The New Zealand parliament drilled into the Manawanui incident with the government claiming queries on compensation for Samoa would be premature and hypothetical at this stage.

The NZ Acting Defence Minister, Chris Penk delivered a ministerial statement at the Beehive on Tuesday as government response to HMNZS Manawanui sinking off the coast of Samoa. 

Penk said the government’s focus shifted to mitigiating any environmental impact assuring New Zealand and the people of Samoa that they will do everything they can. 

Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and former Minister of Defence Peeni Henare queried what contingencies was N.Z. considering for remuneration to Samoa and the total financial costs.

Penk replied it would be premature to speculate on what cost may accrue as a result of the incident. 

“Therefore it would be premature to answer the question that is purely hypothetical at this stage in terms of a quantum of such compensation or other redress of any other kind,” the Acting Defence Minister continued.

Green MP, Teanau Tuiono raised questions on what is being done to ensure the food basket for villagers in Samoa is taken care of to enable villagers to feed and support their families. 

Penk acknowledged the anxiety the member rightly pointed out concerning the Samoan community in New Zealand and those in Samoa. 

“We are doing everything that we can to understand the extent of any possible environmental impact and are doing everything that we can, including to arrange salvage,” Penk replied

Tuiono pressed on to ask about food security for Samoan people living on the coast and if there were any commitments to make sure the affected communities had food security. 

Penk said it's impossible to be specific about what such a commitment might entail adding the government was working with partners and friends in Samoa to understand, mitigate, reduce and ultimately remove any such threat to the economic and social wellbeing of the Samoan people. 

In response to queries on NZ’s commitment to remove the fuel tanks underwater, the Acting Defence Minister said the intention was to salvage as soon as it could be safely done.  

Other members raised questions about the aid provided for Samoa and most acknowledged the support and efforts from the people of Samoa who responded to the Manawanui incident. 

Penk said it seemed that the relationship between the people of New Zealand and Samoa was stronger than ever. 

"Obviously, we are doing everything in our power, both in a diplomatic sense but also in a people-to-people sense, to strengthen that further and to work closely with the people of that land to ensure that any possible damage as a result of this incident is mitigated and then, ultimately, reduced,” he said.