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Description:
Marsden Wharf
7/1985 after being sunk by French special agents of the DGSE.
Like most New Zealander's I felt real anger when I took these photos, as this was the first act of modern style terrorism in New Zealand's history and carried out by a major trading partner France ,a country NZ had fought alongside in two World Wars,
Rainbow Warrior was built 1955 as Sir William Hardy and became Greenpeace's first vessel in 1978.
10/7/1985 two limpet mines attached to hull exploded just before midnight and one person was killed when the ship sank, the ships photographer who was trying to retrieve his films and photographs.
Two French agents were later arrested, but the bulk of the team escaped in the yacht Ouvea and were picked up in the Tasman by the French Submarine Rubis and yacht was then scuttled..
Rainbow Warrior was raised 21/8/1985 and later scuttled at Matauri Bay,Northland.NZ 2/12/1987 as a diving attraction.
Soon after France stopped nuclear tests in the Pacific and long term this incident had little affect on NZ - France relations as French Naval ships are still regular visitors as they have been for over two hundred years.
Former name(s):
- Sir William Hardy (Until 1978)
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