Solomon Islands MPs raise accountability concerns, seek reforms inspired by NZ’s system

Members of Parliament from the Solomon Islands visiting New Zealand have raised concerns that delayed reporting and limited funding hinder government accountability in their country.

They believe New Zealand’s system offers important lessons for reform.

Parliamentarians Lazarus Alfred Rina and George Temahua state that they face challenges in holding government agencies accountable, including inadequate funding, delays in reporting, and structural barriers in their oversight systems.

The pair visited New Zealand earlier this month as part of the Tai a Kiwa programme, which aims to strengthen parliamentary accountability and transparency throughout the Pacific region.

Speaking to PMN News, Temahua noted significant differences between the Solomon Islands’ approach to governance and New Zealand’s structured system.

“Our Parliament in the Solomons, we don't have a calendar year, whereas in New Zealand, they have a calendar year. The Parliament is programmed according to their schedules.”

Delegation from the Solomon Islands who were hosted by NZ Parliament. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

During their visit, the MPs observed New Zealand’s Parliament's Scrutiny Week, where they attended select committee hearings, met with committee members and parliamentary staff, and discussed the scrutiny processes and their outcomes.

Scrutiny Weeks, introduced in the 2023 Standing Orders, are held in June and December and provide select committees with more time to examine the Government’s Budget plans and assess how public entities have used allocated funds, aiming to strengthen parliamentary oversight.

Rina explains the differences between the scrutiny processes in New Zealand and the Solomons.

“They scrutinise each government department, but back in our country, Solomon Islands, we only scrutinise the PAs, the permanent secretary, and the CE and all the senior staff within the ministry, not the minister.”

Temahua also pointed out the difficulties posed by time constraints during scrutiny sessions in both countries.

Temahua says limited funding and judicial constraints impact their committee’s effectiveness.

"It will come down to our judiciary system as well. Sometimes our committee lacks funding to really do what we're supposed to do.

“So these are some of the factors that can affect our committee in getting our job done properly.”

Rina echoed these sentiments, highlighting the severe delays in receiving timely reports from ministries.

"Reporting is one area that is lacking in my country. We find it very, very hard to collect the report on time. It's always delayed.

“Since the year 2019, we haven't received any report up until now. So my committee as a new chairman, we want to see that the report is on time.”

Solomon Islands delegation at NZ Parliament. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

The MPs’ visit coincided with heightened regional focus following New Zealand's recent decision to pause development funding to the Cook Islands due to an agreement with China.

Temahua expressed confidence in the lasting relationship between the Solomon Islands and New Zealand.

“We share one ocean, and New Zealand is our big brother as well, and Australia, for that matter.

“We are brothers, we share a common ocean and as long as we want to see development in our country.

“And China is also one of our new brothers, we say, is also assisting us in many ways. So we are friends to all, enemies to none.”