Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta met with Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, during his visit to Aotearoa New Zealand, on Tuesday 4 October.
The Ministers reaffirmed the deep and enduring partnership shared by Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands, underpinned by people to people links, and reiterated the two countries’ commitment to work together as Pacific whānau to respond to shared challenges such as climate change, maritime security, and economic resilience.
The Ministers discussed Minister Manele’s time in Aotearoa New Zealand, including his visit to Blenheim to meet Solomon Islands participants in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
The Ministers also discussed Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands’ cooperation across a broad range of sectors, from RSE, to trade and expanded labour mobility opportunities under PACER Plus, to health and the COVID-19 response, aviation, education, policing and security, and fisheries.
The Ministers committed to enter into negotiations to upgrade the two countries’ Air Services Agreement (ASA) to enable increased connectivity between Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands.
The Ministers reinforced the criticality of the Pacific Islands Forum as a space for members to work together on issues of mutual interest and concern, and tackle shared challenges. They also discussed how to navigate, as Pacific whānau, the shifting regional geopolitical context, including regional security. Minister Mahuta reiterated Aotearoa New Zealand’s view that existing Pacific arrangements were both reliable and consistent to meet Pacific security needs.
The Ministers reaffirmed Pacific countries’ shared stewardship of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and commitment to the Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. They also reaffirmed climate change as the single greatest threat to security, livelihoods and well-being facing the Pacific.
The meeting was an opportunity to engage kanohi ki te kanohi on the principle of Tātou Tātou — all of us together — and further strengthen the partnership between Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands.