Kōrero: Pacific Islands and New Zealand

Opposing French nuclear testing, 1995

Opposing French nuclear testing, 1995

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 sent a delegation to the French president. In August environment ministers across the Pacific had sent a joint communication opposing French nuclear testing to the International Atomic Energy Agency. 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 navy ship, the Tui, to support a flotilla of protest yachts that travelled to the testing site. Prime Minister Jim Bolger is shown here boarding the Tui in Auckland, as did Helen Clark, leader of the opposition. National and Labour members of Parliament travelled to the test site on the Tui, which provided water, medical support and fuel to the protesters and their vessels.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

RNZN Museum
Reference: ACZ 0077

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Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Jon Fraenkel, 'Pacific Islands and New Zealand - New Zealand and the Pacific', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/36847/opposing-french-nuclear-testing-1995 (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Jon Fraenkel, i tāngia i te 20 Jun 2012