Download
1 / 15
150 likes | 304 Views
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.
E N D
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.
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.
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
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'.
