A significant incident occurred as the HMNZS Manawanui, a $63 million naval vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy, sank after running aground near Samoa. All 75 crew members and passengers onboard were safely rescued following the ship's grounding and subsequent fire. The vessel struck a reef during a surveying mission and its sinking raises concerns over the ecological impact on the local marine environment. This incident marks the first loss of a New Zealand naval ship to the sea since World War II.