Paying homage to the legendary Rainbow Warrior

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Aaron Gray-Block

The Rainbow Warrior, on her first visit to New Zealand, sails in to Matauri Bay in Northland, where the original Rainbow Warrior, bombed by French secret agents in Auckland, rests on the seabed.

New Zealand’s Matauri Bay played host today to two Rainbow Warriors, the original and the current Warrior – one lying peacefully on the sea bed providing an artificial reef for sea life and the other a gleaming, eco-friendly environmental activist ship.

Captain Joel Stewart speaks onboard the Rainbow Warrior, during the protest vessel's first visit to New Zealand, as she visits Matauri Bay, Northland, January 9 2013, at the resting place of the original Rainbow Warrior, which was bombed by French secret service agents in Auckland in 1985. Ngati Kura, the guardians of the waters where the first Warrior lies, and Greenpeace crew, take part in a whakatau ceremony to welcome the ship.

The ship travelled to Matauri Bay to pay homage to the legend of the original Warrior which was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbour in 1985. Continue reading →

Our second night on the drillship

Posted on February 25, 2012 by admin

by Viv, a Greenpeace Activist on board Shell’s Arctic bound drill ship now in New Zealand.

We’re now reaching the end of our second day occupying the drill tower of Shell’s drillship the Noble Discoverer. There’s pretty spectacular 360 degree views from up here – we can see seals lolling on the beaches to the south and waves crashing against little islands to the west.

When we look straight down things ain’t quite so pretty. On my way up the drill tower yesterday morning i found myself thinking that this is by far the ugliest structure I’ve ever climbed, and the words ‘rust bucket’ have been on all of our lips more than once. It’s frightening to think they want to take this old thing into the pristine Arctic – let alone what they what to do with it when they get there. Continue reading →

Lucy Lawless joins Greenpeace action against Arctic oil drilling

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

by Nick Young, Greenpeace New Zealand.

Right now Greenpeace activists are stopping a Shell drill ship from leaving the Port of Taranaki in New Zealand for the Arctic.

Climbers – including actress Lucy Lawless -have scaled the rig’s drill derrick and set up camp, equipped with enough gear to last for days Continue reading →