Nuclear dispute straining U.S. ties with New Zealand

State RSL President Billy Gaynor, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith and Former Chief Justice David Malcolm visit the State War Memorial in Kings Park on July 25, 2008 in Perth, Australia. Rice is in Australia as an invited guest of Smith. (Lee Griffiths - Pool, Getty Images) AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that a lingering nuclear dispute between the U.S. and New Zealand ought to be overcome to focus on a new era of cooperation. The issue is New Zealand's ban on nuclear-powered vessels and those carrying atomic arms. New Zealand's 23-year-old "nuclear free" status continues to restrain joint military activities with the United States. At a joint news conference in Auckland with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Rice noted joint... [read full story]