Manawanui sinking
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It has been almost a year since the HMNZS Manawanui sunk off the southcoast of Upolu in Samoa.
But people living in affected coastal communities say their calls for fair compensation and the removal of the wreck continue to fall on deaf ears.
RNZ Pacific journalist Grace...
Apia, SAMOA — Communities in Samoa whose livelihoods have been impacted by maritime closures due to the sinking of a New Zealand navy vessel HMNZ Manawanui last year are seeking help from China.
This week, the Chinese embassy in Apia met with villagers in Safata district to discuss how Beijing can...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The New Zealand navy has begun recovering fuel and oil from its sunken hydrological ship, the HMNZS Manawanui, off the coast of Apia, Samoa.
And a court of inquiry into the ship’s sinking found that the crew failed to turn off the ship’s autopilot.
The NZ Navy’s senior...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Residents of Tafitoala confirm seeing the New Zealand Defense Force salvage barge to where HMNZS Manawanui lies in the waters off the southwest coast of Upolu.
The barge set sail for the location of the New Zealand naval ship on October 6.
The fuel tanks remain a concern...
Apia, SAMOA — The crew of the HMNZS Manawanui didn't realize autopilot was engaged as it crashed into a Samoan reef, a military Court of Inquiry has found.
New Zealand’s worst peacetime maritime accident occurred in October when the ship sunk off the coast in bad weather, with all 75 crew making it...
Apia, SAMOA — After an interim report found the sinking of the HMNS Manawanui was due to human error, Samoans say they are still looking for better answers on the environmental and economic costs of the disaster.
Details from the interim Court of Inquiry report concerning HMNZS Manawanui were...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Anger and frustration is growing in Samoa, with locals fearing for their livelihoods and food source after the HMNZS Manawanui sank off the coast of Upolu over the weekend.
Oil has reportedly been leaking from the New Zealand Navy survey ship which capsized after hitting...

![Taliilagi Mauava Tu'upo Toleafaoa Va'atausili (left) and elder Puleaga Visesio Patea Fatu say the Manawanui maritime disaster has destroyed their fishing grounds and they want the wreck removed from Tafitoala Reef. (August 2025) [photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii] Taliilagi Mauava Tu'upo Toleafaoa Va'atausili (left) and elder Puleaga Visesio Patea Fatu](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/village_elders.jpeg?itok=K8cIvCQY)
![Community leaders from the Safata District in Samoa met with staff from the Chinese Embassy in Apia. February 2025 [Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Tuia Pu'a Leota] Community leaders from the Safata District](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/safata_community_w_chinese.jpg?itok=PR2DEACL)
![“While the salvors’ fuel recovery work is progressing, our NZDF staff continue to support sea water sample collection and monitoring above and around the Manawanui,” NZ Navy Commodore Andrew Brown told the press. [courtesy photo] Diver on sunken ship](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/nz-ship-recovery.jpg?itok=jz6dJRpW)
![Salvage efforts are now underway for HMNZS Manawanui, which ran aground on a reef off the southern coast of Upolu on October 5, of this year. All 75 crew members and passengers were safely evacuated, with only minor injuries reported. However, the incident raised concerns about potential environmental impacts from fuel and other pollutants aboard the vessel. [photo: NZ Defense Force] HMNZS Manawanui salvage operation](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/manawanui_salvage_.jpeg?itok=mHR6ADCY)
![Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding ordered the probe, which found a 'series of human errors' behind the sinking. [photo: AAP] Diver on sunken ship](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/diver_on_sunken_ship.jpg?itok=3VzNw1vn)
![Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding and Defense Minister Judith Collins announce the findings of the Manawanui sinking report on Friday, November 29, 2024. [photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi] Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding and Defense Minister Judith Collins](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/announcing_manawanui_report_copy.jpg?itok=wCPoaYnO)
![Fish caught by a fisherman in Samoa is contaminated with oil. [photo: 1News] OILY FISH](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/oily_fish-caught-by-fisherman.jpeg?itok=R3EXlqSh)