Dr Stephen Hoadley is Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland and author of New Zealand United States Relations (NZIIA, 2nd ed 2016). The Cold War nuclear arms race sharpened opposition to nuclear weapons and stimulated protests against visits by nuclear-powered (and presumably nuclear-armed) US warships. Parliament in 1987 formalised the policy by passing the Nuclear Free Act prohibiting the entry of nuclear weapons and nuclear-propelled vessels. But US ship visits were not on the agenda. The ship visit is a symbol of the success of pragmatic diplomacy on both sides.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 10, 2016 16:07 UTC