Pubic wrote:
And its not like it hasn't had its benefits to us, theres no risk of a NZ Chernobyl
A nuclear reactor for medical research and power would probably be ok. I think australia has one (at least) for medical research. I think when they tried to introduce another, there was a bit of a whoha (or bruhaha, or even just uproar) about it.
I'm a Kiwi and naturalised Australian living in Brisbane. I've done the UK thing that alot of young antipodean end up doing for 3 and a half years. I've been to the US and Canada a few times too. And when I travel to NZ (as I did over new years to walk the Milford Track), one thing is really apparent about NZ. Its really small.
And given its geography (slap bang on a fault line running right up the south island), it would be quite bad if the shakey isles did their thing and the reactor went kablooey. Thats just one reason why some kiwis arent keen on the nuclear power.
The other is the waste. That depleted uranium and other waste products have to go somewhere. I'm sure there's a market for the stuff in the US. I've heard it gets used in ammo shells, armour and the like. Given the gun laws in NZ, I dont think there would be a market for it. And I'm sure US, China and Russia have various markets cornered for selling of their waste, and wouldnt want little NZ trying to break into the picture. And for the rest of the waste that has to be buried deep under the earth... is there really a sit large enough that you would gladly see become a nuclear waste dump. And the waste site facility would have to be tip top. Alot of NZ water is drawn from artesian wells. Wouldnt it suck if the NZ water supply was contaminated by nuclear waste that seeped through a small crack in the shell of the waste facility.
Anyway, what have any of these reasons got to do with ANZUS? Not much.
But as an analogy, Blue, Neal and Joe are having a bit of fun, playing with fireworks.. its mostly tom thumbs, nothing too bad. Then one day, Joe turns up with a stick of TNT. Neal freaks because he knows how unstable that stuff can be. Joe tries to reassure that its all cool and he knows what he's doing. Blue knows its pretty dangerous too, and doesnt mind if Joe visits with the TNT, but just as long as he doesnt start waving it around. Blue also has a great big deposit of the stuff in the backyard under his mums favourite part of the garden, so he starts digging that stuff up and selling it to Joe and anyone else that wants it (as long as Joe says its ok, because if someone gets there hands on a bigger stick of TNT and they're not down with Joe, there'll be trouble). Anyway, Neal is still pretty freaked out about the TNT. He'll only let Joe visit if he leaves the TNT at home.
Bleh, I could go on and on with that analogy, but its getting past my bedtime. As you might have guessed, Blue is Australia, Neal is New Zealand and Joe is the USA.
Personally, I'm with Neal. TNT is freaky stuff and if I can get away with it, and borrow someone elses facilities, I'd keep the TNT out of my house. Especially when Francios keeps blowing that stuff up over the back fence.