Navigating choppy waves: Jeremiah Manele outlines Solomon Islands' foreign policy objectives and relationship with New Zealand.

• Author: Manele, Jeremiah

Our two countries are connected by history, geography and the ocean. New Zealand will always have a special place in the hearts of Solomon Islanders. Besides those that follow the All Blacks today, New Zealand has sent more powerful men to Solomon Islands, the early New Zealand missionaries, Anglicans and Methodists, who brought the gospel to our islands. Solomon Islands registers its deep respect for the family of the late Bishop Selwyn, who paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving in Solomon Islands. His legacy lives on. During his time in Solomon Islands, he wove a mat of friendship that continues to be enjoyed by all peoples and the church. In addition, Dr Charles Fox, another New Zealander, wrote so much about our people.

Solomon Islands is a culturally rich, diverse population made up of indigenous largely Melanesian and small Polynesian and Micronesian populations. All make up part of the 700,000 people speaking more than 87 different languages. It is a country that is still going through the process of nation-building, national healing and peace-building.

New Zealand has always been a defender of peace, democracy and freedom. Its troops were part of the Allied force that participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Due to Solomon Islands' security fragility, ethnic conflict broke out in 1998. This prompted New Zealand, as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), to deploy in 2003 military police and civilians under the Pacific Islands Forum's Biketawa Declaration together with our other Pacific Islands countries. The thirteenyear-old RAMSI mission to Solomon Islands restored peace, allowed the economy to recover and strengthened state institutions. The regional efforts in Solomon Islands have created a pool and network of friends of Solomon Islands here in New Zealand that have a deeper understanding of our country. Sadly, during that period, we also experienced violence. Business houses were burnt down, including Chinatown. This was before we established formal relations with the People's Republic of China.

Today, New Zealand continues to serve in Solomon Is lands under the 2017 Solomon Islands-Australia security agreement. The Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF) under the treaty is made up of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and continues to make its presence felt in the country. Papua New Guinea security personnel are also in the country under the Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands security framework. I express Solomon Islands' appreciation for New Zealand for always being there for us under whatever arrangement. We also thank our neighbours Australia and Papua New Guinea for their on-going service.

Development lens

Addressing internal stresses and managing risks in Solomon Islands must be done through a development lens. Empowering our people economically will allow them to secure a stable Solomon Islands. The recent impact of COVID-19, as well as the civil unrest in Honiara in December 2021 and, of...