The villages in the Safata district are unaware that the ocean surrounding them is contaminated with diesel, a piece of vital information that has been held back.

Until now, none of the villages know why the fishing prohibition was not lifted when the HMNNZS Manawanui sank more than two months ago. This means that 5,000 people impacted by the prohibition have been deprived of their livelihood, fishing.

Daily samples of seawater collected from the Safata District show that it is contaminated with diesel. This was confirmed by the Chairman of the Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (M.P.A.C.), Fui Mau Simanu.

“The test results of the seawater collected show the presence of peaks consistent with those found in the diesel samples from the Manawanui wreck,” said Fui.

“Tests are ongoing to ensure continuous monitoring efforts in the affected area.”

The affected area covers the whole of Safata coast, a community of more than 5000 people who have not been able to fish since the prohibition was announced. According to the Chairman, the prohibition order in Safata will be in place until the continuous tests confirm the zero presence of diesel and other pollutants from Manawanui.

There is no definite timeline given as to when the fishing prohibition will be lifted. This means that families who have relied on the sea for food and income are looking at uncertainty. The impact of this is very serious.

The presence of diesel in the water means that marine life including the giant clam conservation site in Tafitoala has been impacted. This would also mean that diesel has made its way to the mangroves in the area.

It is also sad that no government leader has visited the villages or has held talks with the matai from the district. Many of the leaders who should have been meeting and coming up with a relief strategy had been away overseas. They have to consider the welfare of the people who have been impacted by the diesel spill and the continued fishing prohibition.

How will the government help the people of the Safata district? The answer to this will only be found if the government leaders go down to these villages and see firsthand how the lives of these people have changed.

Ironically, the New Zealand Defence Force and the New Zealand government have not said much about the contamination. Their famous line is that the diesel leak is minimal and since it is a light fluid most of it would evaporate or be carried out to sea by the currents. Guess what? That has not happened.

The navy ship that struck a reef and continues to leak diesel belongs to New Zealand. We now know that it was no accident but human error. This makes the New Zealand government responsible for the damage to the reef, the contamination of the ocean and the socio-economic impact on the lives of the people in the Safata district.

The Kiwi prime minister Christopher Luxon also made no efforts to meet with the impacted villages and have a personal look at what the navy ship had done when he was here in October. Instead, he told the media in an interview that the issue of compensation would be a government-to-government discussion.

The government had remained tightlipped when asked to make submissions for the citizenship bill. It gives a feeling that they would also remain tightlipped about this because of the aid money that is being pumped in by New Zealand.

This situation requires the government to rally for justice for its people and the damage done to the environment. The government had known about this situation for more than a month and yet nothing has been done.

The government is for the people. It is time to do your job and serve the people.