Rainbow Warrior Memorial, Northland

In regions of French Polynesia, France tested nuclear weapons throughout the 1960s and 1980s. Greenpeace's ship, the Rainbow Warrior, was routinely docked in New Zealand as part of its protests against the testing. In 1985, two French agents boarded the ship while it was docked in Auckland Harbour and blew it up. Portuguese-Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira was killed in the second of two explosions.

France, a close ally of New Zealand, initially denied any involvement, but the French operatives engaged were recognized by the New Zealand Police. Two were sentenced to ten years in prison, but France threatened to impose an economic blockade on New Zealand unless they were allowed to return. The bombing was criticized by New Zealand as a violation of international law, and it soured relations between the two countries for many years.

The Rainbow Warrior's wreck was transported from Auckland to Matauri Bay, near the Cavalli Islands, in December 1987. Now, only divers can visit the wreck itself, but an attractive memorial made by artist Chris Booth stands at Matauri Bay.

Location: 1727 Matauri Bay Road, Matauri Bay 0478, New Zealand