Latest news with #NewZealandNavy
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Working closely with India on defence, security issues: New Zealand Deputy PM
In the current era of 'great uncertainty', New Zealand has started working 'more closely' with India in the fields of defence and security, said Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand in New Delhi on Friday (May 30, 2025). Speaking at an event, Mr. Peters gave an overview of his country's foreign policy, and said that freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region is 'crucial' for New Zealand. Editorial | Navigating differences: On India-New Zealand ties 'During a time of great uncertainty, instability and disorder, we have taken steps to work more closely on matters of defence and security with India. A recently signed Defence Cooperation Arrangement will facilitate closer links between our militaries,' Mr. Peters said, speaking at a fireside chat organised by the Ananta Aspen Centre. Security cooperation Mr. Peters, who was among the global leaders who had joined India in condoling the loss of lives in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, said that security cooperation between the two sides is increasing. 'The New Zealand Navy is leading Combined Task Force 150, charged with securing trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden,' he added. To deal with the uncertain and unpredictable conditions in the fields of security and economy, New Zealand has 'reset' its foreign policy and is 'significantly increasing' its 'focus and resources' on south and southeast Asia, Mr. Peters said. Describing India as a 'geopolitical giant', he said that India has emerged as an 'indispensable security actor in both regional and global spheres. In the prevailing international circumstances, he argued in favour of giving space to diplomacy saying, 'We need more diplomacy, more engagement, more compromise.' 'Small states matter' 'Since war and instability is everyone's calamity, diplomacy is the business of us all. We have observed that at this moment in time the ability to talk with, rather than at, each other has never been more needed,' Mr. Peters said, arguing in favour of safeguarding rights of countries like New Zealand that he described as a 'small state'. He described New Zealand's foreign policy reset as the outcome of three pillars: the realism of the New Zealand government's foreign policy, importance of diplomacy in the troubled world, and New Zealand's 'unshakeable belief that small states matter and that all states are equal.' Freedom of navigation Mr Peters, who held an official-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday (May 29, 2025), described the maritime interests of his country unambiguously and said New Zealand is 'self-evidently' a maritime nation that regards freedom of navigation as 'crucial' both for itself and for India. Mr. Peters is the second high-level leader from New Zealand to visit India in three months. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited India during March 16-20, when the two sides announced the launch of a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). Deputy Foreign Minister Peters described the launch of FTA negotiations as a 'breakthrough' in bilateral India-New Zealand economic relations. Mr Peters also met with the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and discussed 'democratic systems and recent developments in both countries'.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Samoan Villagers Still Fearful Of Contaminated Fish Near Manawanui Wreck
Article – RNZ The New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground on the reef off the south coast of Upolu in early October 2024 before catching fire and sinking. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist People living close to where the Manawanui sank in Samoa are still concerned about fish being poisoned from pollutants, despite the country's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee deeming it safe to collect seafood. Fagailesau Afaaso Junior Saleupu, who lives in Tafitoala village which right next to where the Manawanui sank, said people are still scared to eat fish collected close to the wreck. 'In my village where the Manawanui is grounding, people hardly go for fishing at the moment, the reason why, because they are really suspicious of getting any fish poison,' he said. The Manawanui ran aground on the reef off the south coast of Upolu in early October 2024 before catching fire and sinking. The New Zealand Navy has removed diesel, oil and other pollutants from the ship. Samoa's government has also removed a 20-kilometre squared precautionary zone on 12 February which advised against fishing in the area. Samoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) chairman Fui Tupai Mau Simanu said that it was removed following tests by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, which confirmed it was fine to fish in the area. Fui said an impact assessment had also been carried out by MPAC, while another ongoing independent assessment is happening now which is expected to be completed at the end of June. 'The two reports will be the foundation of the decision making moving forward.' He also said MPAC runs routine monthly tests as part of the monitoring programme. However, Fagailesau said people are still worried and there's not the same number of fish as there was before. 'There are some other sea animals that we always use to make food and sell, until now we never see that again.' Fagailesau said the community is still waiting to hear from the Samoan government on financial compensation. 'From the time that the Manawanui grounding, for our village there's beach fales, all the guests cancel.' Fui said that people who lost income due to the Manawanui sinking would have an opportunity to apply for financial compensation. 'Discussions of compensation are going on at the moment. A separate committee has been appointed by Government to handle this,' he said. There's still a 2km prohibitive area around the Manawanui. Fui said the government is having a community engagement on 10 June.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Samoan Villagers Still Fearful Of Contaminated Fish Near Manawanui Wreck
The New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground on the reef off the south coast of Upolu in early October 2024 before catching fire and sinking. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist People living close to where the Manawanui sank in Samoa are still concerned about fish being poisoned from pollutants, despite the country's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee deeming it safe to collect seafood. Fagailesau Afaaso Junior Saleupu, who lives in Tafitoala village which right next to where the Manawanui sank, said people are still scared to eat fish collected close to the wreck. 'In my village where the Manawanui is grounding, people hardly go for fishing at the moment, the reason why, because they are really suspicious of getting any fish poison,' he said. The Manawanui ran aground on the reef off the south coast of Upolu in early October 2024 before catching fire and sinking. The New Zealand Navy has removed diesel, oil and other pollutants from the ship. Samoa's government has also removed a 20-kilometre squared precautionary zone on 12 February which advised against fishing in the area. Samoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) chairman Fui Tupai Mau Simanu said that it was removed following tests by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, which confirmed it was fine to fish in the area. Fui said an impact assessment had also been carried out by MPAC, while another ongoing independent assessment is happening now which is expected to be completed at the end of June. 'The two reports will be the foundation of the decision making moving forward.' He also said MPAC runs routine monthly tests as part of the monitoring programme. However, Fagailesau said people are still worried and there's not the same number of fish as there was before. 'There are some other sea animals that we always use to make food and sell, until now we never see that again.' Fagailesau said the community is still waiting to hear from the Samoan government on financial compensation. 'From the time that the Manawanui grounding, for our village there's beach fales, all the guests cancel.' Fui said that people who lost income due to the Manawanui sinking would have an opportunity to apply for financial compensation. 'Discussions of compensation are going on at the moment. A separate committee has been appointed by Government to handle this,' he said. There's still a 2km prohibitive area around the Manawanui. Fui said the government is having a community engagement on 10 June.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Zealand navy ship sank due to 'series of human errors', inquiry says
SYDNEY (Reuters) - A Royal New Zealand Navy vessel that ran aground and sank off the coast of Samoa last year was doomed by several errors, a government inquiry found on Friday, highlighting inadequate training of crew and poor leadership. A final court of inquiry report said that the crew did not identify risks related to the survey task carried out by the ship and that the supervision was not adequate. "The direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors," the report said. The Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, grounded on a reef on the southern side of Samoa in October while conducting survey operations. All 75 crew members survived. An interim report released in November said the crew did not realise the ship remained on autopilot and consequently thought its failure to respond to control inputs was the result of a thruster failure. The final report confirmed those findings. New Zealand Navy Chief Garin Golding said the report "highlighted a gap between work as imagined and work as done", with a series of issues compounding the direct cause. Golding said the navy had already begun implementing some recommendations in the report, while others would take more time. Defence Minister Judith Collins told reporters that the government would release "very soon" the country's defence capability plans, but did not give a timeframe on when it would happen. The country's national security strategy in 2023 said the government needed to spend more money on its military as its armed forces struggle with ageing equipment and a shortage of manpower. Plans to increase spending on defence, which is less that 1% of GDP, are expected to come with the release of the defence capability plan.
