Skip to content

New Zealand Disasters

Rainbow Warrior Bombing

When: 10 July, 1985

AucklandWhere: Waitemata Harbour, Auckland

What happened

  • The Rainbow Warrior was the flagship of the international environmental organisation, Greenpeace. It was visiting Auckland for a while before leading a fleet of vessels to Muroroa Atoll to protest against the French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
  • Just before midnight on 10 July, 1985, two explosions rocked the harbour, sinking the 40-metre Rainbow Warrior. Underwater charges had been placed by frogmen on her hull, blowing two holes in the ship.
  • The Rainbow Warrior sank almost immediately. All the crew managed to escape, apart from the photographer, Fernando Pereira, who drowned.

The police investigation:

  • On the night of the explosions, a man was seen wearing scuba diving gear and in an inflatable dinghy. After coming ashore and tying up the dinghy, he drove away in a van. Members of a local boating club became suspicious and took note of the registration number of the vehicle.
  • The police were able to trace the van through a hire firm to a Swiss couple using the name "Turenge". Within 30 hours of the bombing the "Turenges" were interviewed by the police, and then charged.
  • In the meantime forestry workers had reported a suspicious meeting between occupants of the van and a station wagon, which was later linked to a charter yacht, the Ouvea.
  • Warrants were issued for the crew of the yacht Ouvea, which had been used to bring the explosives and other equipment into New Zealand, but no trace of the yacht or crew could be found.

How many died: 1

Other events and outcomes

  • A month after the bombing it was revealed that the "Turenges" were Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, agents of the French Secret Service , the Direction Generale de la Securité Exterieure (DSGE).
  • Police later discovered that up to 11 French agents had entered New Zealand as part of the Rainbow Warrior operation.
  • A French report came out admitting that French agents had been in New Zealand, but denied they had carried out the bombing.
  • This report resulted in so much outcry that the French Prime Minister admitted that French agents had been responsible. He claimed that because they were members of the military and had acted under orders, they could not be held responsible for their actions.
  • On 4 November, 1985, Mafart and Prieur appeared in an Auckland court where they pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and wilful damage and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
  • Pressure was put on New Zealand by the French government, including threats to impose sanctions against New Zealand produce.
  • The United Nations Secretary-General agreed to mediate between the two countries, and decided that Mafart and Prieur should be removed to Hao Atoll in French Polynesia, to stay there for the next three years. France was to apologise to New Zealand and pay $13 million in compensation.
  • After renewed pressure from France, including threats to work against NZ trade access to the European Economic Community, the two agents left Hao Atoll before the three years was up, and returned to France.
  • The Rainbow Warrior was refloated but could not be repaired. It was towed from Auckland and scuttled near the Cavalli Islands, off the Northland coast, to become an artificial reef for marine life.
  • The Rainbow Warrior bombing was the first time an act of international state-sponsored terrorism had been committed in New Zealand waters.

Sources

More information