Charges have been laid in the Court Martial of New Zealand in relation to the loss of Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui, off the coast of Samoa in October 2024.
Three naval officers have been charged with offences under the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971.
- An officer faces a charge of negligently causing a ship to be lost.
- A second officer faces a charge of negligently permitting a ship to be lost.
- A third officer faces a charge of negligently permitting a ship to be lost, or in the alternative, negligently failing to perform a duty. In addition, the third officer faces a charge of negligently failing to perform a duty.
No further information, including names of the accused, will be provided before the commencement of the Court Martial proceedings.
The date and location of a trial in the Court Martial are yet to be set; a further media advisory will be issued before the trial.
As these legal proceedings are underway, the New Zealand Defence Force will not be providing further comment before proceedings commence.
