New Zealand has paid the Government of Samoa 10 million Samoan tālā, equivalent to about NZD 6 million or roughly USD 3.6 million, as compensation for the loss of the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui.
The payment comes one year after the ship ran aground on a reef off the Safata District in Samoa and later sank. All 75 passengers and crew survived the incident.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the payment was made “in full and with good faith” following a formal request from Samoa. “We have always said we will do the right thing. We recognise the impact the sinking has had on local communities and acknowledge the disruption it caused,” he stated.
According to Peters, both governments continue discussions “around the ship and its future,” with attention to limiting environmental effects. A Court of Inquiry into the grounding has concluded, and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said it is working to implement the report’s recommendations. The NZDF added that possible disciplinary proceedings are still under consideration but nearing completion.
The payment follows months of appeals from affected villages along Upolu’s southern coast and bilateral talks over compensation since early 2025. The wreck remains on the reef as authorities determine the next steps. Budget papers recorded a NZD 77 million write-off for the Manawanui and an additional NZD 32 million in clean-up and salvage costs.
To maintain operational capability, the Navy has begun a NZD 35 million reactivation of HMNZS Otago, though it does not perform Manawanui’s specialised diving and hydrographic roles.
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), responsible for protecting New Zealand’s territorial waters, conducting maritime security operations, and supporting international and humanitarian missions. It operates under the Ministry of Defence and reports to the Chief of Defence Force.
