Anti-nukes stance in firing line

American Samoan Eni Faleomavaega

An American politician says New Zealand should re-evaluate its anti-nuclear policy, because of the risk of North Korea firing nuclear missiles at Auckland and Wellington.

Speaking in Auckland, Eni Faleomavaega, the American Samoa representative in the US Congress, suggested that New Zealand should carry its share of the burden in protecting against "rogue" nations and organisations that wanted to destroy democratic governments.

Mr Faleomavaega told his audience at Auckland University of Technology last week that he wanted to promote discussion between the two countries over their nuclear impasse.

Under New Zealand's 1987 nuclear-free zone law, nuclear-powered ships are banned and nuclear-armed military ships and planes are in effect banned. The US refuses to confirm or deny whether nuclear weapons are carried and has excluded New Zealand from joint military exercises.

Mr Faleomavaega said it was vital that New Zealand return to its previous status as a US ally, "especially on the issue of exchanging classified intelligence information on movements of terrorist organisations in the Asia-Pacific region".

The US Government was concerned by the risk of North Korea and possibly Iran using nuclear weapons, he said.

"As of now, North Korea has the capability of launching missiles with nuclear warheads which can reach many cities along the West Coast of the United States. If these missiles can ... target San Francisco and Los Angeles, they can just as easily reach the cities of Auckland and Wellington."

The university's chancellor, Sir Paul Reeves, responded, noting that as a former Governor-General, it was he who signed the Government's nuclear-free zone legislation into law.

Sir Paul said the law was so deeply embedded in New Zealand culture that it would be impossible for any government to overturn it.

"It should not be confused with isolationism," said Sir Paul, who listed seven instances of New Zealand police or soldiers' involvement in United Nations-led projects.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said he would not place any great credibility on the risk of North Korea blowing up Auckland or Wellington.

"The United States is not saying they feel immediately threatened by North Korea and it's hard to imagine North Korea constitutes a direct and foreseeable threat to New Zealand."

Mr Goff said the Labour Government's stance was to advocate an end to the proliferation of nuclear weapons by the total elimination of them.

He said New Zealand closely cooperated with the US in sharing of information about threats posed by international terrorism.

The ball was in the US court over whether to return to full military cooperation after its praise for New Zealand's efforts in Afghanistan and Operation Enduring Freedom.