Editing Upolu (section)

===2024 HMNZS ''Manawanui'' sinking===
{{Main|HMNZS Manawanui (2019)#Sinking}}
On 5 October 2024 the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] ship [[HMNZS Manawanui (2019)|HMNZS ''Manawanui'']] ran aground and sunk off the coast of [[Siumu]] on the southern coast of Upolu. The ''Manawanui'' had been surveying a nearby reef and was caught up in a storm.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yee |first1=Isaac |title=New Zealand loses first naval ship since WWII; vessel threatening oil spill off Samoan coast |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/07/world/new-zealand-navy-ship-sinks-intl-hnk/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |date=7 October 2024 |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/111420 |title=NZ navy ship sinks, oil smell fills village air |work=Samoa Observer |author=Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |date=6 October 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024 |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007020258/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/111420 |url-status=live }}</ref> The sinking of the ''Manawanui'' polluted the surrounding sea and disrupted the livelihoods of local communities in the Safata district, who were unable to fish due to restrictions around the wreckage site.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duff |first1=Michelle |last2=Tupufia |first2=Lanuola |title=A sunken timebomb? Samoa fears long-lasting damage from wrecked New Zealand navy ship |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/19/a-sunken-timebomb-samoa-fears-long-lasting-damage-from-wrecked-new-zealand-navy-ship |access-date=20 October 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tinetali-Fiavaai |first1=Grace |title=Manawanui probe 'being done by the wrong people,' Samoan expert says |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/535236/manawanui-probe-being-done-by-the-wrong-people-samoan-expert-says |access-date=30 November 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=29 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129135036/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/535236/manawanui-probe-being-done-by-the-wrong-people-samoan-expert-says |archive-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> The Samoan and New Zealand authorities were criticised by local villagers for a lack of compensation and engagement with local communities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tinetali-Fiavaai |first1=Grace |title=Manawanui probe 'being done by the wrong people,' Samoan expert says |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/535236/manawanui-probe-being-done-by-the-wrong-people-samoan-expert-says |access-date=30 November 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=29 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129135036/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/535236/manawanui-probe-being-done-by-the-wrong-people-samoan-expert-says |archive-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> This led local villagers to seek financial assistance from the Chinese Embassy in [[Apia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tinetali-Fiavaai |first1=Grace |title=Samoa communities affected by Manawanui sinking seek support from China |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/541109/samoa-communities-affected-by-manawanui-sinking-seek-support-from-china |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=6 February 2025}}</ref>

On 12 February 2025 the Samoan Government lifted a "precautionary zone" around the wreckage of HMNZS ''Manawanui'' following testing by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS). However, a two [[kilometer|km]] prohibition zone around the sunken ship remained in force.<ref>{{cite news |title=Samoa govt removes precautionary zone around Manawanui disaster site |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/541647/samoa-govt-removes-precautionary-zone-around-manawanui-disaster-site |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=12 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212011800/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/541647/samoa-govt-removes-precautionary-zone-around-manawanui-disaster-site |archive-date=12 February 2025}}</ref>