An interim Court of Inquiry report into the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui off the coast of Tafitoala in October identified “human error” as the cause. The crew failed to switch off autopilot mode. 

The Navy vessel sank after running aground on a coral reef in Tafitoala before catching fire. All of the 75 crew members were safely rescued and have returned to New Zealand. 

It is also reported that salvaging work should start on December 16.

Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding launched a Court of Inquiry afterwards.

"The direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors which meant the ship's autopilot was not disengaged when it should have been," Golding told media in New Zealand.

"The crew did not realise Manawanui remained in autopilot and, as a consequence, mistakenly believed its failure to respond to direction changes was the result of a thruster control failure."

Golding added that "standard procedures" should have prompted the ship's crew to check the vessel was under manual control rather than autopilot.

"This check did not occur. Remaining on autopilot resulted in the ship maintaining a course toward land, until grounding and eventually stranding."

He said why this had happened and what would come next were still being worked on as part of the wider Court of Inquiry, expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.

A separate disciplinary process would commence after the Inquiry was over given the sinking was caused by human error, he said.

"To provide some immediate assurance, we have conducted a series of audits in the Fleet and looked to implement initial lessons identified from the interim report around training, risk management, and improving relevant orders, instructions and procedures."

The naval wreckage has impacted the livelihood of the Safata community disrupting food sources and income for the residents. 

Former Member of Parliament and senior matai of Safata Tuia Letoa said the district has written to the Cabinet and N.Z. High Commission raising concerns.

“It is a disaster to our shores and environment and New Zealand is responsible for remedying the concerns from the district,” said Tuia. 

The district’s concerns include the long-term effect on its marine environment denying them access to the natural resource and other benefits for their livelihoods. 

“The NZ government should take note that the oil spill is continuing and therefore the damage to our marine life is still happening and will undoubtedly have a long-term effect. We would appreciate regular updates on what measures carried out…”