New Zealand Compensates Samoa after Naval Ship Disaster

Fri Oct 10 2025 16:18:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In response to the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, New Zealand has paid Samoa 10 million Tala to address the environmental impact and assist affected communities.

New Zealand's government has transferred 10 million Samoan Tala (approximately NZD 6 million) to Samoa following the catastrophic sinking of HMNZS Manawanui last year. The naval ship, which was conducting underwater surveys, struck a reef, leading to an oil leak that harmed marine life and local ecosystems. New Zealand officials have pledged to continue assisting Samoa in addressing the aftermath, including environmental recovery efforts.

New Zealand's government has paid Samoa 10m Samoan Tala (NZD 6m; £2.6m) after one of its naval ships crashed into a reef in Samoan waters and sank last year.

HMNZS Manawanui started leaking oil into the ocean after it sank, with reports of sea turtles dying and slicks appearing on nearby Samoan beaches. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed the payment, stating it was made at Samoa's request.

HMNZS Manawanui was the first ship lost by New Zealand at sea since World War Two. It was surveying an area of seafloor that had not been mapped in decades when it ran aground, and all 75 people aboard were rescued just before it sank off the coast of the Samoan island Upolu.

Despite being seen billowing smoke as it descended, local officials indicated that not all fuel had been consumed, causing concerns about local marine wildlife. Following the grounding, efforts were made to remove diesel fuel and other pollutants from the site, while a New Zealand naval team worked on debris removal.

Peters emphasized New Zealand’s recognition of the impact the sinking has had on local communities and expressed ongoing commitment to work collaboratively with Samoa on future decisions regarding the incident. We are focused on minimizing potential environmental impacts and supporting recovery efforts, he added. An inquiry into the ship's sinking revealed a series of human errors, including a failure to disengage the ship's autopilot.

Amidst this, discussions arose on social media regarding the ship's female captain, with some attributing blame to her gender—comments that were subsequently denounced by New Zealand's defense minister, who labeled the critics as armchair admirals. Disciplinary proceedings are yet to be determined as the investigation concludes.