Internationally, IPPNW was established in 1980 on the basis that the profession had an important teaching role on the hazardous effects of nuclear weapons and because nuclear war constituted a threat to public health. Since this time it has played a significant role in many areas of nuclear disarmament. The awarding of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1985 was in recognition of the success of this work.
There has been a long history of citizen activity against nuclear weapons testing and the nuclear arms race in New Zealand. Part of this work has involved doctors involved in the New Zealand Affiliate of IPPNW, which was established in 1982.
Since its establishment, the New Zealand Affiliate has put most of its efforts into educational activities. This has frequently involved bringing key international people to New Zealand on speaking tours and providing opportunities for them to interact with the media and politicians. For example, at the height of the Cold War in 1982 - 1983, the visit of Drs Helen and Bill Caldicott from the United States helped to build up public concern at the acceleration of the nuclear arms race and New Zealand's military relationship with a nuclear superpower. Their visit led to a peak in IPPNW membership at 1100 members (or nearly a fifth of all doctors in the country at this time).
There have been many other notable speakers brought to New Zealand by IPPNW over the last decade including the former director of the US Air Force's Strategic Air Command General Lee Butler (Ret) in 1997. General Butler was able to highlight the need for further steps to eliminate nuclear weapons and affirm the value of New Zealand's antinuclear weapons position.
Often in conjunction with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), IPPNW New Zealand has also assisted in organising events that affirm the value of this country's antinuclear legislation and has produced various written educational materials for community education. One prominent member, Erich Geiringer, even published an antinuclear book "Malice in Blunderland". Tribute to Erich Geiringer
The idea of going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek an advisory opinion on the legality of nuclear weapons was put forward by Harold Evans, a retired Magistrate from Christchurch. This project was then taken by IPPNW (NZ) members Dr Robin Briant and Dr Erich Geiringer to the IPPNW International Council in Montreal in 1988 and accepted as an important area for IPPNW to develop. The project grew to involve a coalition of IPPNW, the International Peace Bureau, and the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA). In 1993, following intensive lobbying at the World Health Organization by IPPNW members from New Zealand and elsewhere, the resolution to seek an advisory opinion on the threat to use and use of nuclear weapons from the ICJ was passed. Also, in 1994 the Non Aligned Movement countries were successful in getting a resolution passed at the General Assembly of the United Nations to seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ on nuclear weapons.
The ICJ findings, announced in July 1996, clearly supported the illegality of nuclear weapons except in extreme circumstances where the very survival of the state would be at stake. The ICJ also urged the nuclear weapon states to implement Article VI of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and move to the abolition of nuclear weapons. The ICJ's findings have been generally interpreted as being likely to facilitate further nuclear disarmament moves through delegitimising nuclear weapons.
The slow progress in nuclear disarmament that has occurred since the end of the Cold War also led to the formation of the Abolition 2000 campaign. This campaign has expanded to a global network involving hundreds of NGOs and has played an important part in the discussions leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996. The New Zealand contribution to this campaign has also involved a coalition of IPPNW and other local NGOs involved in peace and disarmament work. As key political figures in New Zealand already favour moves to eliminate nuclear weapons, the most appropriate response has been to encourage and support opportunities for this view to be promulgated at international meetings by New Zealand's official representatives. Given, this country's status in antinuclear matters it could potentially play a leadership role in moves to develop a convention on the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Abolition 2000, IPPNW (NZ). Abolition of Nuclear Weapons: A New Zealand Perspective. Wellington: Roger Steele, 1998.
IPPNW (NZ). Pathways to Peace: Key Nuclear and Peace Issues on the eve of the 50th Anniversary of Hiroshima. Wellington: IPPNW (NZ), 1994.
Gellert GA. Global health interdependence and the international physician's movement. JAMA 1990; 264: 610-3.
Lown B, Chazov EI. Physician responsibility in the nuclear age. JAMA 1995; 274: 416-9.
Dewes K, Green R. The World Court Project: How a citizen network can influence the United Nations. Pacific Review 1995; 7: 12-37.
Dewes K, Green R. Aotearoa / New Zealand at the World Court. Christchurch: Disarmament and Security Centre, 1999.
IPPNW (NZ) PO Box 1702 Wellington, New Zealand. Email:
nwilson@actrix.gen.nz