Children play in Rainbow Warrior

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 7

Children play in Rainbow Warrior

PA Auckland The bombed Rainbow Warrior has become a dangerous playground for children as it sits at Auckland’s Western Viaduct waiting to be sunk. Greenpeace is worried that its former flagship could see another life lost on board.

The ship was bombed seven months ago by French secret agents in Auckland harbour. A crew member, Fernando Pereira, died in the blast. “People are visiting the ship in hordes,” said a Greenpeace spokesperson, Ms Carol Stewart.

“The ship is in a dangerous condition right now and I’d hate to see someone squashed or drowned,” she said. Last week-end children were found playing on the ship and using its doors as gangplanks to climb aboard.

Greenpeace efforts to seal the ship are hampered by vandals who steal padlocks and chains and jemmy doors off their hinges.

The ship has been stripped and is just a shell with large holes in its interior floor-plating and rusting guard rails.

“We’re at a loss as to why people still, want to go on board; the place still smells of rotting food,” said Ms Stewart. It is not yet known when the ship will be sunk at Matauri Bay as the Government has not decided whether it will be needed for a public inquiry. Greenpeace is still receiving offers from organisations; wanting to keep the ship on land.

The latest comes from Heritage Park, but Greenpeace’s policy has not changed. Meanwhile, its Antarctic ship, the Greenpeace, could add to the confusion on Auckland harbour this Saturday when it arrives during the start of the Whitbread Round-the-World yacht race.

Ms Stewart said it was hoped the oceangoing tug would delay its arrival until Sunday.