aotearoa – Solomon Islands High Commission

January 17, 2024January 17, 2024

High Commissioner Tangirongo congratulates Sogavare for achieving full term as PM.

11.01.24 CARETAKER Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has received a courtesy call from the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, His Excellency (HE) Eliam Tangirongo on Tuesday morning.

HE Tangirongo used the opportunity to congratulate the caretaker Prime Minister on achieving a full four-year term in government and for successfully hosting the 17th Pacific Games.

He assured the caretaker Prime Minister that he will continue to serve the Solomon Islands diplomatic mission in New Zealand with due diligence.

Caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare, in turn, acknowledged God for his leading hand in navigating the country through the tough times.

He expressed that the future of Solomon Islands is bright, given the support offered by both traditional and new bilateral partners.

Caretaker Prime Minister Sogavare wished HE Tangirongo all the best as he will return to New Zealand to continue manning the Solomon Islands diplomatic mission there.

(PM’S PRESS SECRETARIAT/SOLSTAR)

December 1, 2023

Solomon Islands Participate at the 2023 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting in Vanuatu

Solomon Islands participated at the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 20-25 November 2023 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The Solomon Islands delegation was led by His Excellency, Robert Sisilo, the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia.

A two days’ workshop and 3 different labour mobility related meetings were held over the five days conference, to give an opportunity for all 10 Countries participating in the Australia and New Zealand Labour Mobility Schemes, as well as all key stakeholders across the region, to come together to discuss issues on Labour Mobility and find collective commitments to address issues affecting pacific workers, approved employers, and governments of receiving and sending countries.

Discussions on the PLMAM 2023 focused more on sustainable Reintegration approaches featuring dialogues on economic, social, and psychological reintegration, regional initiatives and learning best practices from ASEAN guidelines.

Solomon Islands acknowledged the ongoing support from Australia and New Zealand governments on implementation of the RSE and PALM scheme to reach the 2023 milestone targets and committed to supporting employers to meet worker demands.

Accompanying the Solomon Islands High Commissioner were officers from the Department of External Trade and Labour Mobility Unit, National Development Division/Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority as well as an officer from the Solomon Islands High Commission in New Zealand and Solomon Islands Country Liaison officer in Australia.

MFAET PRESS

November 2, 2023

2023 Melanesian Festival Aotearoa a Success

21.10.23 Communities in Aotearoa New Zealand gathered on Waitemata Rugby Club Grounds in Auckland, to celebrate their Melanesian identity.

Inaugurated in 2022, the Melanesian Festival Aotearoa is an opportunity for community members from Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu to celebrate their heritage as well as showcase their respective cultural performances, cuisines, while actively engaging with the wider community. The day’s festival included a line-up of vocal artists from Melanesia; amongst them were Fiakal, Stegga Boi and DJ Baka Solomon from the Solomon Islands.

Key sponsors for the 2023 Festival were Creative New Zealand and Pacifica Arts Centre.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand – H.E. Eliam Tangirongo – commended sponsors and organizers in his key address during the official opening ceremony, reinforcing the increasing need for similar cultural platforms for Melanesians in Aotearoa.

As a minority group in Aotearoa, the Melanesian diaspora has struggled to make their voices heard in political spaces. High Commissioner acknowledged the work of Melanesian advocates in Aotearoa, and urged them to keep the solidarity with the Tangata Whenua, Pasifika and other minorities that need their support. His Excellency expressed his pride in the Melanesian diaspora for their resilience, perseverance, and robust sense of community; urging them to continue to keep the spirit of Melanesia alive in Aotearoa.

The Melanesia Festival Aotearoa is envisaged to be held annually, and anticipated to grow in the coming years as more Melanesians settle, study, work and participate in seasonal labour in New Zealand.

The High Commission congratulates leadership from the Solomon Islands Auckland Wantoks Association, President Florie Dausabea, Vice-president Lazarus Loloselo and all members for hosting a successful Festival.

August 8, 2023August 8, 2023

Solomon Islands at the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) Annual Conference 2023

Horticulture New Zealand hosted the annual RSE Conference in Christchurch from the 1^st to the 2^nd of August.

The 16^th RSE Annual Conference brought together the Pacific and RSE employers to share learnings and discuss the future of the scheme. Speakers included Pacific representatives, government officials, RSE employers and workers.

Solomon Islands delegates to the RSE Conference were led by His Excellency Eliam Tangirongo (High Commissioner to New Zealand), and included Christina Maoma (Research Officer, LMU) Simon Kere (Marketing Officer, LMU), and June Rofeta Maenu’u (Second Secretary, Solomon Islands High Commission in New Zealand).

Delegates spoke at segments of the conference – specifically on strategy updates, cultural competency and at the closing panel for the conference.

For Solomon Islands, the conference was an opportunity for delegates to converse with employers, market its workers and establish a relationship with potential new employers. LMU and the High Commission of Solomon Islands in New Zealand aim to strengthen trust with employers, improve processes, and ensure consistent engagement amongst all stakeholders.

Given that there are currently 2000 in the Labour Mobility Unit’s (LMU’s) work ready pool – and an additional 16,000 applications for both the NZ and Australian seasonal labour schemes this year alone – there is an urgent need to increase numbers in NZ’s RSE Scheme and is a priority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade.

Following the conference, delegates visited Solomon Islanders working under the RSE Scheme in Nelson and Blenheim.