Rewind

T WILL forever be “If Lange initially saw the non- remembered as the nuclear approach as part of the time when our little political trade-off for the adoption 30 YEARS ON: country stood up to of , his subsequent the most powerful forceful and articulate advocacy of nation in the world. a nuclear-free rallied a In February 1985, the United lot of , irrespective of IStates asked that the warship their political preferences. You’ve got OUR BOLD USS Buchanan be allowed to a lot of National supporters today who come into New Zealand couldn’t imagine anything but a harbours – and received a loud non-nuclear security policy – that and clear ‘no’ from then Prime shows you to what extent it was a DECISION TO GO Minister . Our rallying event.” bold stand – taken because the Indeed, when National Prime United States would not Minister flirted with the confirm or deny that the vessel idea of overturning the non-nulcear was nuclear-armed – was not policy in the 1990s, the opinion polls NUCLEAR-FREE without consequences, scared him into retreat. Similarly, prompting America to remove when allegedly said that if its security guarantee and he was elected as Prime Minister in eventually reduce political ties. 2005 the nuclear-free policy “would Prime Minister David Lange was a forceful Critics feared Lange’s nuclear-free be gone by lunchtime”, he learned the advocate for our nuclear-free stance. stance was threatening important hard way that no-nuke patriotism was intelligence, trade and military links alive and well. Labour used this to with the US for the sake of idealism. full advantage and election success. However, 30 years on, many are The Reverend Doctor George adamant the economic, cultural Armstrong, who led the Peace and political benefits for the country Squadron in the 1970s and 1980s, says have been immense. Lange’s decision was firmly based on Head of international relations at the mood of the nation. “He needed a Otago University, Professor Robert lot of support to say ‘no’ and he got it Patman, says the adoption of the from the , which was non-nuclear policy was a benchmark huge at that time,” explains George. step in our maturity as a nation. “Labour had won the election on He believes Lange showed the world nuclear- and apartheid-free [policies] New Zealand was committed to and so they really had to follow standing up against more powerful through. He’d quickly figured out allies to forge its own foreign policy. what electoral politics was all about.” “It was a symbolic demonstration The ban led to a series of of New Zealand coming of age as benchmark events in New Zealand an independent player on the history, not least the 1985 Oxford international stage,” says Robert. Union debate in England where Lange “Part and parcel of us finding our threw New Zealand into the feet internationally.” international spotlight. It was felt he He suggests what began as a awakened a deep sense of patriotism political balancing act for Lange – in Kiwis by being ‘one of us’ shining who was managing the liberalisation in the intellectual hothouse that was of New Zealand’s economy Oxford Univeristy. When Prime Minister David Lange refused to let US nuclear warships (Rogernomics) in the face of staunch He successfully argued that nuclear into our harbours three decades ago, he put New Zealand on the map opposition from his supporters – warfare was morally reprehensible, became something of a David versus earning both a standing ovation and a as a nation willing to stand up for its values. As Nicola Russell reports, Goliath battle that he put his full reputation as a fierce debater with a we are still reaping the benefits of that can-do attitude. weight behind. razor-sharp wit. Few will forget his >

76 FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY 2015 77 most – they could no longer send troops to participate in training exercises in the US, and had to depend on our military co-operation with Australia. But fears New Zealand would lose intelligence ties with the United States never eventuated. “The good news was economically, socially and culturally the relationship with the US continued to gather momentum, despite friction,” explains Robert. “New Zealand is a part of Five Eyes, the flow of intelligence between the English speaking countries, The peace movement was huge in New Zealand in the 1970s and 80s, and we now know that intelligence flow with many people rallying to support never dried up.” the nuclear-free campaign. Left: A Ultimately, he says, New Zealand’s demonstration in 1984 outside the decision was a pragmatic one. “I think US consulate. Above: Protesters on Harbour in 1976. Right: the adoption of the nuclear policy NZ Post also backed the campaign. anticipated the future world – the Cold War ended four years later and there was no longer the possibility of famous retort: “Hold your breath just a movement to run for a number of distinct approach. We no longer see thermonuclear war between two for a moment… I can smell the uranium years and the debate to be played out ourselves as ‘we go where Britain goes’.” ideologically opposed super powers. on it as you lean towards me.” over a long period of time to get society New Zealand’s election to the United Many other countries gave up nuclear Steve Abel, spokesman for to really adhere to it,” says Steve. “It is Nations Security Council in 1992, and weapons too – South Africa, New Zealand, says the domineering a real touchstone for us, it awakes a again in October last year, is seen as Kazakhstan and the Ukraine. In a sense reaction by the US only strengthened sense of values, struggle and a cultural proof that we have gained respect New Zealand was ahead of the wave.” New Zealand’s self-belief. “The Secretary identity that is definitely something we internationally. “We might have upset Robert suggests the 9/11 attacks on of State, George Shultz, had a ‘Who do hark towards. This is our vision of how some of our traditional friends – the US in 2001 warmed our relations you think you are?’ reaction on the TV New Zealand can be.” Britain, Australia and America – but with America by somewhat vindicating and I think that had the effect The ‘clean green’ a lot of countries in Asia and Africa our stance. “Not only did we have an of people going, ‘Well, image continues to went, ‘Wow, here is a country that is opportunity to indicate we were willing actually, we are an “WE CAN’T define us as a nation friendly with the western world but is to do the hard stuff like support the US independent autonomous AFFORD TO BE and is worth millions of independent,’” says Robert. in Afghanistan, but the US were trying nation; don’t tell us what to AMONG THE dollars a year to the “That helped us get onto the Security to curb the proliferation of nuclear do!’ We rejected that big- PACK BECAUSE New Zealand tourism Council and so inadvertently we weapons globally and we had foresworn brother relationship. We felt industry. An economic discovered you can be independent and that possibility.” proud that our Prime Minister WE BECOME report written for The not pay a big price. If anything, it But, Robert warns, the nuclear-free was on the world stage.” IRRELEVANT.” Ministry of the boosted New Zealand’s standing and stance has created pressure on New Steve suggests Lange had a Environment in 2003 sovereignty rather than eroding it. We Zealand to “show equal forthrightness lasting impact on New Zealand culture traces its origins directly to that period. won a lot of international admiration on other crucial global issues” – and because he authentically represented “The report says we established a for being a small country willing to when we fail to take a ‘clean green’ what Kiwis hold dear – our environment, reputational perception that is worth stick by its principles.” stand on issues like climate change, we independence and individuality. “As a billions of dollars to us economically to ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ will create disappointment. nation, because of our scale, we can’t this day,” Steve explains. “We took a THERE WAS, OF course, a price to pay Last year, military ties between New afford to be among the pack because moral stance but it ended up being for our no-nukes stance. The ANZUS Zealand and the US were finally mended, we become irrelevant,” he says. “The hugely valuable to us economically.” treaty was ruptured, the US withdrew but the nuclear ban remains and, Robert times we have put ourselves on the map Robert Patman agrees with Steve its security guarantees to New Zealand, says, is unlikely to shift. He believes the are when we stand out – women getting that the nuclear-free stance prompted and when the Nuclear Free Zone, consequences for New Zealand standing the vote, Hillary climbing Everest.” profound changes in New Zealand’s Disarmament, and Arms Control Act A human peace sign its ground have been overwhelmingly outside the War The nuclear movement is a model for national identity during the 1980s and was passed as law in 1987, we were Memorial Museum in positive. “The Americans came to accept change that Greenpeace draws on 1990s. “New Zealand has redefined subsequently downgraded from ally to August 1983. the New Zealand position, it wasn’t the

frequently in its campaigns. “You need itself – we’ve tried to develop quite a friend. The New Zealand military felt it AND NEWSPIXNZ. IMAGES GETTY BY PHOTOGRAPHY other way around.” #

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