By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -The New Zealand government said on Monday it would pay the Samoan government 10 million Samoa tala ($3.51 million) following the sinking of a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel off the coast of Samoa in 2024.

Manawanui, the navy’s specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, ran aground near the southern coast of Upolu in October 2024 as it was conducting a reef survey. The ship’s crew abandoned the ship, which later capsized and sank. All 75 crew members survived. An initial inquiry into the grounding found it was caused by a series of human errors.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement the payment follows a request from the Government of Samoa.

“We recognise the impact the sinking has had on local communities and acknowledge th

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