Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands and New Zealand share a deep and distinctive partnership, underpinned by long-standing and consistent engagement, and mutual respect. 

Our Statement of Partnership, signed in 2019, sets out the strategic direction for the relationship and high-level principles under which we work. These include respect for each other’s sovereign rights, friendship and understanding, collective ambition and mutual benefit, and sustainability.

New Zealand is committed to being a valued and values-based partner to Solomon Islands through economic, social development and security initiatives, as well as frequent high-level political engagements.

Development cooperation and sustainability

Solomon Islands is categorised as a Least Developed Country (LDC) by the United Nations (UN). Its graduation was delayed to December 2027.

New Zealand’s development cooperation programme with Solomon Islands is one of our largest. Our partnership focuses on building state capability for Solomon Islands to deliver to all of its people, strengthening social and economic resilience, and enabling sustainable management of natural resources.

Other key sectors include education and youth development, fisheries, infrastructure, resilience to climate change, and humanitarian and disaster response.

The latest information on our development cooperation activities, including activity details and descriptions, start and end dates, geographic and sectoral focus, expenditure figures, is available at DevData(external link).

Defence and security

New Zealand has been a steadfast partner to Solomon Islands through both peaceful times and domestic instability and we share a long-standing peace and security partnership.

New Zealand and other allied troops fought in the bloody Solomon Islands campaign of World War II from January 1942 to August 1945.

Solomon Islands experienced further instability between 1998 and 2003 in a period of internal violent conflict known as ‘The Tensions’. Many New Zealanders were deployed during the 14-year multinational Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), to support stabilisation of the economy and government, and re-establish law and order.

Following unrest in 2021, Solomon Islands requested a Pacific security response led by Australia under those two countries’ Bilateral Security Treaty. New Zealand personnel joined Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji to coordinate under the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF).

New Zealand also has a long-standing policing partnership with Solomon Islands through the Solomon Islands Policing Support Programme (SIPSP) which has a focus on community policing, crime prevention and promoting good governance.

Trade and investment

New Zealand’s trade relationship with Solomon Islands is modest. Both New Zealand and Solomon Islands have ratified the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus and are committed to increasing benefits from the agreement.

The Solomon Islands Government’s economic development focus is on expanding its economic base and improving connectivity through infrastructure development. Solomon Islands is particularly focused on the fisheries, tourism, forestry, mining and agriculture sectors as key development areas.

The latest information about New Zealand's trade profile with Solomon Islands is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).

People and culture

New Zealand’s relationship with Solomon Islands is underpinned by over a century of engagement and deep people-to-people links. There are a number of active Solomon Islands community groups throughout New Zealand.

Education has also been a key connector between our two countries; many prominent Solomon Islanders, including current politicians, constitutional post holders and senior public servants, have completed secondary or tertiary studies in New Zealand.

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme(external link) provides tertiary and short-term training scholarships to Solomon Islands scholars.

Solomon Islanders can participate in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme(external link), which creates mutual benefit for New Zealand's horticulture sector and for the workers’ families and communities.

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