A New Zealand naval ship that sank after smashing into a coral reef in the South Pacific was left on autopilot, an inquiry has found.

A New Zealand naval ship that struck a coral reef before catching fire and sinking last month, marking the country's first naval loss since World War II, was mistakenly left on autopilot. Crew members of the HMNZS Manawanui,

A New Zealand naval ship which crashed into a coral reef before it caught fire and sank had been left on autopilot, an official inquiry has found. Crew members of the HMNZS Manawanui had thought the ship was under manual control while sailing in Samoan waters.