A nuclear power station.
With the growing interest in smaller nuclear reactors around the world, how should New Zealand weigh the developing technology?
Small modular reactors (SMRs), and even smaller microreactors the size of shipping containers are in development or being explored by several countries. There are three in operation in China and Russia, and large data centre companies are partnering with nuclear reactor companies to develop their own atomic power sources.
While New Zealand has nuclear-free legislation, it does not block the use of the technology as an energy source on land.
Defence Minister Chris Penk's last week suggested New Zealand should have a "conversation" on its anti-nuclear stance, prompting the prime minister to assure voters that there'd be no changes to existing policy.
