NZ should have ‘a conversation’ about its nuclear stance, minister says

Defence Minister Chris Penk says New Zealand should have “a conversation” about its long-standing anti-nuclear policy as Australia moves towards acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.

Speaking to Bloomberg Television on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Penk said New Zealanders had long been sceptical about nuclear weapons, but “it might be an interesting conversation in terms of the extent to which that’s different to nuclear propulsion”.

Across the ditch, Australia is working with the US and UK to build and equip a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the 2021 Aukus agreement, with the vessels expected to be deployed in the 2030s.

Penk said Australia’s move meant “it would be helpful for us to have that conversation in New Zealand”.

New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy was enshrined in law in 1987, with the then Labour Government blocking visits by nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships.