On 10 July, 1985, Greenpeace’s flagship Rainbow Warrior was purposely sunk while docked at Auckland harbour. Just before midnight dual explosions punctured the ship’s hull, claiming the life of Greenpeace crew member Fernando Pereira. It was later found that French Secret Service agents had planted explosives on the boat. The act of espionage by the French government was in response to Greenpeace's intentions to interfere in a nuclear test in the Pacific.

Anti-nuclear sentiment in New Zealand ran high in the 1980s, and New Zealand's nuclear-free zone as enacted in 1987 is still intact today.

This file, created at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris, is a formerly secret record opened in 2007 by MFAT, as it does not contain any classified material. The thick file consists of mail from mainly French individuals to the Ambassador and Prime Minister David Lange between July and December 1985; mostly in sympathy and support.

The letter featured above was received by the Embassy in Paris on 28 November 1985, and consists of paper pasted on to card as a collage, with hand drawn pictures and annotations. It discusses French nuclear power, testing in Mururoa Atoll, and the French government’s involvement in the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.

Archives Reference: ABHS 22310 W5631 Box74/ 44/6/1 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22444656

For further enquiries please email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz

For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ

Caption information from NZ History: www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/nuclear-free-new-zealand/ra...