'Will Take Time': Manawanui's Fate Still To Be Decided

Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 5:27 pm
Article: RNZ

Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific Bulletin Editor
Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin Editor

Samoa's Ministry of Works, Transport, and Infrastructure chief executive says the final fate of the sunken Manawanui is still to be decided.

The New Zealand Navy vessel sank off the coast of Upolu in October last year, with a report into the grounding finding the crew were undertrained and the boat was not up to the task it was doing.

Fui Tupa'i Simanu said in a statement that the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation is conducting an independent report on the wreck.

"Once that report is tabled, further decisions will be made," he said, adding "that includes the final decision on the wreck."

A report on the incident released last month found that the crew and commanding officer were undertrained, the boat was not up to the task it was doing, and the person in charge of the ship was distracted.

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A local surf guide, Manu Percival, who operates near the shipwreck, told RNZ Pacific that he was shocked and disappointed at the findings.

Percival said it was simply not good enough.

"That is absolutely shocking that they had inadequately trained crew members and they went on a boat. I cannot believe how stupid that is," he said.

"New Zealand has had so many disasters throughout history, and learned from it, and then to come over here [Samoa] and not practice what they practice in New Zealand is just stupid.

"What were they doing? Showing off? Looks like they just show off."

Percival suggested the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) give him a call about compensation for the impact on Samoans.

However, Fui said there are ongoing discussions on compensation.

What was HMNZS Manawanui doing before it sank? Calls for greater transparency

The NZDF said earlier this week that it has completed work to retrieve important equipment, weapons, ammunition and some debris from in and around the shipwreck.

In a statement on Monday, Commodore Andrew Brown said it is an important milestone which follows the successful removal of diesel fuel, oil and other pollutants from the ship.

He said all the equipment, weapons and the ammunition have now been returned to New Zealand and much of the scrap metal debris has gone to be repurposed locally.

The rest of the debris, along with tanktainers of unusable diesel fuel, pollutants, and oil mix, will return to New Zealand on the salvors' barge for safe disposal.

"Every effort has been taken to leave the Manawanui as safe and secure as possible, until a decision is reached on next steps for the ship and the work required for that," Brown said.

"With our focus on the next steps for Manawanui, reef and environmental studies are progressing to inform and sit alongside the independent wreck assessment.

"These will take time, but will provide essential expert advice, to inform government decisions."

A core group of NZDF personnel remains in Samoa for support, and the Samoan government's prohibited area of two kilometres around the Manawanui remains.

Dive site idea is 'bullshit'

Meanwhile, Percival is completely against turning the Manawanui wreck into a dive site.

There were three options Samoa's Cabinet was set to consider, including potentially leaving the wreck on the reef.

Percival wanted that option ruled out.

"It is a wild ocean," he said. "Diving does not work, but nah, it is just like it should not be there. Should get rid of it.

"Keeping it there as a shipwreck? That is bullshit."

He added that not only would dive operations not be a viable business due to cost, New Zealand had a responsibility to fully remove the ship.

RNZ Pacific has spoken with two other locals who shared similar views, but said they were too scared to go on record out of fear of repercussions.

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