Opposition to the anti-nuclear movement in new zealand
ROBERT MULDOON-PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND 1975 to 1984.
the main opposition to the anti-nuclear campaign in new Zealand was evident in the conservative national government. between the goverment terms of the labour and national administrations there were significant shifts in new Zealand's political stance on the nuclear issue. labour, who consistently advocated for a nuclear-free new Zealand, were countered by the conservative national administrations, who were opposed to breaking the traditional alliances with the united states and france over the nuclear testing and warships. the proactive stance of labour, which involved legal and symbolic protest, was not continued by the national government that was elected in 1975 after norman kirks death. the movement was put to the test in 1975 with the election of national, as with prime minister Robert Muldoon In power it was more difficult to know when nuclear warships were planning on visiting new Zealand. this was a deliberate and somewhat effective tactic employed by Muldoon, as it reduced the effectiveness of planned protest and decreased the number of activists that made an appearance when ships was entering the harbours. the previous governments had publicly disclosed when the ships were arriving, so made it easier for anti-nuclear groups to plan and carry out large scale protest. however Muldoon and national were determined to see the issue of an anti-nuclear new Zealand dissipate. this tactic was particularly evident in the deliberate withholding of information from the public regarding the upcoming uss truxtUn visit in 1976. Muldoon aimed to suppress as much protest as possible and hence allow the ship to enter the ports without obstruction. nationals main concerns did not lie with the nuclear testing in the pacific, but rather with keeping to traditional alliances and pleasing the superpowers that were conducting these tests or bringing their ships into the country. Muldoon in particular was a key figure in opposition to the movement, as he firmly believed that new Zealand should not disallow nuclear armed ships into its ports as new Zealand should not put "impossible demands on its allies". Muldoon and his administration were more enthusiastic about us warship visits, and although it generated large amounts of public frustration, they were determined to keep the anzus alliance strong as many still feared that there would be communist expansion and hence AMERICAN WOULD BE needed to defend new Zealand. Muldoon's downfall as prime minister would eventuate due to this immovable position on keeping new Zealand tolerant to nuclear energy when he was defeated in a snap-election in july 1984 by david lange and the labour government.
although Muldoon's administration was opposed to nuclear-free new zealand, national soon altered its stance after the 1984 policy and 1987 legislation were successfully passed by david lange's labour government. the popularity of the legislation meant that it was not changed when jim bolger and the national government gained power. the effect of the national governments submission to a nuclear-free New Zealand signalled a victory for the anti-nuclear movement and finalised the change in the conservative identity of new Zealand.
the effect THAT NATIONAL'S CHANGE IN STANCE had on new Zealand will be discussed in later pages.