New Zealand's Relationship With America

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key

Australia's relationship with New Zealand is a close one - brothers in arms in all wars and the same British colonial heritage. But there is one area where we strongly disagree - they were brave enough to stand up to the might of the United States of America - and they are still standing. We need to go back to World War II to begin the story.

On 12th March 1942 the Prime Minister of Imperial Japan General Tojo, made this declaration:

Australia and New Zealand are now threatened by the might of the Imperial Japanese forces and both of them should know that any resistance is futile. If the Australian government does not modify her present attitude, their continent will suffer the same fate as the Dutch East Indies.

Luckily for Australia and New Zealand, the American Navy successfully inflicted serious damage to the Japanese in the Battle of the Coral Sea and a month later the Battle of Midway near Hawaii. After the war, the ANZUS treaty was formed between the US, New Zealand and Australia. It stated 'The parties will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them - the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened in the Pacific.

In 1984, Labor Prime Minister Peter Lange barred the US Navy nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from using New Zealand ports or entering New Zealand waters. The original three way defence pact between the US and New Zealand was then scrapped.

On 10th July 1985 the French bombed the Greenpeace protest vessel Rainbow Warrior in Auckland. The failure of Western leaders to condemn what they considered an act of war on New Zealand by France caused a great deal of change in their foreign and defence policies. They then distanced themselves from their traditional ally - the United States.

A few days ago New Zealand had a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and yesterday, America offered to send aid. Prime Minister John Key said he was grateful for the offer but assistance was not required.