Safata families are set to receive the long-awaited $10 million Manawanui compensation payout before the end of this month, according to Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o.

According to earlier statements by the government, the payout should have been made a week ago. The compensation was paid by the New Zealand government for the damages done by the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui in October 2024. The money is already with the government and it is meant to be paid to residents of the Safata district.

Mulipola said cabinet-approved decisions are not in doubt and are now in the implementation phase led by government ministries.

“If it has returned to the cabinet and there is already a cabinet decision, then its implementation is not in doubt. The only thing left is for our ministry to carry it out,” she said.

She added that the Ministry of Finance is currently busy with the national budget planning work, but confirmed that this does not delay daily operations or the implementation of cabinet decisions, including the compensation payout.

“There are also several major projects or plans that have been released for implementation based on cabinet decisions. It is certain that before the end of April, these will be ready to be released,” Mulipola said.

The statement follows an earlier report on 8 April 2026, where confusion was raised over the $10 million Manawanui compensation payout, with conflicting accounts between government ministries and uncertainty reported by a Safata resident awaiting payment.

At the time, a Safata resident told the Samoa Observer he was directed between the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and the Ministry of Finance, with each office providing differing accounts on the status of the payout.

The resident said he was told by NEOC that documents had been sent to the Ministry of Finance, while the ministry reportedly denied receiving them. Officials had previously declined to provide a clear comment on the status of the process.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt had earlier stated that payments of approximately $1,100 per person would be distributed before the end of the month.

The Manawanui compensation relates to the sinking of the New Zealand naval vessel Manawanui two years ago, which resulted in diesel spills, reef damage, and impacts on local livelihoods. The New Zealand government announced a $10 million compensation package for affected Safata residents.

Residents who previously completed registration processes before Christmas and again in February have continued to seek clarity on the payout timeline.