A three-year-boy died of septic shock in a West Coast hospital after critical opportunities to save his life were missed by an on-call doctor and a nurse who shouldn't have been in sole charge of the children's ward that night.

The government has paid $6 million in compensation to Samoa, to mark one year since the grounding and sinking of HMNZS Manawanui.

A mother says she is in severe hardship as an increasing number of parents raise concerns about the system.