New Zealand Compensates Samoa NZD 6m After HMNZS Manawanui Crash

New Zealand's government has paid 10 million Samoan Tala (approximately NZD 6 million) to Samoa after HMNZS Manawanui ran aground on a Samoan reef, caught fire, and sank a year ago.

When the survey vessel sank off Upolu island, it began leaking oil, prompting concerns over marine life, including sea turtles, and causing slicks to wash up on local beaches.

All 75 crew members were safely rescued, but diesel, oil, and other pollutants continued to seep from the wreck. A New Zealand naval team has since removed debris and extracted remaining fuel from the hull.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the payment was made at Samoa's request. "We recognise the impact the sinking has had on local communities and acknowledge the disruption it caused," he stated. "Minimising environmental impacts and supporting the response remain our absolute priorities."

Investigation and Next Steps

• An inquiry cited human error, including failure to disengage autopilot, as the root cause of the grounding.
• New Zealand Defence Force disciplinary proceedings are ongoing as the investigation concludes.
• New Zealand continues to coordinate with Samoa on decisions regarding the wreck's future.

The compensation underscores New Zealand’s commitment to address environmental damage and support Samoan communities affected by the naval vessel’s sinking.

This topic was reported by BBC News.

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