New Zealand was involved militarily in Korea from 1950 to 1957, first as part of the United Nations ‘police action’ to repel North Korea’s invasion of its southern neighbour, and then in a garrison role after the armistice in July 1953.
The impact of ANZUS - NZ and the Vietnam War
US pressure for ground troops
As the United States escalated its military involvement, New Zealand and other American allies came under increased pressure to provide combat assistance. An unenthusiastic Holyoake responded to American entreaties in December 1964 by pointing to New Zealand's commitments in Malaysia, where its forces were involved in Confrontation. American plans to introduce ground combat forces (as opposed to the combat advisers previously deployed) were not favoured in Wellington, New Zealand again diverging from the more 'robust' approach taken by Australia.
New treaties and alliances - New Zealand Forces in Asia 1948-72
Britain's loss of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 was the largest surrender in British military history and its greatest defeat since it lost its colonies in the American War of Independence. This defeat seriously undermined New Zealand's confidence in Britain to protect the far flung parts of its Empire.
A vulnerable New Zealand began to look elsewhere for its security.
Impact of the Vietnam War in New Zealand - NZ and the Vietnam War
It is difficult to assess which side had the better of this debate during the Vietnam War. The decision to send combat forces to Vietnam initially appeared to enjoy high levels of public support, and the National Party did not suffer unduly adverse electoral consequences, being returned to office twice - in 1966 and 1969 - during the Vietnam period. Nor was the government ever sufficiently concerned by domestic criticism to change a policy it had adopted largely for alliance reasons.
New Zealand becomes nuclear free
The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act was passed into law, establishing this country as a nuclear and biological weapon-free zone.
ANZUS comes into force
Signed by Australia, New Zealand and the United States, the ANZUS treaty recognised that an armed attack in the Pacific area on one member endangered the peace and safety of the others. Each signatory pledged to ‘act to meet the common danger’.
When British troops surrendered to the Japanese at Singapore in February 1942, New Zealand’s confidence in Britain’s ability to protect the far-flung parts of its empire was seriously undermined. A vulnerable New Zealand began to look elsewhere for its security.
