HMNZS Manawanui
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A retired law professor who has sat on military court panels believes the charges laid in relation to the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui are unprecedented.
The Navy ship sank in October 2024 off the coast of Samoa after hitting a reef, spilling hundreds of thousands of...
Apia, SAMOA — (December 22, 2025) After more than a year of waiting for compensation following the sinking of the New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui off the southern coast of Upolu, Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt has confirmed that the New Zealand Government’s 10...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Concerns are being raised that the New Zealand government has shortchanged Samoa since HMNZS Manawanui sank off the south coast of Upolu last year.
Letters released under the Official Information Act show the Samoa government has agreed it will not seek further...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Christian Lloyd, who led the Royal New Zealand Navy diving contingent in Samoa in the aftermath of the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, is being recognized with a Chief of Defense Force commendation for his actions in dangerous and challenging conditions.
The Hutt Valley man...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Compensation for communities affected by the grounding of the New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui will be confirmed once the national budget is passed, the Samoan government says.
Monday marked one year since the Manawanui ran aground and sank off the south coast of...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Samoa government has paid $6 million in compensation to Samoa, to mark one year since the grounding and sinking of HMNZS Manawanui.
On 6 October, 2024, the vessel ran aground on a reef off the South Coast of Upolu, and then sank.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said...
Apia, SAMOA — The New Zealand Defense Force is now into the second stage for removal of fuel and other pollutants from sunken ship HMNZS Manawanui off Samoa.
HMNZS Manawanui, which originally sank after striking a reef south of Upolu in October last year, has required ongoing efforts from the NZDF...
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND — The final cost of salvaging the HMNZS Manawanui could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on what happens with the wreck.
Salvors in Samoa are currently taking fuel off the sunken vessel — at least some of the bill is paid for by the equivalent of third...
Apia, SAMOA — A considerable milestone in response to the grounding and sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, with fuel recovery now underway.
Senior National Representative for Operation Resolution, Commodore Andrew Brown, said the weather had been kind and it was all go on the barge.
“I can report the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A recent update from the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) confirms the arrival of the salvage barge off the south-west coast of Upolu, Samoa for the sunken HMNZS Manawanui.
Commodore Andrew Brown, NZDF’s Senior National Representative for Operation Resolution, provided...


![The sunken New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui off the southern coast of Upolu. [photo: NZDF] Sunken HMNZS Manawanui](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/sunken_manawanui_nzdf_jpg_0.jpg?itok=OKXjU2oD)
![Diesel fuel slicking out from the wreck of the HMNZS Manawanui, in late 2024, after the navy shift grounded on a reef near the village of Tafitoala in Samoa. Photo: Ministry of Works Transport and Infrastructure Samoa [file photo] HMNZS Manawanui oil slick](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/diesel_fuel_from_manawanui.jpeg?itok=DxiJQHuo)


![The navy vessel ran aground on a reef off the south coast of Upolu and then sank a year ago. [SN file photo] Manawanui sinking](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/manawanui_sinking_copy_0.jpg?itok=Ve4PNCO7)
![The second cycle in the removal of fuel and other pollutants from the HMNZS Manawanui is well underway, with the salvors making excellent progress bringing the tanktainers to shore in favorable weather conditions – according to the NZDF. [Photo: NZDF] Removed pollutants from the HMNZS Manawanui](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fuel_removal.jpeg?itok=tpBDtESK)

![A salvage barge has been securely moored above the wreck of Navy ship Manawanui in Samoa, with fuel recovery beginning. [courtesy photo] HMNZS Manawanui salvage operation](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hmnzs_manawanui_fuel_recovery.png?itok=wE1b-dS4)
