campaign Against Nuclear Warships (CANWAR) stand
aboard the yacht Phoenix in Wellington Harbour while awaiting the arrival
of the USS Longbeach in 1976.
Protests at the visit of USS Truxtun
• The main election issue in 1984 was
nuclear testing. The public spoke and
David Lange’s Labour government was
elected. They had been staunch
supporters of the anti nuclear movement in
NZ.
• Lange’s government decided that unless
the USA would guarantee their ships were
nuclear free they would not be allowed in
New Zealand
Anti nuclear badges from the 1980’s
• The USA decided to test this when it
requested a visit by the guided missile
destroyer USS Buchanan.
• The Lange government was not prepared
to compromise on this so refused the USS
Buchanan entry to New Zealand.
• Within a matter of days Washington
severed intelligence and military ties with
New Zealand and downgraded political
and diplomatic exchanges.
In 1985 the Labour government refused the USS Buchanan entry
to New Zealand on the grounds that they would neither confirm nor
deny having nuclear weapons on board.
• In 1987 Labour passed the New Zealand
Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and
Arms Control Act. In a largely symbolic
act, the United States Congress retaliated
with the Broomfield Act, downgrading New
Zealand's status from ally to friend. David
Lange stated that if the security alliance
was the price New Zealand must pay to
remain nuclear-free, 'it is the price we are
prepared to pay'.
New Zealand cast adrift from ANZUS