New Zealand becomes nuclear free
- When
- 8 June 1987
- Where
- Wellington · Te Whanganui-a-Tara
- Reach
- Nationwide
Legislation banned nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered ships from New Zealand waters, effectively ending the ANZUS alliance with the United States.
The refusal of the USS Buchanan in 1985, under the neither-confirm-nor-deny policy, had already broken the alliance in practice; Washington suspended its treaty obligations in 1986. The 1987 Act made the position law. It cost New Zealand its security guarantee and much American goodwill for two decades, and it became the clearest expression of an independent foreign policy — supported across party lines ever since.
Regions affected
Sources
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Devonport Naval Base