Why nuclear power is unsuitable

The Green Party does not support the use of nuclear power because:

1. There is still no safe and long term way to dispose of the waste. All the high level waste produced so far is in storage, and has to be constantly monitored and cooled. Low-level waste has been disposed of in developing countries where they can be persuaded to accept it for a small payment.
2. Uranium mining, transport and processing is hazardous itself. Miners are exposed to radioactive materials; wastes are produced from mining and processing; transport risks spills sabotage and accidents.
3. Uranium is a finite fuel which will not greatly outlast oil if it is used widely. Even at present rates of use economically accessible deposits are not expected to last beyond this century. NZ would be entirely dependent on imported fuel.
4. Nuclear plants are very large and the NZ generation system is too small to provide sufficient backup for plants of this size. All generation plant needs to be shut down from time to time for maintenance or in an emergency. Shutting down a plant this size in our small system would impose huge strain on the system.
5. A huge investment would be required in safety, radiation monitoring, transport vehicles, armed guards and other infrastructure, which we do not currently have. This would make nuclear power very expensive here.
6. Nuclear power stations are prime targets for terrorists.
   

Read what Roy Hemmingway, Chair of the Electricity Commission, has to say about why nuclear power is unsuitable for New Zealand