New Zealand approves first U.S. Navy ship visit in three decades

The New Zealand government on Tuesday announced it had cleared the way for the first visit by a United States Navy vessel since a rift formed between the two countries over New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance 32 years ago.

The USS Sampson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, would attend the Royal New Zealand Navy's international naval review in Auckland from Nov. 17 to 22, Prime Minister John Key said in a statement.

"Under New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation, I am required to be satisfied that any foreign military ship entering New Zealand is not nuclear armed," said Key.

"I have granted this approval after careful consideration of the advice provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade," he said.

"New Zealand's legislation also does not allow ships which are nuclear propelled into New Zealand and the advice I received from officials is that the USS Sampson is not nuclear powered."

"New Zealand looks forward to the USS Sampson's participation in the international naval review to mark the Royal New Zealand Navy's 75th anniversary. The visit is a further reflection of the depth of the bilateral relationship with the United States," Key said.

Key and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, on the first visit by a U.S. vice president to New Zealand since 1970, confirmed in June that the U.S. Navy had accepted an invitation.

Peace activists have vowed to take to the seas to disrupt any U.S. Navy visits.

Peace campaigners last attempted to block U.S. Navy visits in the early 1980s, before the New Zealand government banned visits by nuclear armed and powered vessels.

The U.S. froze New Zealand out of defense cooperation after the ban, but the Washington and Wellington declarations of recent years have seen renewed military contacts. Endit