Impact of HMNZS Manawanui oil leaks not a trickle but a disaster

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 19 October 2024 – A high chief of the Safata District, Tuia Paepae Pua Letoa has accused the New Zealand Government of downplaying the environmental impact of the HMNZS Manawanui sinking and demanded quicker action to resolve a potential environmental disaster.

At the district meeting on Friday, Tuia voiced his disappointment at the New Zealand Navy Commander who accompanied the New Zealand High Commissioner Si’alei Van Toor to meet the chiefs early in the week.

The Commander described the oil leaking from the vessel as “just a trickle” which angered the Safata residents.

“This is not just a trickle,” stated Tuia, “it’s a disaster.”

He warned the Commander that the word “trickle is not a good word to describe the impact of the leak to the district’s livelihood.”

Since the incident and the confirmation of diesel “slowly leaking from three locations of the vessel,” the district has banned fishing.

One of the largest mangrove conservation areas is located in the Safata district and there are fears of potential damage to the marine life should the 900 plus tonnes of diesel oil still in the vessels’ tanks find its way out into the ocean.

“This is our livelihood already affected by the oil leak; it also affects our tourism and the districts’ economic lifeline,” said Tuia.

RNZN Naval Divers on the scene above HMNZS Manawanui, off the Southern Coast Of Upolu. Photo/NZDF

Call for an independent investigation
The district called its two Members of Parliament – Cabinet Minister Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell, and Opposition MP, Leaana Ronnie Posini to the Friday meeting.

The district chiefs asked both MPs about the Government’s stance on this issue. They both agreed that the matter is serious and action needs to be taken urgently.

The district leaders are wary of the investigation into the incident and reported leaking oil being conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force and Navy with information passed down to the Samoan Government agencies.

The district believes New Zealand cannot and should not lead the investigation into their “own mess”.

“We will not believe any report or information if New Zealand continues to investigate it,” said Tuia.

The district is also questioning what the vessel was doing at their area and why it traveled so close inland hence their refusal to accept New Zealand’s investigation.

Safata Opposition MP, Leaana Ronnie Posini during the district meeting.

Clean up and prevention work on hold for a week
Meanwhile, work to prevent widespread pollution from the sunken vessel will be scaled down for the whole of next week during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

The Head of the Commonwealth, His Majesty King Charles 11 and Queen Camilla are staying at a resort across from the area where the vessel sank.

According to the New Zealand Defence Force, efforts to recover three containers from the ship that have ended up on the reef in the waters south of Upolu were due to get underway in the weekend if the weather permits.

A NZDF statement said two containers were empty and the third one had around three tonnes of food inside and their movement by the tides had incurred damage to the reef.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa assured the Safata district that the Government is monitoring the situation closely.

She confirmed that based on the New Zealand navy investigation that there is fuel leaking from the vessels pipes and divers from the NZ navy are working to lessen the leakage.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Lealaisalanoa Frances Reupena also confirmed the leak.

She believes that if the vessel remains longer at its current location, the next best option for New Zealand is to remove the oil from the vessels’ tanks.

A New Zealand Navy diver on the sunk HMNZS Manawanui off the south western coast of Upolu Island. Photo/NZDF.