NZ's proud Nuclear Free history threatened by uranium shipment

Uranium, a radioactive material, should never pass through New Zealand’s nuclear free seas let alone come into port, the Green Party said today.

“I am deeply concerned with the decision to routinely ship uranium ore concentrate through New Zealand ports en route to the United States,” Green Party Oceans Spokesperson Gareth Hughes said.

Mr Hughes said the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) has approved this new development on the grounds that the safety standards for transporting this mineral are high and it does not pose a significant health threat to New Zealanders. Shipping through Nelson, Tauranga and Napier Ports has been approved.

“This undermines New Zealand’s proud nuclear free history and the blood sweat and tears of activists in the 80s who fought to entrench our nuclear free status on the world stage,” Mr Hughes said.

The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 bans nuclear weapons and nuclear powered ships from New Zealand waters.

“To allow the raw minerals needed for nuclear generation seems to contravene the principles of this act.

“The Green Party is investigating legislation to update the act so that the principles are upheld with a ban on uranium shipping through New Zealand,” Mr Hughes said.