... But Not Over France’s New Heroes (Press, 3 December 1985)

In a report dated 3 December 1985, Karren Beanland, a former staff reporter for “The Press,” discusses the ongoing fallout from the incident involving Greenpeace and the French secret service, commonly referred to as “l’affaire Greenpeace.” Two French agents, Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, who are serving ten-year prison sentences in New Zealand for their involvement in the bombing of the Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, have become heroes in France, affectionately dubbed "les Turenges" after the fake Swiss identities they used to enter New Zealand. The French media has given the couple significant attention, celebrating their plight and broadcasting interviews from prison. This coverage raises eyebrows in New Zealand, as it appears to downplay the seriousness of the crime committed, which resulted in the death of an innocent person. The sympathy extended towards Prieur and Mafart seems rooted in the idea that they are scapegoats for higher-level decisions made by the French secret service, known as the D.G.S.E., which has a reputation for operational blunders. The incident has garnered intense media scrutiny in France, particularly after the extent of government involvement came to light. Initially, however, the bombing itself received little coverage, with many French publications downplaying the event. For instance, “Le Figaro” offered a brief report focusing predominantly on French denials of involvement. Only when the French government initiated inquiries did the story begin to dominate headlines, leading to a political scandal that influenced upcoming elections. Lange and Mitterrand's verbal confrontations punctuated the reporting and further heightened interest in the affair. Consequently, the narrative evolved into one of national embarrassment for France, leading to ministerial resignations and a shake-up within the secret service. Outside of the political sphere, the media’s fascination with New Zealand increased, often mischaracterising the country as an oddity in the South Pacific, focusing on light-hearted anecdotes about the nation’s demographics and cultural quirks. Reports included amusing takes on topics such as the newfound availability of condoms in New Zealand supermarkets and Lange's sharp remarks towards France. Despite this, French pride remained intact, as citizens seemed resistant to criticism of their country. Beanland notes that, although the situation has raised New Zealand’s profile in France, the underlying issues remain unchanged. Greenpeace is expected to continue its protests against French nuclear testing in the Pacific, and the relationships between New Zealand and France may continue to fluctuate. Public support for the nuclear tests in France persists, reflecting a disconnect between public opinion and the events triggering international tensions. In a European context, nuclear activity is perceived as a routine necessity, and the incident involving the Rainbow Warrior may ultimately have little long-term effect on those perspectives.

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