The Anti Nuclear Movement Overview
The Anti Nuclear Movement of New Zealand was a significant and controversial event that resulted in the signing of the New Zealand, Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987. Many New Zealanders were split in opinion towards the build-up of nuclear weapons by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. As New Zealand leading political parties changed over the Anti Nuclear movement period, their opinions towards the movement varied alongside. With the Anti Nuclear Legislation still standing in New Zealand to the present day, political party opinions have now changed to have New Zealand remain nuclear free to this day.
New Zealanders first became concerned with the mass numbers of nuclear weapons during the Cold War, fearing that a nuclear war would erupt between the US and the USSR, which would expand to a worldwide war. Many like the rest of the world feared that the world would be destroyed in nuclear conflict. New Zealanders concerns only grew when the Americans started nuclear testing in the Pacific. At this time New Zealand were strong allies with the US, and a treaty called "ANZUS" ensured that each had the others protection and held a close relation between both countries. ANZUS and the US's and NZ's relation began to degrade when New Zealanders found about the dire negative consequences of nuclear testing on the environment and people. New Zealanders began to be troubled by the the amount of radiation waste being distributed and dumped in the ocean and the radioactive fallout which was poisoning the sky.
New Zealander's started an Anti Nuclear Campaign in New Zealand to retaliate against the use of nuclear power. Resulting in the formation of many Anti Nuclear peace groups such as VAANA (Visual Arts Against Nuclear Arms). New Zealand no longer wanted US nuclear warships in New Zealand water and territories. When National Party leader Robert Muldoon (New Zealand Prime Minister from 1975-84) promoted nuclear warships in New Zealand, he was voted out of power as soon as the 1984 elections came. Labour came into power and David Lange became New Zealand's new Anti Nuclear prime Minister. Lange stopped the visits of nuclear warships, however against what he wanted, New Zealand was withdrawn from ANZUS by the US. Lange continued with his anti nuclear pursuits and in 1987 he had the Anti Nuclear Legislation signed in New Zealand.
After the legislation was signed New Zealand stopped relying on the aid of Superpowers and started to become an independent nation of its own. This new "clean green" image of New Zealand only prospered due to the signing the Anti Nuclear legislation. New Zealand began to make it's own foreign and defense policies and its relations and trade with countries flourished. All benefiting New Zealanders as now their beloved country had an identity of its own. The Anti Nuclear Legislation still holds importance to New Zealanders to the present day as many still hold antinuclear views and are proud of New Zealand's anti nuclear stance.
New Zealanders first became concerned with the mass numbers of nuclear weapons during the Cold War, fearing that a nuclear war would erupt between the US and the USSR, which would expand to a worldwide war. Many like the rest of the world feared that the world would be destroyed in nuclear conflict. New Zealanders concerns only grew when the Americans started nuclear testing in the Pacific. At this time New Zealand were strong allies with the US, and a treaty called "ANZUS" ensured that each had the others protection and held a close relation between both countries. ANZUS and the US's and NZ's relation began to degrade when New Zealanders found about the dire negative consequences of nuclear testing on the environment and people. New Zealanders began to be troubled by the the amount of radiation waste being distributed and dumped in the ocean and the radioactive fallout which was poisoning the sky.
New Zealander's started an Anti Nuclear Campaign in New Zealand to retaliate against the use of nuclear power. Resulting in the formation of many Anti Nuclear peace groups such as VAANA (Visual Arts Against Nuclear Arms). New Zealand no longer wanted US nuclear warships in New Zealand water and territories. When National Party leader Robert Muldoon (New Zealand Prime Minister from 1975-84) promoted nuclear warships in New Zealand, he was voted out of power as soon as the 1984 elections came. Labour came into power and David Lange became New Zealand's new Anti Nuclear prime Minister. Lange stopped the visits of nuclear warships, however against what he wanted, New Zealand was withdrawn from ANZUS by the US. Lange continued with his anti nuclear pursuits and in 1987 he had the Anti Nuclear Legislation signed in New Zealand.
After the legislation was signed New Zealand stopped relying on the aid of Superpowers and started to become an independent nation of its own. This new "clean green" image of New Zealand only prospered due to the signing the Anti Nuclear legislation. New Zealand began to make it's own foreign and defense policies and its relations and trade with countries flourished. All benefiting New Zealanders as now their beloved country had an identity of its own. The Anti Nuclear Legislation still holds importance to New Zealanders to the present day as many still hold antinuclear views and are proud of New Zealand's anti nuclear stance.