They arrived posing as Swiss honeymooners, PE teachers, environmental activists and French holidaymakers. They arrived in dribs and drabs in the middle of 1985, most by plane - but four by boat.
The yacht Oueva arrived in Parengarenga Harbour on June 22, carrying four Frenchmen, a Zodiac boat and specialised scuba breathing apparatus that released no tell-tale trail of bubbles.
The sail boat carried other materials to be used in an operation codenamed "Satanic". Hidden, probably in the bilge, was at least 25kg of explosives: more than sufficient to sink a boat - and more than enough to kill Fernando Pereira.
Two weeks after the secretive arrival of the Oueva, there was nothing low-key about the Rainbow Warrior's docking at Marsden Wharf, at the bottom of Queen St in downtown Auckland, on July 7.
Read Full Article »