of Raoul Island, at an elevation of about , above the cliffs of Fleetwood Bluff. It is the northernmost inhabited outpost of New Zealand. Nuclear testing proposals In 1955, the British Government required a large site remote from population centres to test the new thermonuclear devices it was developing. Various islands in the South Pacific and Southern Oceans were considered, along with Antarctica. The Admiralty suggested the Antipodes Islands may be suitable. In May 1955, the Minister for Defence, Selwyn Lloyd, on advice from the Admiralty report, concluded that the Kermadec Islands would be suitable. As the island group are part of New Zealand, Anthony Eden who had recently become the Prime Minister of the UK wrote to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Sidney Holland, to ask for permission to use the islands. Holland refused, fearing an adverse public reaction in the upcoming 1957 general election in New Zealand. Despite reassurances and pressure from the British government, Holland remained firm. Geography The islands lie within 29° to 31.5° south latitude and 178° to 179° west longitude, northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga. The total area of the islands is . Climate The climate of the islands is subtropical, with a mean monthly temperature of in February and in August. Rainfall is approximately annually, with lower rainfall from October to January. Islands The group includes four main islands as well as some isolated rocks. These are: Raoul Island or Sunday Island is by far the largest of the islands. It lies south-southwest of 'Ata, the southernmost island of Tonga, and north-northeast of New Zealand. Raoul Island has an area of with numerous smaller satellite islands; its highest point, Moumoukai peak, is high Macauley Island, the second largest, is located south-southwest of Raoul Island. Together with neighbouring Haszard Island, its area is . Macdonald Rock is about north of Macauley Island. Curtis Island, the third largest, lies south-southwest of Macauley Island. It reaches a height of and has an area of with neighbouring Cheeseman Island. Nugent Island is the northernmost island. It is approximately across. L'Esperance Rock, formerly French Rock, is south-southwest of Curtis Island. It is in diameter, in area, and high. L'Havre Rock, about north-northwest of L'Esperance Rock, is submerged except at low tide. Seamounts north and south of the Kermadec Islands are an extension of the ridge running from Tonga to