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NZ will stay nuclear-free - Key

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NZ will stay nuclear-free - Key

3News NZ

Prime Minister John Key (right) with US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta (Reuters)

Prime Minister John Key (right) with US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta (Reuters)

Prime Minister John Key is promising there will be no backdown on New Zealand's nuclear-free status as part of renewed co-operation with the United States.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta visited New Zealand last week, and raised the possibility of having US troops based here.

"If New Zealand feels that's something they would support or want, we certainly are more than ready to engage them in that kind of relationship. We think it would be very helpful," Mr Panetta told TVNZ's Q+A programme.

During his visit, Mr Panetta announced New Zealand navy vessels will be able visit Defence Department and Coastguard facilities in the US and around the world.

Mr Key has also invited a US Coastguard vessel to visit New Zealand - as long as it's not nuclear-powered.

"There'll be no change to New Zealand's anti-nuclear legislation, no change to the provisions about boats that would come to New Zealand," he told TVNZ's Breakfast.

Restrictions on talks between officials and joint military exercises are also being lifted.

The moves are seen as a thawing of relations strained for decades by New Zealand's anti-nuclear policies.

Mr Panetta's visit to New Zealand was the first in 30 years by a US defence secretary.

Mr Key says frosty ties have thawed in recent years and the relationship between the two countries is "back on the best footing it's been".

"We accept that each other has a slightly different perspective on the nuclear position and we work around that."

NZN

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Comments

1/10/2012 8:58:10 p.m.

lachy wrote:

watch the protests and watch them turn ugly if any of the Yank hugging develops and I will be one of those active protesters

26/09/2012 12:44:35 p.m.

Fair Kiwi wrote:

NO war mongering yanks wanted here. Keep your oil induced wars to yourselves. Shame on you Keys, when are you going to listen to the people of this country.

24/09/2012 5:00:10 p.m.

Robert M wrote:

Why not invite a littoral combat vessel or an old FFG-7. These low level USN frigates are about the same level of capability as the the USCGs old and new medium and high endurance cutters of say the Hamilton and Heritage class.
In terms of repealing the anti nuke legislation, I would suggest the stragegic nature of the major US fleet units exists regardless of their propulsion or non nuke armament.Al current US destroyers are built for ABM defence against Russia and Iran

24/09/2012 4:45:52 p.m.

David wrote:

Isnt it funny that Key initiated a revenge attack... was it perhaps to ensure that the Taliban would retaliate on NZ soil so that we would be more willing to accept the presence of American troops on our soil?.

24/09/2012 4:07:51 p.m.

DIMIT wrote:

When Americas Capitalists/Bankers favorite "Money Man" stroke TPP salesman (& part time NZ PM) *Key*, gets together the lord of War Leon Panetta for a cuppa & cheesy photo, on NZ soil? Are NZ'ers supposed to say ooh....arr? such upstanding trustworthy Gentlemen with no hidden agendas? We don't need 2500 US troops here.Or are they security for National Party functions? I think We need to remain the Switzerland of the Pacific, especially now.Tensions with China & japan, With half the Muslim World protesting,With the whole war on terror,and the loss of World respect for NZ's part in ACTA & take down of Kim DotCom, not to mention Keys shameful pushing of TPP (yeah the world didn't want SOPA, PIPA), Now is not a good time for Panetta to come over and mark territory. I guess We will be in for a cheesy campaign in this warming relationship???

24/09/2012 12:59:48 p.m.

Scott wrote:

We don't need US troops here in NZ, that's crazy talk. The country will be at risk if we allow this.

24/09/2012 11:37:23 a.m.

dennis wrote:

@David. Perfect. No more comment required

24/09/2012 11:28:09 a.m.

Mike wrote:

NZ could have had a similar relationaship with the US as we now have - back in 1984 when NZ decided to go Nuke free.

But the govt of the day decided to go beyond nuclear free and make it anti-US.

Even the Clarke govt 1999-2008 wasn't as one-eyed as the Lange govt 1984-1990 when it came to US, hence the thawing of the relationship in the 1999-2008 Labour years.

Nobody expects US troops stationed in NZ permanently, not even the US. Yes we have had US troops stationed here for ANZUS exercises before, but only for the duration of the exercises. We have had US troops stationed here when they have visited, and we do have US troops stationed here as part of their diplomatic corps with their embassy. If go back to regular tropps stationed here outside that, need to go back to like WWII.

The suggestion of troops will allow NZ to host ANZUS exercises, just as NZ troops participated in the naval exercises based out of Pearl Harbour just recently. We technically still do have an army, airforce and navy, so exercises of those could still be quite extensive. The US coast guard visit goes outside armed forces, although the US coast guard is almost between police and armed forces. Our airforce has been downgraded from a 3rd rate airforce to even less when Labour turned down the gift of modern jets upgraded and maintained to US specs for a fraction of the cost price. Our navy, we have those over-sized frigates which Labour dumped on us, costing $1 billion each before cost overruns, too small to stop any military, and too slow to respond to any emergency. If you wanted to take over some small pacific nation like the cook islands, our frigates could at a pinch do the job!

24/09/2012 10:54:01 a.m.

David wrote:

Why on earth would we ever want US troops based here.. thats like painting a bullseye on your backside at a hillbilly BBQ.. an event Key would love I am sure.