US lifts ban on war games with NZ again

New Zealand is sending an Air Force Boeing 757 for the military exercise in Australia. Picture / Paul Estcourt

New Zealand will take part in a second military exercise with the United States under the auspices of the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), next week in Australia.

It is the second time in two years that the United States has lifted its usual ban on military exercises with New Zealand, which it imposed in 1987 as a reprisal against the law banning nuclear armed and propelled ships.

But United States Ambassador William McCormick cautioned yesterday against reading anything significant into the waiver.

"We welcome New Zealand's participation in this global, multinational initiative," Mr McCormick said.

"Participation by US forces in a multilateral exercise also attended by New Zealand does not represent a change in US Government policies regarding New Zealand's nuclear legislation.

"The US Government maintains flexible policies that are adjustable to the demands of our national security interests."

The US also lifted its ban in August last year so that New Zealand could participate in a multinational exercise in Singapore under the PSI - an initiative set up by US President George W. Bush after September 11 aimed at intercepting weapons of mass destruction.

That was the first occasion on which a waiver had been given for joint exercises outside of an operation context, such as allowing joint training with the New Zealand SAS before fighting together in Afghanistan.

The same countries will participate in the Australia exercise: United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Britain and Singapore.

Defence Minister Phil Goff last year said the United States had had no credible alternative but to accept New Zealand's participation, given that it had asked New Zealand to take a leading role in the PSI.

In a statement yesterday Mr Goff was a little less upbeat. "Our joint participation in this exercise does not represent a change in the US's presidential directive on military exercises with New Zealand."

US participation would comprise an Air Force refuelling plane and some ground-based personnel from the Department of Homeland Security.

 Joint exercise

* A ground-air interdiction exercise code-named Pacific Protector 2006 will be held in Darwin from April 3 to 6.

* New Zealand will contribute an Air Force Boeing 757 and crew.