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NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE POLICY

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Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of New Zealand's Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act
This is a story that has not yet been told and deserves to be seen and heard by all New Zealanders, in the 20 th Anniversary year celebrating the NZ Nuclear Free Zone Legislation of 1987.

Phil Goff's warning to the 20th anniversary meeting in Christchurch June 9 of NZ's nuclear free zone is 100% correct. World survival is threatened by 27,000 nuclear weapons, some on 'hair-trigger' ready-to-launch status and a total of 8 nuclear weapon nations. At any time the world can be destroyed "by nuclear accident, miscalculation or deliberate act of madness" as President Kennedy warned at the UN in 1963. Even worse are new US nuclear weapons and new doctrines allowing the President to wage pre-emptive nuclear war, and also introduce nuclear weapons use into any conflict. This massive threat means everyone should be worried and active helping to stop this nuclear madness. New Zealand 's nuclear free law is more relevant today as Phil Goff says, than in 1984.

Wellington - On the 20th anniversary of New Zealand's anti-nuclear legislation, the country's politicians have called for a southern hemisphere wide nuclear-free zone and for an end to investment in nuclear weapons, according to statements Saturday.
The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act was passed on June 8, 1987. It resulted in the country being suspended from the Anzus (Australia, New Zealand and Australia) defence pact with the US and Australia.
But Trade and Disarmament Minister Phil Goff told a forum in the South Island city of Christchurch that he wanted the whole of the southern hemisphere to become a nuclear-free zone within 20 years. He also criticized nations' complacency.
'The threat to the world of nuclear weapons grows as more countries acquire possession of them... With the world having lived with nuclear weapons for over sixty years, a key challenge today is international complacency about the threat they pose,' he said in a statement.
A co-leader of New Zealand's left-wing Green party, which is in the government coalition, also demanded the country withdraw NZ$30 million of taxpayer investment in companies involved in nuclear weapons production.

Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control): I move, That this House note that 8 June 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the passing by this House of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 and resolve that New Zealand should continue to work for a nuclear weapon – free world; and that, in striving for a world free of nuclear weapons, the House call for: the implementation and strengthening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the unequivocal undertaking made by nuclear weapon States in 2000 to move towards the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals; the expansion and strengthening of nuclear weapon – free zones and a nuclear weapon – free Southern Hemisphere; the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; the enactment of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty; and the universal implementation of nuclear non-proliferation instruments such as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540.

You may remember ex-CIA agent Ralph McGeehee who toured NZ for us back in the 80's. He said, and books by ex-CIA people also confirm that, the CIA often uses right-wing religious groups like EBs as a cover to channel funds to groups in countries the CIA wants to influence. In NZ we do know the US wants to get rid of NZ N-Free legislation and get NZ back on track sending NZ troops to US wars and hosting their warships. So it makes sense to suspect that perhaps the CIA has a role in supplying money and direction to NZ EBs for this purpose.

There's a certain irony in that while papers in New Zealand devote their first few pages to the demise of Don, across the Tasman the Melbourne Age leads with a story about Exclusive Brethren involvement in the Victoria state elections.
It's the same old stuff. The EBs have taken out advertising in the Age and the Herald Sun attacking the Greens.
So what is the problem with the Exclusive Brethren campaigning ...

The first was enacting a law to make New Zealand a Nuclear Free Zone in 1984.
The NZ-US split and expulsion from ANZUS over our nuclear-free policy has become a  blessing in disguise. This new freedom from domination by a great power, has enabled NZ to refuse a fighting role in America's so-called "anti-terrorist" wars. This is very significant as both of our other major allies - Australia and the UK - are deeply aligned with the U.S. in various military treaties. Because of these commitments, both have committed fighting troops and become complicit, in support of the U.S. war. 

David Lange was a great man in many ways. His brilliant wit and his grasp of any topic for debate were the first things one noticed. To my mind his most valuable contribution to mankind was that he chose to make the vitally important stand for world nuclear disarmament by declaring New Zealand nuclear free. This was an idea that I had been promoting since 1981. It developed out of 36 years of peacework since the first nuclear bombs were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945. I am deeply grateful that he recognised the potential good this policy could achieve.
........  "I can smell the uranium on your breadth"

DEFENCE POLICY IN THE NUCLEAR AGE

By Larry Ross,
Secretary,
NZ Nuclear Free Peacemaking Association,
PO Box 18541,
Christchurch, NZ.

Ph:03-348-3420

(Based on a talk to Christchurch Unitarian Fellowship - 20/5/01)

The Warnings Of Increasing Nuclear War Risks

The under Secretary-General for the United Nations Department for Disarmament affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, warned at a Wellington Disarmament Conference on April 27, 2001, that "the nuclear war threat has not receded with the end of the Cold War because we still have over 30,000 nuclear warheads in the world, many of them on alert status and there is always the danger that these weapons can be used."

"We have not learnt the lesson that we escaped a nuclear catastrophe through sheer luck and not through any infallibility of deterrent theory or any other restraint systems...this luck is not something that is going to hold permanently." Retired head of US nuclear forces, General Lee Butler who spoke in NZ in 1998 for IPPNW, gives similar warnings as does Retired US Secretary of Defence, Robert McNamara, Prime Minister Helen Clark, and others. (See Page 4).

"What Can Humanity Do"?

Dhanapala continued: "We need to learn that it is through cooperative security, common security, that we can achieve peace and harmony in the world. I think the role of civil society and individuals is key to the whole issue, particularly in democratic societies. Public opinion can apply pressure on governments."

We did this when managing the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone campaign. It was public pressure, petitioning, locally-declared NWFZ's that made Labour promise, then implement when elected in 1984, New Zealand's Nuclear Free Policy, which became a law in 1987.

"We are not seeing sufficient amount of civil society activism today. That is necessary." Dhanapala said. "Today we have a great deal of civil society activity on environmental issues, on human rights issues, but the same is not true on disarmament." To achieve nuclear disarmament and prevent war we must become active.

"Window Of Opportunity For Peace Being Closed"

During an April 2001 lecture in Christchurch, Canadian Senator Douglas Roche said "the window of opportunity for peace and human security opened by the fall of the Berlin Wall 1989 is rapidly being closed. The reversion to militarism in the 1990's has been astonishing. The maintenance of exorbitant spending on defence, new and modernised weapon systems, a ballistic missile defence which would erode if not eliminate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABMT), a lynch pin in the disarmament architecture, all demonstrate continued reliance on militarism by government decision makers. The development of instruments to build peace and security, thought to have been possible with the end of the Cold War, is being set back. The abolition of nuclear weapons is the indispensable condition for peace in the 21st century."

"A comprehensive approach is needed both to be effective in reducing armed conflict, eliminating weapons of mass destruction, and to mobilise sustained public pressure for new policies?" "The democratic institutions must replace armed force in resolving conflicts." Senator Douglas Roche was Canada's U.N. Ambassador for Disarmament. He is now International Chairman of the Middle Powers Initiative to bring nuclear arms under control and eventually abolish them.

"Conflicts And Flashpoints Could Become Nuclear"

The number of conflicts in the world today is about 41. In addition, there are many flashpoints where major conflicts could suddenly erupt such as over the Taiwan/China dispute, North and South Korea, the Middle East, Kashmir and others. There are eight nuclear weapon countries with short warning times and missiles on alert status. A crisis could develop into a major war, and become a nuclear holocaust.

"New Zealand Defence" - "The Major Issue Is Nuclear Threats"

Growing nuclear war risks are the major defence issue facing New Zealand. These are real and demonstrable threats. (See Page 4). Yet, this greatest and growing threat has not been taken into account in developing New Zealand's defence philosophy and strategy, or even mentioned in our current defence debate. Traditionally, New Zealand has relied on an insurance policy approach. We give military support to larger states like Britain, Australia and the US in military alliances hoping they would reciprocate. Their wars may be unjustified, barbarous, insanely destructive and escalating towards use of mass destruction weapons, like the US war against Vietnam in the 60's. New Zealand has participated regardless of cost or consequences, hoping to earn allied protection if we needed it. This is still the policy strongly advocated by the National party and some ex-defence chiefs, even into new far worse wars in Asia.

"Military Alliances Can Lead NZ Into Major Wars"

New Zealand's defence policy still does not take into account that alliances can push New Zealand into unnecessary, costly, devastating wars, making new enemies and killing innocent people. We risk trade loss, shipping and even New Zealand itself in wider wars. We've done this already in Vietnam in the 60's. It is paranoid and false notions about threats, faulty intelligence, poor reasoning, and military alliance ideology, that can cause a government to embrace the insanity of war. Labour and Alliance defence policy is different. Experts agree that New Zealand has no observable enemies and is unlikely to have any in the near future. We don't need expensive frigates and F-16's?

Therefore, New Zealand's greater emphasis on international peacekeeping and peacemaking assignments is very much in the right direction. Government has stopped anti-submarine warfare preparations, won't buy a third frigate, and will discontinue the Skyhawk Strike fighter squadron not used in warfare since its inception over 31years ago. (The major purpose of these weapons and systems was to support allies in overseas wars). Janes Defence Weekly, Australian analyst, says the Skyhawks are obsolete and New Zealand is not a defence bludger. (See Press, 15/5/01). TIME Magazine, 21/5/01 wrote "Woodman says, much larger countries than Australia are actually going down this (more selective) defence path (like N.Z.)."

The defence budget will allow for upgrading army equipment, mainly for peacekeeping assignments. Orions will continue to be used for fisheries and coastal surveillance but discontinue anti-submarine activities. The National opposition has stated that it would restore the Skyhawk Strike squadron and support allies in future wars. This could mean participating in Southeast Asian wars, such as the Vietnam war, a new Korean war, or a war in support of the US against China over the Taiwan Island dispute. (See statements by Jenny Shipley and Max Bradford, Press, 15/5/01).

"Steps New Zealander's Can Take"

"War With China Or Active Peacemaking"?

Perhaps the most serious problem and potential war threat facing New Zealand and the world is American-Chinese tensions over Taiwan. The crisis could deteriorate into a major war if Taiwan goes ahead with independence. President Bush has promised to do "whatever it takes" in the defence of Taiwan, and has sold them new, sophisticated weapons. Australia is a part of the nuclear war infrastructure with its US bases, nuclear ship visits, and statements of its present government in support of National Missile Defence. It indicates support for the United States in a war with China. What about New Zealand?
We should not honour the ANZAC treaty and join Australia in a US-led war against China. New Zealand should develop a new independent, peacemaking, war prevention policy now, not wait and be caught in a war crisis and overwhelmed by events.

Most New Zealander's would not want to be drawn into a war with China - potentially nuclear - to serve the Bush Administration and Australia. There are alternatives. New Zealand should play a peacemaking, mediating role, and start creating the peacemaking infrastructures that might facilitate such a role in this and other disputes. Helping prevent a war with China could be a vitally important element of New Zealand's security policy. Senator Roche said we need "powerful new tools to prevent war include confidence building measures, transparency and information exchange, mutual constraints on forced deployments, negotiated reductions in armed forces, and restrictions on the arms trade."

"Pioneering A New Peace Role For New Zealand"

Let us pioneer a new way for New Zealand to help global, regional, and New Zealand security in a threatened and precarious world. We are increasingly threatened by environmental problems such as global warming, and nuclear threats such as that over Taiwan, Korea, Kashmir, the Middle East. We could be of much more help to our old friends, and the rest of the world, than as a small warrior.

Professor Lloyd Geering has recently said that we need a new crusade for global survival recognizing the real environmental degradation and military problems of today. New Zealand led the world and was appreciated for declaring itself nuclear free. It recently appointed a Minister of Disarmament, Matt Robson, who is working to create a South Pacific Nuclear Weapon Free Zone to link up with that in South America, South Asia, South Pacific and African nuclear free zones. New Zealand can again be one of the leading nations in a crusade for peace, war prevention, and nuclear weapon abolition.

In line with the recommendations of Senator Roche, Judge Weeramantry, and the UN Under-Secretary, we plan to help remobilize the nuclear free peace movement with an accent on peacemaking.

Larry Ross
Secretary
New Zealand Nuclear Free Peace Making Association

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In discussing the nuclear free issue (which I am in full agreement with) someone replied two days ago "its just a farce because our hospitals are nuclear powered." I have heard this before - is this correct and if so how.

Hospitals do a lot of radiation for medical purposes, with which we have always agreed. The New Zealand Nuclear Free Peacemaking Association has always agreed with the peaceful applications of nuclear technology for medical and industrial uses. However hospitals are not nuclear powered, but powered by electricity. There is no nuclear power in NZ.

ACT and National are very keen to resume visits by US and UK nuclear warships, as the following article shows.
The following comments will refute Ken Shirley's main points and show the duplicity of National.So for ACT and National to try and focus the debate on nuclear-powered ships alone is a duplicious nonsense.
They know that can mean nuclear weapons will be brought into NZ ports - and the possibility of that happening, will make NZ a potential nuclear target - for potential enemies to strike at US ships, or the ports they use.

Disarmament Minister Marian Hobbs will be advocating for a strengthened nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty when she represents New Zealand at the five-yearly NPT review conference in New York in May.
It is 20 years today since former Prime Minister David Lange won the 1985 Oxford Union debate arguing that nuclear weapons were morally indefensible. Today Marian Hobbs reiterated that nuclear disarmament remains New Zealand's ultimate goal.

If Bush gets a second term, he may launch more and wider wars (Iran, Syria etc), provoke retaliation and 'terrorism' and probable use of nuclear weapons and a potential general disaster from which the world as we know it, may never recover.

This July 13, 2003 article shows that National Party MP's have a long history of opposition to New Zealand's nuclear ship ban. They would repeal NZ's nuclear ship ban if voted to power. That would also mean turning a blind eye to the possibility that visiting US nuclear-powered warships might also carry nuclear weapons under the US's "neither confirm nor deny" policy. As National's defence spokesman, Simon Power recently said (see other articles on this), they want to become an ANZUS partner again, and would send NZ troops to support any US wars. That would mean New Zealand's acceptance of any US use of nuclear weapons under the new US policy of potential use during conventional campaigns - or even pre-emptive use as the new doctrines threaten. It also means that National would accept and parrot US lies to get the public to support future wars, as the US did over both Vietnam war in the 60's and the Iraq war of 2003.

National is continuing to inch towards a policy that would allow nuclear ships back into New Zealand ports and has even raised the prospect of the wider use of nuclear technology.
Leader Bill English told the National party conference in Christchurch that restoring ties with traditional allies such as the United States would be one of his top priorities if he became prime minister.

The Australian decision to arm warplanes with US long-range stealth missiles, highlights a trend since the 9/11 attack and before, for Australia to adopt policies which echo or compliment US policy.
There has been sufficient time since 9/11 for the most backward of countries, to assess the widespread international concerns about the dangers of US policies, particularly the US nuclear policies, and the well-documented thrust of US policy toward global dominion at any cost. The UK and Australia are not backward - they have sophisticated analysts more than capable of determining real US policy and it's dangers.

"The United States wants repeal of New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation, to allow U.S. warships possibly with nuclear weapons, to visit New Zealand ports. That would make New Zealand a potential nuclear target at a time that the Bush administration has directed the U.S. military to prepare contingency plans to use nuclear weapons against at least seven countries", said Larry Ross, Secretary of the New Zealand Nuclear-Free Peacemaking Association.