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Members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare
Hon Jenny Salesa, Hon Gerry Brownlee, and Dan Rosewarne, as members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, had an opportunity for dialogue with political figures and community organisations in the Solomon Islands. The visit also contributed to the committee's ongoing inquiry into illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.
The delegation was welcomed to the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands by its Speaker, Hon Patteson Oti. Later in the week, the New Zealand delegation met with Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare, where they spoke about the value of New Zealand’s relationship with the Solomon Islands and the goals and priorities that both countries share. This was followed by a meeting with Foreign Minister Hon Jeremiah Manele, where similar topics were discussed.
The visit included a meeting with the committee’s Solomon Islands counterparts, the National Parliament of Solomon Islands' Foreign Relations Committee, as well as members from the various other select committees. They also met with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) secretariat and visited the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre.
Bilateral meetings were also held between the delegation and the Australian Acting High Commissioner, Sally-Anne Vincent, and the US Charge d’Affaires Russell Comeau. Community visits included the San Isidro Rural Training Centre, a vocational school for Solomon Islanders with hearing and speaking disabilities, and the Aruiligo Tilapia Hatchery, where tilapia fish are bred and supplied to farmers as a source of food and income.
Committee member and New Zealand Defence Force veteran Dan Rosewarne laid a wreath at the memorial to soldiers who served in the World War II battle of Guadalcanal at the Vilu Military Museum. The delegation also took part in a remembrance gathering at the New Zealand High Commission in Honiara to honour and remember people lost in and affected by the 15 March 2019 Christchurch terrorist attacks.