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New dawn for Yankee-Kiwi relations

In the wake of World War II, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States signed the security treaty known as the ANZUS pact in 1951. When New Zealand established its antinuclear policies in 1985, a US destroyer was refused entry at a New Zealand port. The US suspended its ANZUS obligations to New Zealand. That rift still stands today. The creator of the antinuclear policy, former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, died last Saturday in Auckland.

Since New Zealand was thrown out of the ANZUS alliance, in which the US guarantees the security of New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand has mostly been out in the cold - missing out on the technological breakthroughs and experience of the past 20 years.

The US Embassy in New Zealand has refused to comment on whether 13 nation training exercises near Singapore including New Zealand represents a true thawing of relations. The US-New Zealand divide began in 1985, when in accordance with its new antinuclear stance, the latter refused a visit from a US warship. ",The US strongly supports New Zealand",s participation in the PSI (proliferation security initiative) so as a result we have issued a waiver in this situation so they can participate,", an embassy spokesperson said in a statement published by the New Zealand Herald.

Since 9/11, the US has increased cooperation with countries who can help in the fight against terrorism. New Zealand sent troops to Afghanistan, and for a short time helped with the reconstruction of Iraq. New Zealand is conscious of opportunities lost in the past two decades: The chance to be included in a free-trade deal with the US, currently being negotiated with Australia, as well as the loss of a direct voice at the ANZUS council table.