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MPs Of All Stripes Celebrate Anti-Nuke Legislation

MPs Of All Stripes Celebrate Anti-Nuke Legislation

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To mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of New Zealand's nuclear free legislation the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament (PNND) invited MPs from across the political spectrum to appear on the steps of Parliament wearing Nuclear Free Aotearoa-New Zealand 'T' shirts and/or badges.

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Earlybird anti nuke MPs gain a few pals including the Maori Party's Hone Harawira

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MPs from different sides of the House David Cunliffe and Dr Paul Hutchison stand side by side on the anti-nuclear issue – at least for now

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Few MPs went for the T-shirt only option owing to inclement Wellington weather however there was a good spectrum of MPs from all sides of the House. The majority of MPs taking part came from the Greens and Labour parties however there was a small Maori Party presence, at least two National MPs (Dr Nick Smith and Dr Paul Hutchison) and United Future Leader Peter Dunne.

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Hon Phil Goff Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control gave a short speech on the steps of Parliament celebrating the 20th anniversary of NZ's nuclear free legislation

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Hon Phil Goff and Green MP Keith Locke surrounded by a gaggle of Green, Labour and National MPs

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Conspiciously absent were the two ACT Party MPs who earlier this morning had cosied up to the other self styled MMP Party Leaders (The Green Party, ACT, United Future and Maori Party Leaders) at a press conference called to debate MPs behaviour in the House.

While the days of ACT Leader Rodney Hide calling David Benson-Pope a 'pervert' in the House are apparently over their policy differences with the rest of Parliament's parties over NZ's nuclear free legislation still remain. Last week ACT National Security Spokesman Heather Roy pointed out in a press release that 'Labour's nuclear-free legislation has passed its use-by date.'

"New Zealand is at risk of external threats and can no longer rely on our allies to come to our aid when we have gone a long way towards alienating them," Ms Roy said in her press statement.

While National under John Key has re-iterated their commitment to New Zealand's nuclear free legislation it would seem there remains one party in New Zealand's Parliament still looking out for the interests of the United States and its military needs.

ENDS

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