There was strong opposition across the Pacific when the French resumed nuclear testing at Moruroa Atoll in 1995. A meeting of the South Pacific Forum in September 1995 expressed ‘extreme outrage’ at the tests and decided to send a delegation to the French president. Environment ministers across the Pacific had sent a joint communication opposing French nuclear testing to the International Atomic Energy Agency In August. There was also a strong community response from Pacific nations, with opposition mobilised through the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific movement.
In addition to taking part in pan-Pacific action, the National government sent a naval vessel, Tui, to support a flotilla of protest yachts that travelled to the testing site. Prime Minister Jim Bolger is shown here boarding Tui in Auckland, as did Helen Clark, leader of the opposition. National and Labour members of Parliament travelled to the test site on Tui, which provided water, medical support and fuel to the protesters.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Reference: ACZ 0077
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