Should we allow American nuclear vessels to visit New Zealand?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2898596a10,00.html

Overturn nuke ban, says Nat review
By NICK VENTER, 06 May 2004

The National Party is proposing to dilute New Zealand's iconic anti-nuclear legislation to improve economic and defence relations with the United States.

A 65-page report on the relationship between the two countries was issued late yesterday afternoon as a huge protest dispersed outside Parliament. The timing prompted Prime Minister Helen Clark, ACT and the Greens to accuse National of slipping it through "under cover of the hikoi".

Just days ago, National leader Don Brash said the report was still at the printers and was weeks away. But he said yesterday it had been rushed out because of mounting speculation about its contents.

The report by a task force chaired by former National deputy leader Wyatt Creech recommends that National delete reference to nuclear propulsion from the legislation but tell the US nuclear ships are still unwelcome.

The ban on nuclear arms would continue. The proposal is based on the "Danish solution".

According to the task force, Denmark has not had a nuclear ship visit since 1964 despite not legally banning visits.

The US embassy declined to comment on the proposals yesterday but it is understood US officials were consulted by the task force.

Sources have told The Dominion Post the recommendations would improve the Bush administration's attitude toward New Zealand.

Miss Clark said a law change would result in nuclear ship visits.

"The Americans want to send the ships back. The reality is that changing the law, changes the policy and changes the practice."

She accused National of adopting foreign policy written elsewhere.

"That is something I strongly object to. New Zealand must make up its own mind based on its own values in its own interests."

Former prime minister David Lange, the architect of New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy, said the proposals were "bizarre". He said: "Either you have the courage of your convictions or you don't. Pretending otherwise is nonsense and to have a Clayton's policy is dishonest."

Dr Brash said the report was a valuable contribution to public debate on an important issue but it was not party policy.

Any change in the legislation would require a public mandate either in the form of an explicit commitment before a general election, or a referendum.

ACT foreign affairs spokesman Ken Shirley said National was continuing 12 years of indecision. There was no reason to ban nuclear propulsion, he said.