Increase in nuclear weapon -free zones

Press, 22 December 1986, Page 2

Increase in nuclear weapon -free zones

New Zealand now has 104 nuclear-weapon-free zones and leads the world in its proportion of population covered by these locally declared zones.

Dunedin is the latest to declare itself a nuclear-weapon-free zone. This means that 72 per cent of New Zealand’s population is how covered by a nuclear-weapon-free zone. The secretary .of the Nuclear Free Zone committee, Mr Larry Ross, said that the motion to declare Dunedin a nuclear-weapon-free zone was passed unanimously by the Dunedin City Council. This added another 6 per cent to the percentage of population covered by the zones, he said. “This is the third attempt since 1982 to have Dunedin declared nuclear-weapon-free.” Earlier this year, Queenstown and Stratford also declared themselves nuclear-weapon-free zones.

Mr Ross aid that the expansion of nuclear-weapon-free zones would help promote co-operation and a climate for world disarmament. “For New Zealand to become nuclear free is not enough,” he said. “We must become active international peacemakers to improve international relations and understanding and promote friendship, trade and cultural relations with all states. “This is needed to reduce paranoia between nations and other causes of war.”