US to end 30-year ban on ship visits
United States Vice-President Joe Biden has formally accepted an invitation to send a naval vessel to New Zealand later this year, ending a 30-year freeze on such visits since New Zealand adopted its anti-nuclear policy in the mid1980s.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Biden, Prime Minister John Key said the US had accepted an invitation and intended to send a ship in November. Biden said the US ‘‘gladly accepts the invitation’’. But he did not name a ship or say what type of vessel it would be.
The formal process of the New Zealand Government assessing whether it is happy the vessel meets the antinuclear legislation – and is not nuclear powered or armed – is yet to begin.
It is likely the US will propose a vessel that is clearly not contentious – such as a hospital ship or a support ship – for this first thawing of the ban.
New Zealand will not ask the US to confirm or deny whether a visiting vessel is nuclear armed.
The 30-year standoff started when New Zealand adopted an anti-nuclear policy in 1985, rejecting the proposed visit of the ageing destroyer USS Buchanan.
The anti-nuclear legislation was passed by the Lange Government in 1987.
Biden said trade and investment between the two countries was growing and the relationship would continue to strengthen.
‘‘We are not going anywhere, we are here to stay,’’ Biden said.
‘‘Americans and Kiwis are cut from the same cloth.’’
Key also said the relationship between the US and New Zealand continued to develop.
In a two-hour bilateral meeting with New Zealand and US delegates, the two leaders covered a number of international issues of shared interest, Key said.
They talked about the commitment of working together on peace-keeping in the Middle East and combating the threat of terrorist group Islamic State.
Key acknowledged the efforts of the US to bring some stability in Syria, and New Zealand would look to increase its counterterrorism efforts in the region.
They talked about a commitment to advancing trade agreements and ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Technical bilateral issues affecting trade were discussed, including the desire to see an improvement in visa access for New Zealanders to the US.
Territorial claims in the contested South China Sea, which New Zealand does not take a position on, were discussed and both countries were committed to finding a peaceful resolution, Key said.
Biden flew out late yesterday afternoon after a 24-hour visit. Until now the US has not sought a ship visit, but has been mulling whether to accept an invitation to join the New Zealand navy’s 75th anniversary celebrations in November.
New Zealand law, endorsed by National and Labour governments, requires the prime minister of the day to be satisfied any visiting ship does not carry nuclear weapons and is not nuclear powered.
The US has since lifted its ban on joint military training and exercises and New Zealand naval ships have recently been allowed to return to US military ports.
However, Foreign Minister Murray McCully has previously verified that no foreign country is required ‘‘to make any declaration on nuclear armament or propulsion’’. ‘‘The assessment is made by New Zealand officials . . . So the nuclearfree legislation is a domestic process that we need to satisfy,’’ he said.