In the latter half of the 20th century, New Zealand’s foreign policy towards Cambodia was defined by its commitment to two regional; Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). New Zealand’s commitment to SEATO reflected its ongoing allegiance to the United States, and willing to follow American policy in relation to the Asia region. This alliance saw New Zealand contribute troops to the American during the Cold War conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. Therefore as a consequence of a series of political shifts, the United States, along with other members of the SEATO alliance, they ended up supporting and protecting the Khmer Rouge.
During Vietnam invaded Cambodia which forcing the Khmer Rouge hid into places, the Khmer Rouge gained the political support of China, the US and other western nations, including New Zealand. On one hand, New Zealand supported the ASEAN policy of recognizing the Khmer Rouge as the legitimate representatives of Cambodia until 1982, WHen the Khmer Rouge became part of a winder anti-Vietnamese coalition. On the other hand, the documents show that New Zealand’s political leaders were unhappy to support the Khmer Rouge and adamant that the Khmer Rouge should not be returned to power in Cambodia.
During the years of the Khmer Rouge, hundreds of thousands of Cambodian refugees fled across the border to Thailand. From 1979, New Zealand was part of an international response to the Cambodian refugee crisis in Thailand. Between 1979 and 1994, New Zealand accepted over 4600 Cambodian Refugee. In 2006, almost 7000 Cambodian refugee family members came in New Zealand.
Kerry Hamill who was a New Zealander was sailed with two men from the hippie era of love and freedom into Year Zero. An Englishman John Dewhirst and Kerry were seized and tortured in S-21 for two months. After signing confessions taken under duress that admitted CIA affiliations, they executed. The other Canadian Stuart Glass was shot and killed when the boat was captured which some people say he was the lucky one because the torture methods were seriously cruelty.