from the previous year, "French Letter" reflected Herbs' strong connections to political activism, particularly in relation to the Pacific.

[8] When asked about the background of the song, Dilworth Karaka described seeing the impact of the tests on whānau from Tahiti and the Cook Islands who would get sick and have to come to New Zealand for medical treatment.

[10] The testing was widely opposed by the New Zealand public for moral and environmental reasons, a sentiment which was tapped into and brought to a greater audience by French Letter.

[2] In contrast to the reception in New Zealand, the song and its staunch anti-nuclear stance led to it being banned in all French territories.

[13] The video was produced in conjunction with Greenpeace New Zealand as part of their campaign for banning nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

[5] The song was credited for increasing awareness of nuclear testing as part of a campaign that led to the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in 1987.