North’s nuclear free zones

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 25

North’s nuclear free zones

PA ■ Whangarei A campaign will be started to establish nuclear-free zones throughout Northland. This was decided by a meeting' of 120 adults at' the Ngapuhi Marae, Mangamuka, as the best way to meet any threat of nuclear installation or Navy base. The meeting took seriously rumours that the United States was considering Whangaroa Harbour as a base for its nuclear-armed warships, such as Trident submarines, and expressed concern at the’ prospect of such a base there or elsewhere in New Zealand.

Opposition was expressed toward the arms race by the United States and the Soviet Union and the meeting called

on the New Zealand Government to adopt a more independent stance in its foreign policy. A call was also made for members of Parliament. Dr Bruce Gregory (Northern Maori), Mr Neil Austin (Bay of Islands), and Mr John Banks (Whangarei) to state their positions on New Zealand’s involvement in military alliances that were developing arid deploying first strike weapons. Rumours that Whangaroa was being considered as a base had come from members of Parliament and Parliamentary candidates, and from events observed by various people, said the discussion chairman, Mr Tony Knight, of Opononi./l