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Samoans still waiting for compensation more than a year after Manawanui sinking
More than a year after the HMNZS 'Manawanui' sank off the south coast of Samoa's island of Upolu, affected locals have yet to be compensated. A compensation payment from the New Zealand government to the Samoa government of SAT$10 million - about NZ$6m - made in May, has also raised concerns over the process in Samoa. Fagailesau Afaaso Junior Saleupu, a matai of the village, has been helping co-ordinate the Tafitoala compensation claim to the government of Samoa and New Zealand High Commission over the incident. The wreckage continued to cause problems for families who have long depended on the ocean for sustenance and income. When the ship ran into the reef, a five kilometre precautionary zone was placed around the wreck, preventing locals from fishing and using the waters in front of their homes. After five months, the exclusion zone was reduced to two kilometres, which has remained in place ever since. Even after more than a year, much of the regular marine life was missing. Seasonal fish like igaga and lupo, and sea cucumbers had been scarce, which had significantly affected families who sold seafood often at roadside stalls along the coast. The SAT$10 million compensation payment was requested by Samoa's Ministry of Foreign of Affairs and Trade. Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa made a formal request for the money to New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters in May. Peters agreed and the exchange of letters between the leaders facilitated the "immediate" payment of the SAT$10 million. Seven months after the transaction, locals from the villages most affected by the Manawanui wreckage remained unsure about what has happened with the money. The compensation amount was only disclosed publicly in October when the New Zealand government announced it at the one-year anniversary of the wreckage. Delays in compensation could have been due to a change in government, after Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt took over from Fiame in September following the general election. Fiame has signed off on what was recommended by her officials, and did not have access to the relevant files to look at.
New Zealand government agreed to pay compensation
New Zealand’s government said on Oct 5 that it had agreed to pay 10 million Samoan tala ($3.6 million) in compensation to Samoa’s government, a year after the 'Manawanui' sank about 1.6 kilometers off the coast of Upolu, Samoa’s second largest island. The payment followed a request from the Government of Samoa, recognising the impact the sinking has had on local communities and acknowledge the disruption it caused. New Zealand continues to work with Samoa on decisions around the ship and its future, focusing on minimising any possible environmental impacts and supporting the response.
Replacement ship for Manawanui will return to service in 2026
In the wake of the sinking of the 'Manawanui' off Samoa, the NZ Navy is spending $35 million to start up the HMNZS 'Otago', which has been laid up up at the Devonport Naval base since 2022 when the navy ran too short of personnel to operate it. Getting the offshore patrol vessel seaworthy again will take until the middle of2026, followed by tests, before it can go back into service. The reactivation involves significant engineering work to replace obsolete systems and restore operational readiness,. That included overhauling the engines and putting in a new water ballast treatment system. The costs are being paid out of baseline funding. New funding was not requested from the government. The ship must achieve an "Operational Class Certification" through the Lloyd's Register before it can sail again. The 'Manawanui' was listed as a $77m write-off in the last Budget, on top of $32m spent on clean-up and salvage, though the wreck itself remained underwater on the reef off the Samoan island of Upolu. Despite the $35m overhaul, the 'Otago' will not be able to take on the 'Manawanui's specialist dive and hydrographic tasks. It will instead do fishery patrols, border protection work, and research and supply, and provide a presence in the Pacific.
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