[Archive 2006-08-07] TVNZ allowed to show Rainbow Warrior court footage

Historical archive — originally published 2006-08-07. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has today won a legal battle in which they will now be able to broadcast footage of two French spies pleading guilty to manslaughter in relation to the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

The two French spies, Alan Mafart and Dominique Prieur, have been fighting TVNZ to keep it from broadcasting footage where they are shown pleading guilty of manslaughter for the killing of freelance photographer Fernando Pereira during the 1985 bombing of Rainbow Warrior.

TVNZ had originally wanted to broadcast the footage on its Sunday 20-year anniversary special on the July 10, 1985 bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Damien Comerford, executive producer of TVNZ's Sunday programme, said "The footage is hugely significant."

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