New Zealand announced a payment of SAT$10 million (approximately NZ$6 million) to the Government of Samoa as compensation for damages done by the sinking of the Royal New Zealand Navy dive and hydrographic support vessel HMNZS Manawanui off the coast of the Safata district.

The announcement follows a request from the Government of Samoa, according to New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters.

“We have responded to the Government of Samoa’s request in full and with good faith. We have always said we will do the right thing,” said Vaovasamanaia.

He said New Zealand acknowledges the impact of the incident on local communities. “We recognise the impact the sinking has had on local communities and acknowledge the disruption it caused,” he said.

He added that both governments continue to cooperate on the next steps regarding the vessel and its environmental management. 

“Working with the Government of Samoa, our focus continues to be on minimising any possible environmental impacts and supporting the response. These are our absolute priorities,” he said.

The HMNZS Manawanui sank on 6 October 2024, during operations off the coast of Tafitoala in the Safata District.

The ship damaged more than 50,000 square metres of the reef and spilt more than 200,000 litres of diesel into the ocean causing a fishing ban that lasted more than five months.