|
|
Article: Can the Buchanan's ghost be exorcised? Dick Gentles considers New Zealand-United States relations and the nuclear issue.(US warship USS Buchanan)
- Article from:
- New Zealand International Review
- Article date:
- May 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
On 1 February 1985 the New Zealand government under Prime Minister David Lange refused permission for the US warship USS Buchanan to enter New Zealand ports. Thus began the longstanding differences between the two countries over New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation that prohibits nuclear-propelled ships from entering New Zealand ports. This issue has not gone away. It has resurfaced recently in the context of New Zealand pursuing a free trade agreement with the United States, New Zealand's second largest trading partner. (1)
Whether the non-nuclear issue is a real barrier to securing a free trade deal with the United States is open to speculation but, in any ...