Right under the nose of a Royal New Zealand Navy warship, one of Auckland’s smallest but more noticeable islands was occupied and briefly claimed in the name of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Watchman Island, a small sandstone inlet alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge, is not owned by anybody although by common consent, is part of Ngati Whatua’s domain.

But yesterday, as one of the navy’s frigates headed up to high security arms dump at Kauri Point, a lone man on a kayak paddled out and raised the Red Flag.

The navy sailed on.

While the stunt attracted some attention from passing traffic, the longer term strategy went astray when the man and his flag disappeared into the hazy harbour.

In 2005 international shoe company Adidas caused an uproar when, without permission erected “Haka Man”, a piece of advertising advertising linked to the All Blacks.

A Ngati Whatua’s group leapt into action and when they found out Adidas was not willing to pay rental, they hauled down Haka Man, saying it was culturally offensive.

Watchman Island has developed an attraction for colourful stunts. Some years ago a nudist group briefly set up on Watchman, drawing police irritation over the fact that it was a distraction for motorists