Three naval officers face charges over sinking of HMNZS Manawanui

Monday, 2 March 2026

Charges have been laid in relation to the loss of Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui, off the coast of Samoa in October 2024.

Three naval officers face a court martial, charged with offences under the Armed Forces Discipline Act.

One officer faces a charge of negligently causing a ship to be lost, the NZ Defence Force said in a statement late on Monday afternoon.

A second officer faces a charge of negligently permitting a ship to be lost.

A third officer faces a charge of negligently permitting a ship to be lost, or in the alternative, negligently failing to perform a duty. The third officer also faces a charge of negligently failing to perform a duty.

The date and location of the trial are yet to be set. The NZ Defence Force said it would not comment before legal proceedings begin.

The Manawanui, a $103 million dive and survey vessel acquired by defence in 2019, ran aground on a reef off the south coast of Upolu and then sank on October 6, 2024. Former Defence Minister Judith Collins said last year that it will not be replaced, as dive and survey work is not Defence’s “main job”.

The Government has paid $6 million to Samoa's government as compensation following the sinking.

A report from a court of inquiry released in April 2025 found the ship's crew was undertrained and the vessel was not up to the task.