New Zealand’s Navy lost its first ship since World War II after the HMNZS Manawanui sank on a reef off the coast of Samoa on Sunday creating a potential environmental disaster in waters used for fishing and tourism.

New Zealand will hold a court of inquiry into the loss of the ship, which was one of nine in its navy. The cause of the disaster is not known.

A New Zealand Navy ship has sunk off the coast of Samoa - the first time they have lost a ship since World War Two - with the Defence Force working to “minimise the environmental impacts”. HMNZS Manawanui was conducting a tropical reef survey when it came into trouble approximately one nautical mile from the island of Upolu on Saturday night,