PremiumOpinionOpinion byThomas CoughlanPolitical Editor·NZ Herald·9 Jul, 2026 11:14 PM8 mins to readThomas Coughlan, Political Editor at the New Zealand Herald, loves applying a political lens to people's stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is exploring a new alliance. Photo / Sylvie Whinray Three facts:The Government said this week it would explore joining the Ocean of Peace alliance. Since the United States suspended its defence obligations to New Zealand under Anzus, New Zealand has had only one formal ally, Australia.China firing a nuclear-capable missile into the Pacific was seen as retaliation to Australia and Fiji’s announcement of the Ocean of Peace.It’s been 40 years almost to the month since the United States suspended its Anzus defence obligations to New Zealand.
In that time, New Zealand has had only one ally, Australia — a sort of might-as-well alliance that coexists with our “independent foreign policy” national mythology only because
