A political albatross round National's neck

"There is no intention to change the current legislation."

It wasn't Don Brash speaking, but the Prime Minister Jim Bolger easing a review about nuclear propulsion into the pre-Christmas shopping blur of 1992.

"If a change were to be contemplated in the future this would only be done after we had the opportunity to canvass opinions widely," Mr Bolger said. Not quite a referendum promise.

National's policy under Dr Brash is almost as definite, or murky, and remains a political albatross around his party's neck heading into next month's election.

For more than a year National has said it would not change the law allowing nuclear-propelled warships to visit New Zealand, unless it received a public mandate though a referendum or an election pledge.

"There appeared to be little public enthusiasm for change so we will maintain the status quo," Dr Brash said in prepared statements.

But there remains a lack of clarity about when a referendum might be held, and in what circumstances.

The release of the "gone by lunchtime" quote about the expected survival of the policy, attributed to Dr Brash but which the rumour mill has linked to foreign affairs spokesman Lockwood Smith, haunts the party.

When Mr Bolger commissioned a special committee, the ban on visits by nuclear armed or propelled warships had been in place for seven years, and in law for five.

The United States and the United Kingdom had removed nuclear weapons from surface vessels. The Sir Edward Somers-led committee reported the readmission of nuclear-propelled ships carried negligible safety risks.

Mr Bolger was unswayed. He closed down prospects of change - on the eve of an election year. Later, he issued an appeal to new American President Bill Clinton for a "thaw" in the relationship.

There, on the backburner, the matter remained through the Bolger and Jenny Shipley, and Clinton, administrations.

An internal debate began after the 2002 election defeat about whether National should take a stand on the nuclear issue. It became tied to the leadership, and, to appease the hawks, Bill English said former Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech would head a review into New Zealand's relationship with the United States.

The review became Dr Brash's problem. Its findings, that the relationship with the US and chances of a free-trade deal might improve if the nuclear impasse were resolved, were not unexpected.

Wary of public opinion, the party released its review under cover of the hikoi to Parliament and in June last year released its position. It rejected the Creech report's so-called Danish solution, saying there was no public enthusiasm for change.

After the September 17 election, National is expected to still be hesitant about pressing for a referendum.

One member of the Creech taskforce believed sympathetic to a policy change, Chris Finlayson, is likely to be elected.

If so, he will be among a minority in caucus wanting change.