The New Zealand Labour government refused the USS Buchanan entry on the grounds that the United States would neither confirm nor deny that the ship had nuclear capability.
The visit sparked anti-nuclear rallies on land and sea. Nuclear ship visits became an election issue in 1984 and they were later banned by David Lange's Labour government.
'Can't understand all this fuss they're making over radiation!' On 4 February 1985 the Labour government refused the USS Buchanan entry to New Zealand ports on the grounds that the United States would neither confirm nor deny that the ship had nuclear capability.
