Author: Conrnelius Walegerea

The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, Her Excellency, Mrs Joy Kere visited the Solomons Gold –NZ Factory on Wednesday 15^th August 2018. The High Commissioner met with the General Manager, Mr Glen Yeatman and his staff and made a brief tour around the factory and was briefed on how the cacao beans are processed into chocolates.

The SOLOMONS GOLD – NZ Factory, a subsidiary of C-Corp NZ. The Solomons Gold Chocolate Manufacturing plant, is based in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, Northern Island. C-Corp Limited established its cocoa business in the Balasuna area, since 2006 and also receives its bean from out growers.  Since 2016, C-CORP is integrated in the supply chain, as a cocoa producer, processor and exporter. The Cacao beans are Organically Certified. C-Corp facility is based in Honiara, which receives cocao beans from the local farmers and graded to chocolate quality and exported to the facility in Tauranga.

High Commissioner Kere thanked the General Manager and the Company for having the confidence in Solomon Islands Cocoa and in this case had invested time and resources in working with our farmers. But also adding value to the Beans for export.

She further added, “Solomons Gold Chocolate, using the Organic beans from the Solomon Islands, is a positive example, which should and be replicated in different parts of Solomon Islands.  This is so that Solomon Islands farmers can benefit from value adding to their cocoa beans:”

Solomon Islands has the capacity or there is enormous potential to export its authentic and organic cocao beans to niche Overseas Market, such as with Solomons Gold- C Corp. Over the years, Farmers have been able to sustain the supply of organic cacao beans. Organic Certification is usually carried out by the Ministry of Primary Industry

Solomons Gold Chocolate are currently selling in 54 different outlet in New Zealand . New brands are continued to be manufactured, with the goal of producing ‘ bean to bar’ chocolate which is dairy, gluten and nut free, producing pure chocolate from totally natural ingredients.

HE, Mrs Joy Kere, SI High Commissioner to NZ and staff of the Solomons Gold Chocolate Factory, Tauranga, NZ.

 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF), Mr Craig Strong paid a courtesy call at the High Commission on Tuesday 14th August 2018 and met with Her Excellency, Mrs Joy Kere, the High Commissioner and Mr Cornelius Walegerea, the Minister Counselor. The CEO was accompanied by Mrs Linda Kaua, Programme Development Manager, PCF. Mrs Kaua is from Solomon Islands.

It was a fruitful meeting where CEO Craig outline the key strategic focus areas that the PCF will be undertaking in the next 3 -5 years under its strategic work plan. Mr Craig reiterated that as a Non -Governmental Organisation (NGO) focused on private sector and they mandated to help and support private sector growth and economic development in the Pacific.

Mr Craig also highlighted the work that PCF has done to help Pacific Island countries, for example, support internship for NZAID scholars in New Zealand and their focus is to that there is ensure quality placements for quality outcomes.

Mr Craig further reiterate it’s willingness to support and for PCF to be the Secretariat of Pacific Business Councils that Pacific Island countries have with New Zealand.

In her response, Her Excellency, the High Commissioner, Mrs Joy Kere welcome CEO Craig and Linda to the High Commission and acknowledge the work done by PCF. She call on PCF to reach out to help other Pacific Island countries like Solomon Islands. One of the ambitions that Solomon Islands want is to establish a Solomon Islands -New Zealand Business Council. This is a follow up from previous meetings that Solomon Islands have with the New Zealand Pacific Business Council, the New Zealand Pacific Business Council Trade Mission to Solomon Islands and the desire to strengthen the business relations and connections between both countries.

The High Commissioner also reiterate the importance of supporting the efforts made by Pacific Island countries in view of the implementation of the PACER Plus. Support to private sector growth is critical to fully realise the benefits that PACER Plus offers.

Mr Craig notes the call and is looking forward to working with Solomon Islands and as far as private sector is concern, working with the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industries to Solomon Islands businesses and connection with New Zealand and the region.

L-R, Mrs Linda Kaua, Programme Development Manager, PCF, HE, Mrs Joy Kere, SI High Commissioner to NZ, Mr Craig Strong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF). Photo at SI High Commission, Wellington, NZ.

 

 

 

 

Caption: L-R, Mr Cornelius Walegerea, Minister Counsellor (SIHC), Stella Lucas (SIVB, H.E Joy Kere, High Commissioner (SIHC) and Mr Jo Tuamoto (CEO-SIVB)

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB), Mr Jo Tuamoto visited the Solomon Islands High Commission on Thursday 22nd February. He was accompanied by Stella Lucas. Both met with the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, Her Excellency, Mrs Joy Kere and the Minister Counsellor, Mr Cornelius Walegerea.

Her Excellency, High Commissioner Kere welcome the CEO of SIVB and his staff and thanked them for availing their time to visit the High Commission after their programme in Auckland.

During the meeting, Her Excellency, provided a brief on the work of the High Commission on behalf of the Solomon Islands government in New Zealand and also the assistance provided by New Zealand to Solomon Islands under its bilateral aid programme. She stressed that New Zealand has contributed a lot in Solomon Islands and we do acknowledge their assistance. She echoed the assistance that New Zealand has provided in the Aviation Sector as one of the projects that has direct benefit in supporting tourism in the country and one that SIVB relates well with. High Commissioner Kere further adds, although the support by the New Zealand government for the Munda International Airport comes under the National led government, it is pleasing to note that there is no change by the new Labour led government in New Zealand. This is good news for Solomon Islands and the High Commission continue to work closely with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to follow up on the project.

Mr Jo acknowledge the High Commissioner for the warm welcome and provided a brief on the work that SIVB does in terms of its marketing and promotion strategies. While Solomon Islands faces huge challenge with other Pacific Island countries such as Fiji, Vanuatu and others as far as tourist destination is concern, Mr Jo stressed that for Solomon Islands, the strength is “we do have the niche market”. Other countries might have already exhausted all that they have and offer because they face the huge challenge in meeting the high demand. This prompted these countries to resort to cheap products which are not authentic.  However, in Solomon Islands, “the culture is still there, the products that we offer remain authentic and not artificial…we are working on other areas such as wedding occasions and to make weddings in the Solomon’s with a difference”, Mr Jo stated. 

It was a very productive meeting and the High Commissioner thanked the CEO for visiting the High Commission and inform that the High Commission continue to promote Solomon Islands in various events and activities in New Zealand. She also thanked CEO Jo for the SIVB brochures as this will certainly assist in promoting Solomon Islands as a tourist destination in New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, Her Excellency, Mrs Joy Kere acknowledge the Solomon Islands community in Wellington for their participation at the Annual Pasifika Festival organised by the Wellington City Council on Saturday 20th January 2018.

The Solomon Islands community joined other Pasifika communities in Wellington and put on an  incredible performance. The community sung two famous Solomon Islands folksongs, “wakabaoti lo China town” and “no matai u lafu lo mi” which drew other members of the public who knew the songs to singalong. The community also perform two cultural items. During the performance, it was pleasing to see young members (children) in the community took part.

Apart from the performance, the Solomon Islands community display cultural artifacts of Solomon Islands and brochures about the country. Visitors who flocked into the Solomon Islands community stall were impressed with the displays as it  promotes Solomon Islands.

High Commissioner Kere was pleased with the support shown by the Solomon Islands community in Wellington for their active participation and engagement in the event. “Such event promotes Solomon Islands in New Zealand and shows that Solomon Islands is also a member of the Pasifika community like any other Pacific Island countries and its people in New Zealand” said High Commissioner Kere. The event provides an opportunity for Solomon Islands to share and show with others it’s identity, tradition and culture through songs and dance.

The High Commissioner encourage the Solomon Islands community in Wellington as well as other Solomon Islands communities in other parts of New Zealand to continue to work together to promote Solomon Islands identity, culture and tradition through such events and to make Solomon Islands presence known and felt among other Pasifika communities and ethnic groups in New Zealand.

SI Community in Wellington performing on stage during the Pasifika Festival in Wellington, Saturday 20 January 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Glo Oxenham.