Veterans of French nuclear testing at Mururoa in 1973 were not exposed to dangerous levels of radiation exposure, despite veterans' concerns, a new report has found.
The report by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) found the crews on HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury were in no more danger of radiation exposure than their families back in New Zealand.
The then Labour government sent the two ships on a protest voyage against nuclear testing at Mururoa in 1973 under an operation codenamed 'PILASTER'.
Monitoring was done on the vessels, the report said, and there was nothing to indicate either ship was exposed to significant radiation attributable to the weapon tests.
The HMNZS Otago crew was exposed to none, it said.