New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon vows to keep nuclear-free stance

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has firmly stated that the country will maintain its nuclear-free stance, directly addressing remarks made by the nation's Defence Minister.

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it might be an interesting conversation in terms of the extent to which that’s different to nuclear propulsion

Defence Minister Chris Penk had suggested on May 30 that a conversation about the decades-old policy could be helpful, particularly in light of Australia's move to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact. Penk noted that "it might be an interesting conversation in terms of the extent to which that’s different to nuclear propulsion" and that "it would be helpful for us to have that conversation in New Zealand."

However, Luxon on June 2 emphasized that the nuclear-free status is non-negotiable and a core "matter of principle for Kiwis." He declared on Radio New Zealand's Morning Report, "Our nuclear-free position, I think, has had massive support across the country and it won’t be changing, and it certainly won’t be changing while I’m prime minister."

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it would be helpful for us to have that conversation in New Zealand

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed that Luxon's National Party has no policy to alter New Zealand's nuclear stance ahead of the nation's November election. The country enshrined its nuclear-free policy into law in 1987, a move celebrated as a significant step for the former British colony. This policy prevents vessels like the nuclear-powered submarines Australia plans to build from visiting New Zealand.

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Our nuclear-free position, I think, has had massive support across the country and it won’t be changing, and it certainly won’t be changing while I’m prime minister.