Sailors to make Cook Islands stopover after 53 years

Nineteen veterans who observed France’s nuclear atmospheric testing at Mururoa Atoll in 1973 are finally traveling to the Cook Islands for one last tour of duty, after decades of delay. In 1973, two New Zealand frigates were sent to the Pacific to witness and protest the tests, exposing 500 sailors to radiation. Prime Minister Norman Kirk farewelled HMNZS Otago, while HMNZS Canterbury was redirected en route to Rarotonga and saw a French test from about 30 kilometres away in late July. Crew members described minimal protection, including a dosimeter, and a radiation alarm during a BBQ on the flight deck that was downplayed by superiors. The trip has had lasting consequences for many.