WHEN it came down to a choice between the United States and New Zealand on defence co-operation, the cabinet of Bob Hawke found there was really no choice.
It was the US all the way.
The choice followed a decision by the new NZ Labour government to bar nuclear-powered and nuclear armed vessels in its territorial waters.
In practical terms that meant denying entry to US ships, given the American policy of refusing to confirm or deny the existence of nuclear weapons on board, even when clearly they were not.
The NZ policy was confirmed in February 1985 when permission for a port visit was denied to the destroyer USS Buchanan, abrogating the 1951 ANZUS treaty and its articles pledging mutual defence aid and co-operation.
Cabinet papers for 1984 and 1985, released by the National Archives of Australia, show the Hawke government was deeply concerned, but keen to make a public show of business as usual, stressing that ANZUS remained in effect and there were no moves to set it aside.
"Any doubts in Australia and countries in our region on the continuing validity for Australia of the key security undertakings of the Anzus Treaty should be actively countered," the papers said.
It blamed the problem squarely on New Zealand and said peacetime trilateral military interaction was in abeyance.
"Within the context of Anzus and as important as our defence relations with New Zealand are, those with the USA are of dominant significance for Australia's security and for the development of our defence capacity," cabinet said.
On that basis, Australia would continue defence co-operation with the US without NZ, substituting bilateral for trilateral activities where appropriate.
At the same time, Australia would safeguard the relationship with NZ, minimising any damage to the traditional affinity by continuing bilateral defence activities.
In some forums, Australia was prepared to represent New Zealand. Australia also would maintain active co-operation with its Tasman neighbour on intelligence, although that went only so far.
"Australia will not pass to New Zealand intelligence of United States origin that the USA denies New Zealand," it said.
The decision came at a time of growing global anti-nuclear sentiment, although NZ always had and still has a strong anti-nuclear constituency.
It wasn't about to back off, cementing its position in legislation. The US duly suspended its ANZUS obligations.
From this low point, defence relations between NZ and the US have steadily improved, although it's taken some time.
That culminated in June this year with the Washington Declaration. It doesn't renew the ANZUS obligations, but it does establish a basis for expanded defence co-operation.
It immediately manifested with NZ ships, aircraft and troops participating in the RIMPAC (rim of the Pacific) 2012 Exercise, the world's largest multinational maritime exercise, hosted by the US Navy on and around Hawaii.
It was the first time in 28 years New Zealand had taken part in a RIMPAC.
In practice, New Zealand's absence from ANZUS hasn't mattered that much.
Kiwi troops served alongside Australians in East Timor, benefiting equally from US logistical support and from the implied threat that US forces would intervene against Indonesia if needed.
Small numbers of NZ troops also have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Hawke government cabinet papers suggest Australia can take some credit for the ultimate improvement in NZ-US ties.
The key decision of March 1985 says the long-term aim should be restoration of normal trilateral relationships.
While avoiding the role of mediator, Australia should work with the US and New Zealand to ensure the dispute eased rather than worsened.
Where necessary, representations would be made in Washington to urge the US to adhere to its stated position of not taking punitive economic action against New Zealand.
"Australia should seek as appropriate to encourage its treaty partners to avoid making immoderate statements which might complicate and worsen difficult political situations," it said.
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