Details released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet reveal New Zealand officials have been considering involvement in AUKUS from the outset. At the time, New Zealand’s non-involvement was put down to the pact’s central purpose of supplying nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “We weren’t approached, nor would I expect us to be.” It wasn’t until March 2023 that possible “non-nuclear”