Spike Milligan - Nuclear-free public service announcements

In these never-aired commercials, comic genius Spike Milligan urges New Zealanders to sign the Campaign Half Million petition against the introduction of nuclear power. Instead he advocates wind power while standing in breezy Wellington. The ads were never shown, though they did end up in a TV news story on the decision to ban them, thus gaining prime time exposure. The petition, organised for the Campaign for a Non-Nuclear Future, eventually gained 333,087 signatures, representing 10% of New Zealand's population at the time.

I wish I was a New Zealander. It’s a safe future man. I wouldn’t have to go wearing lead-lined underwear all the rest of my life you know. If I was a New Zealander I’d sign that petition. You don’t need nuclear fuel. See all this wind here? It’s going free.

– Spike Milligan

Key Cast & Crew

Raewyn Mackenzie

Producer

Spike Milligan

Presenter

Don Reynolds

Sound

Philip Alpers

Interviewer