Well they really don't do anything binding at these meetings, so it's not like NZ will be forced to build nuclear power plants.

Anyway, I think the U.S./Australian plans will probably face more problems with trying to include developing economies into a new global warming treaty than with any nuclear objections from New Zealand.

xpert11, fellow New Zealander here, I say that although I'm from Texas, because my family recv'd our permanent residency recently!.

At any rate, I have to agree with you, I think the govt. is shooting itself in the foot with this stance. New Zeaaland could/would benefit greatly from nuclear power for electricity generation.

I unerstand the NZ stance on nuclear weapons and I applaud them for it, no sense in inviting disaster as well as the overall cost of maintaing a nuclear stance militarily.

But all you have to do is stand on any street corner in Christchurch on a winters nite and the layer of soot floating about 15 meters over your head will make choke up. I realize it's from coal and wood fireplaces...but that right there in itself alone shows the need for greater effeciencies in home heating, thus requiring a stronger electrical generation policy.

Deadbang excellent post.
I live in Christchurch and in my own personal experience the only kind of heating that low income family's is wood or coal fires. All the environmentalist do-gooders(SP?) want everyone to switch to electricity for there heating they don't care that the elderly and low income people already have trouble paying there power bills. Of course the same people claim to care about the environment oppose the use of nuclear power.