8 Jul 2010

Whangarei exhibition marks Rainbow Warrior sinking

4:05 pm on 8 July 2010

An exhibition has opened in Whangarei marking the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

The Greenpeace flagship was sunk in Auckland on 10 July 1985 by French secret service agents, who had spent time in Northland planning the attack.

They were caught and convicted of the manslaughter of Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, who died on board.

Greenpeace New Zealand chief executive Bunny McDiarmid says the bombing marked a turning point in New Zealand's history, leading directly to the passing of nuclear-free legislation.

The Rainbow Warrior exhibition at the Whangarei Art Museum features photgraphs taken by the artist Gil Hanly, including images of the trials not seen since 1985.