The US-New Zealand alliance: a tale of six anniversaries: Ian McGibbon discusses important milestones in the alliance relationship between New Zealand and the United States.

AuthorMcGibbon, Ian

In 2012 New Zealand marks the anniversary of the arrival of US troops in the country during the Second World War n a friendly invasion that lasted for two years and would result in more than a thousand 'war brides' heading to the United States after the war. But this year also marks other anniversaries connected with New Zealand's relationship with the United States. It is the 60th anniversary of the coming into effect of the ANZUS alliance in 1952, the 50th anniversary of the first, albeit hesitant, steps into the Vietnam morass at US behest, the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of New Zealand troops from that country in December 1972, the 30th anniversary of the final visit by the US nuclear-powered warship USS Truxtun, and the 20th anniversary of the National Party's last initiative to restore New Zealand's alliance role.

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On 12 June 2012 New Zealand marked the 70th anniversary of the friendly invasion the country experienced during the Second World War--the arrival of US troops. The first ashore were men of a regiment of the US Army's 37th Division, who moved into a camp built for them by the Public Works Department near Auckland. Next day the 1st Marine Division arrived in Wellington. After disembarking, the marines proceeded by train to a camp at Paekakariki. Although not officially acknowledged at first, the US presence was soon well known to a relieved population, all too conscious of the dramatic advances made by the Japanese since the previous December.

These initial troops did not remain long. All were gone by the end of July. They left to take part in the invasion of the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, where the United States launched its counter-offensive against the Japanese on 7 August 1942. But many others soon followed to support the Solomons campaign and to prepare for operations elsewhere. Over the next two years 80,000 Americans would serve or recuperate in New Zealand, with many thousands more transiting through on US ships or aircraft.

The anniversary in New Zealand focused on the 2nd Marine Division, which spent almost a year at Paekakariki in 1942-43 after taking part in the Guadalcanal fighting. A party of 50 US Marines and a Marine band came to New Zealand for the commemoration, and there were wreathlayings both at the National War Memorial and Paekarariki (in remembrance of a tragic incident during the marines' amphibious training). Largely unnoticed, in New Zealand at least, was another 70th anniversary in June--that of the US Navy's victory in the Battle of Midway, arguably the most important battle in the Second World War for New Zealand. This battle, from 4 to 7 June 1942, was the strategic turning point in the Pacific War.

That war had really begun in 1937 when Japan and China began fighting a war that would continue until 1945. But for New Zealanders, like most Westerners, the Pacific War began with Japan's assault on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 --and simultaneous attacks on the Philippines and Malaya. In the months that followed, the Japanese juggernaut swept south. Singapore fell, and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) were soon in Japanese hands. Japanese air forces bombed Darwin. For many in Australia and New Zealand invasion seemed imminent, as local forces were mobilised and defences hastily readied.

In reality, the Japanese never planned to invade either country. Such an operation against Australia would demand far more troops than Japan could spare with most of its army embroiled in China; New Zealand offered no resources that made it a desirable target. The Japanese high command resolved, therefore, to isolate Australia and New Zealand while seeking the final defeat of US seapower in the Central Pacific. To this end, the Japanese would take Port Moresby. It was this invasion force that was intercepted and defeated by US forces in the Coral Sea in May 1942. Many in Australia and New Zealand were convinced, incorrectly, that the US victory in this battle had prevented the imminent invasion of their countries--a perception that would have lasting...

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