The cabinet has yet to make an affirmative decision on what is to become of the HMNZS Manawanui wreck despite the New Zealand government saying that Samoa wants the wreck to become a tourist site.

The only concrete thing that has happened since the New Zealand navy ship hit a reef off Tafitoala and sank last October is the lifting of the fishing restriction. People can now fish along the Safata coastline as the salvage company has rounded its work.

However, there is concern that the hazardous still remains on the ship that lies more than 30 metres below the sea.

Samoa Marine Advisory Committee chair Fui Tupai Mau Simanu told the media that there were 10 tanks that were very difficult to access but were able to get clearance and confirmation that there was no diesel or fuel remaining in those tanks.

"That was always the concern because it was very dangerous but finally after a bit of trial and error and having a good experience after working around the area for quite some time they were finally able to come up with a safe process to access those tanks and clear them," he said.

RNZ reported that New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins said she understood the Government of Samoa favoured the Manawanui being left on the reef and "they're working through how that might happen".

However, Fui Tupai Mau Simanu said there were three options before Samoa's Cabinet in a report.

"Hundred per cent removal, remove parts that could be considered to be a hazard or whatever, and leave bits that are too dangerous to move, and of course leave it there and just take out everything that can be taken out and just leave the skeleton of the structure.

"I've already said that there hasn't been a decision on that so the decision awaits when the report comes out and then we'll finally make public what the decision is."

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) confirmed salvors were removing weapons, ammunition and equipment, including a container crane, from on and around the wreck.

The ship was reported to be carrying 900,000 to 950,000 litres of diesel fuel when it hit the reef, and up to 200,000 litres was estimated to have leaked in the first week.

NZDF said more than 320,000 litres of diesel fuel mixed with seawater and another 45,000 litres of contaminated fuel have been safely salvaged from the wreck.

"There are approximately over 600,000 litres that's unaccountable for [sic], of which some of it was burnt, some of it was captured by our divers, and the remainder was released into um, in the environment," NZDF Group Captain Rob Shearer said.

However, there was no figure for the amount of fuel and pollutants that leaked into the environment.

"We can't estimate that because we simply can't, because we don't know how much was consumed in the fire. We know how much was roughly recovered by the divers but the remaining is - it would be an estimate," Group Captain Shearer said.

Waikato University Associate Professor in biodiversity and ecology, Nick Ling, said the discrepancy lies with not knowing how much fuel has leaked into the ocean and no ecological assessments have been released that show the environmental impact of the sinking.

"We can't assess where that oil has gone.

"Obviously when the ship first sank there was a fire which could have burnt some of the fuel and there were reports of fairly significant oil spills at the time, so one just has to wonder about the accuracy of that estimate that it was 200 tonnes that has been released.

The Manawanui's anchor is seen on the reef, with its chain causing damage as it sways with the currents. The Manawanui's anchor is seen on the reef, with its chain causing damage as it sways with the currents. Photo: Ministry of Works Transport and Infrastructure Samoa

"It could have been substantially more over the time that the ship has been on the bottom," Ling said.

"The thing that I'm mostly unhappy with in the response to date is that it doesn't sound like there's been alot of interaction with the locals and about how they feel about the progress and what the ultimate future holds for the wreck."

Concern has also been raised about how the New Zealand government and NZDF have responded to the sinking. Auckland University of Technology Law School Professor Paul Myburgh said both have downplayed how serious the situation was.

"If this incident had happened off the Great Barrier Reef of Australia would the New Zealand government's response be the same as it has been in respect to this incident in Samoa? I very much doubt it.

"Equally I very much doubt that Australia would allow us to get away with what we've been able to get away with thus far in Samoa," Professor Myburgh said.

"So, you know despite the New Zealand government saying that it treats all countries equally, I do think that there's a lack of transparency and there's a lack of information and I can understand why the villagers are very frustrated."

Professor Myburgh also pointed to Defence Minister Collins downplaying the situation.

"When she was interviewed initially and the villagers' concerns were put to her she described it as a trickle. Now 500,000 litres is nobody's definition of a trickle. This is a serious incident."

In response, Collins said she had "full confidence in the way the NZDF has responded to the initial sinking of, and fuel recovering from the HMNZS Manawanui."