Passengers and crew from HMNZS Manawanui are being flown back to Auckland this evening aboard a Air Force C-130J Hercules.
Over the weekend, 75 people were rescued from the ship after it grounded on a reef in Samoa and sank shortly after.
The C-130J flew to Apia on Sunday evening. It was carrying medical and welfare personnel, as well as a dive team and with light clean-up equipment.
“It is returning tonight to RNZAF Base Auckland with 72 crew and passengers,” a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) spokesperson said in a statement.
“They will overnight at Defence facilities, have further de-briefings and be re-united with their families tomorrow afternoon. Three passengers from another agency will return to New Zealand tomorrow via a commercial flight.”
A second plane, a C-130H Hercules, which took freight to Samoa this morning, is also returning to New Zealand today.
A Court of Inquiry into the incident was in the process of being set up, the NZDF confirmed.
“All those who had been on board HMNZS Manawanui had been given food and support, and issued with supplies such as dry clothes, shoes and toiletries while they were accommodated in Apia.”
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding said the “full resources” of the Defence Force were being made available to support personnel with medical checks, debriefings, psychological support and welfare.
Some people had required medical treatment, he confirmed.
New Zealand’s response was focused on supporting the Samoan government to understand possible environmental impacts from the incident and reduce these as much as possible, with teams from across multiple agencies involved, Golding added.
“There are assessment teams with specialist skills from a range of agencies who are supporting this response.”
On Sunday, Acting Samoan Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio said an oil spill from the incident was “highly probable”, while locals are already reporting oil on the beaches after the incident.
