Solomon Islands PM concludes visit to NZ, strengthens education and fisheries alliance

The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, has concluded his visit to New Zealand, reaffirming shared commitments to education, fisheries, and regional collaboration.

Manele, who last visited New Zealand in his former capacity as Foreign Minister in 2022, met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who highlighted the importance of the visit.

“Prime Minister Manele’s visit this week reinforces the deep ties between our two nations stretching back over 150 years,” Luxon says.

“We discussed the work we are doing together to grow Solomon Islands economy, and PM Manele’s plans for the Pacific Islands Forum, which he will host next month,” Luxon says.

Luxon also announced that New Zealand will continue its support for the Solomon Islands’ education and fisheries sectors over the next 10 years.

According to the latest Census, over 900 Solomon Islanders call New Zealand home, with a median age of 24.8 compared to the national average of 38.1.

Jeremiah Manele meets with NZ PM Christopher Luxon. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

Last year, more than 1000 Solomon Islanders participated in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, which supports New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries.

Over half of these workers were born overseas and hold post-school qualifications.

The Solomon Islands will host the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in September, when leaders from PIF’s 18-member countries will discuss collective responses to regional issues.

NZ Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters with Jeremiah Manele. They discussed: -Priority issues facing the Pacific Islands region - Solomon Islands’ hosting of this year’s Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and Bilateral cooperation between NZ and Solomon Islands. Photo/Supplied

Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to supporting the development of countries like the Solomon Islands.

“Our continued commitments to Solomon Islands’ education and fisheries sectors will build upon the hard-earned progress made to date for the mutual benefit of both our countries,” Peters says.

Manele also met with Fisheries Minister Shane Jones, who announced last year almost $50 million in funding as part of a package aimed at supporting sustainable fisheries development in the Pacific.

Over 80 per cent of the Solomon Islands’ population relies on marine resources as their primary source of protein. Coastal fisheries are critical for food security and household income, especially in rural areas.

Watch highlights from this year's Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency summit held in Honiara

“Fisheries are vital to the Pacific, the main source of revenue by far for some countries, and New Zealand has long supported their success,” Jones says.

“New Zealand is promoting increased regional co-operation to counter changing patterns attributed to climate change, which will force a large proportion of tuna stocks out of the exclusive economic zones of some Pacific countries that rely on the catch for revenue.”