Green MP questions Sāmoa shipwreck payout, warns peace declaration at risk

Green MP Teanau Tuiono is questioning whether the New Zealand government’s $6 million payout to Sāmoa is enough to address the damage caused by the grounding and sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui last October.

Speaking to PMN News, Tuiono highlighted the impact the incident has had on the livelihoods of people living within the Safata District coastline where the vessel sank and ran aground.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot of money but maybe it is,” Tuiono says.

“I would like to find out exactly how they came to that number because having a ship the size of Manawanui would create a lot of damage and possibly ongoing damage as well.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters announced that the government made the $6m payment (SAT$10m) following a request from the Sāmoan government.

Peters says it was the right thing to do and acknowledged the impact the sinking has had on local communities.

Teanau Tuiono has over 20 years experience as an activist, an advocate, and organiser at local, national, and international levels. Photo/Supplied

“We have responded to the Government of Sāmoa’s request in full and with good faith,” Peters says.

“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.”

A comprehensive Court of Inquiry into the causes of the incident has been concluded and considerable work to implement the recommendations is underway.

HMNZS Manawanui grounded and sank on 12 October 2024 off the Safata District coastline on the south side of Upolu, Sāmoa. Photo/NZDF

An inquiry summary released in April revealed shortcomings in the training and supervision of the crew and the Commanding Officer.

It was also revealed that the ship, which was in Sāmoa conducting hydrographic surveys of the reef ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, was not up for the job as neither the ship nor the crew were properly equipped.

Most recently, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) advises that the investigation is reaching its closing stages.

Tuiono says the government’s response to the sinking has been “sad” and “too slow”.

He says the incident could endanger New Zealand’s credibility in the region and raises concern over Defence Minister Judith Collins’ close alignment with the United States when it comes to military control.

“We should be listening more carefully to the Pacific Islands than we should to the likes of America… What we’re seeing more and more is that New Zealand is looking to be more lockstep with the United States.”

Watch underwater footage of the HMNZS Manawanui shortly after the sinking below.

He raises particular concerns following an announcement which sees support for New Zealand industry to deliver defence equipment and infrastructure. This is part of the 2025 Defence Capability Plan (DCP) which follows the government’s target to double defence spending in the next eight years starting with $12 billion of planned commitments in the first four years.

The Defence Industry Strategy which details how it’ll work with industry to deliver the DCP includes a number of actions including establishing a Technology Accelerator in which the NZDF will work with the advanced technology sector on military use technology.

“When the world around us is changing at such a pace, we need to change our approach to how we equip our Defence Force, and we need to work in partnership with industry to be better together. Not to do so would be irresponsible,” Collins says.

NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins (left) and Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles (right). Photo/Supplied

Tuiono says the plan could jeopardise New Zealand’s commitment to the Ocean of Peace declaration.

The declaration was signed last month during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Honiara which proposes that Pacific leaders adopt principles that “embed peace as the cornerstone of individual and collective policies”.

He says the declaration aims to demilitarise the Pacific and to get leaders to acknowledge the commitment.

“Making sure that weapons and militaries are put at bay because this is what we need to do to try to alleviate the geopolitical tensions which are becoming more and more turbulent around the world,” Tuiono says.

“We need to be able to organise ourselves to keep that out of the Pacific as much as we can, so I think that [the defence announcement] counters that [Ocean of Peace] declaration.”