10 January 2005
NZ First Calls For Release Of Chemical Documents
New Zealand First has called on the Government to release all official documents relating to the export of Ivor Watkins
Dow chemicals that could have been used to manufacture the defoliant agent orange.
Defence spokesperson Ron Mark says it has been proved that New Zealand soldiers who served in Vietnam came in contact
with the defoliant and it is important to ascertain if they were affected by chemicals made in their own country.
“It should be very simple to find out whether chemicals manufactured in New Zealand were exported to United States
facilities to create agent orange.
“There should be some very clear papers trails leading from the company office in New Plymouth through customs and in
various freight documents that should still be available.”
Mr Mark says there should also be cabinet records of the years 1965-72 when the chemicals were manufactured and exported
under the National government of the time.
“There has always been a strong suspicion that a company in New Zealand helped make agent orange and we need to confirm
this one way or the other.
“Successive National and Labour governments have failed to look at this sorry chapter in our history and it is time they
re-opened the old files and explained what really happened,” said Mr Mark.
ENDS