How much longer NZs independent foreign policy?

On a number of occasions since 1984, people with a NZ passport have been able to justifably be proud of the fact that their country has stood up and acted independently. Unlike Australia, which is still caught up in the 'yellow peril' phobia of a white island in the middle of an Asia/Pacific sea, NZ has had the balls to say no to the US where they deserved it. Examples include being nuclear free, not joining other US stooge countries like Palau and Micronesia in backing Israeli aggression in the UN general assembly against overwhelming world opinion, and most significantly not invading Iraq and creating the chaotic mess that country is now.

However, serious questions are being raised about the new leader of the opposition who is currently leading the polls in NZ. A financial ideologue who oversaw the radical economic policies of the early 90's , he belongs fairly and squarely in the old 'white' conservatism of NZs past, which may yet rear its head. He has at best obfuscated on the question of readmitting nuclear ships to NZ waters and backing George W Bush in his wars, at worst he is saying one thing to powerful people in the US and keeping mum to the NZ public. Of this we can be certain, he has no personal enthusiasm for the independent foreign policy NZ has charted over the past 20 years. If he wins the election, how long will it take before NZ is following Australia into the Middle-East and making unnecessary enemies for ourselves? Is NZ's security best served by identifying itself as a vocal 'me-tooist' for Rumsfeld & Cheney and therefore a neo-colonial outpost, or are we trying to develop a genuinely 'Pacific' culture? It will be interesting to see whether NZ will take the mature, independent path in this election and vote against Brash.