Will Solomon Islands’ new leader stay close to China? theconversation.com/will-solomon-i… via The Conversation - Australia + New Zealand

An important piece by ASPI on the increased level of disinformation in the lead up to the elections in Solomons but equally important to note that on the ground the issues that concerned voters were the cost of living crisis, jobs, development, corruption and healthcare. It…

Manele calls for calm after being elected PM: 'past Prime Minister elections have been marked by acts of violence and destruction. Our economy and livelihoods have suffered because of this violence. However today we show the world that we are better than that.'

Can't tell you how proud I am of Marian Faa for taking this on and seeing it through. A well-deserved winner of the Sean Dorney Grant for #Pacific Journalism last year.

Jeremiah Manele is the next Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands after being voted in by 31 members of the 12th Parliament.
Manele is from previous PM Sogavare’s Party and the head of the new coalition GNUT.

The Pacific Newsroom Stephen Dziedzic Sophie Mak

#solpol

Sharing views on Bougainville's future can make you feel vulnerable - especially when differing from the masses.

I hope my piece on the The Lowy Institute's Interpreter makes us Bougainvilleans think pragmatically about how we decide to move forward.

lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

Full text of NZ FM Winston Peters speech at New Zealand Institute of International Affairs: beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-…

.'..as beachheads are sought and influence peddled' in the Pacific.

NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters first major foreign policy speech at @nziia :
'The Pacific region’s strategic environment is not benign, far from it. Remorseless pressure is being exerted across it as…

The Foreign Minister will deliver the annual lecture to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs at 6pm this evening (NZT).

It will be live-streamed here: us06web.zoom.us/j/85157431157

New Zealand Institute of International Affairs

Shoutout to my former CDSSMassey student Squadron Leader Dan Garnett who, as the Joint Task Force’s Chief of Staff, was coordinating support for the Solomon Islands elections (and great to catch up at Camp Clark when I was there a few weeks ago!)

Further to the decision to remove David Lambourne from his judicial office by the govt of #Kiribati , he has now been issued with a deportation order. This statement from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges & Lawyers issued overnight ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.
We will remember them.

#Force4NZ #AnzacDay

Battered by COVID, then the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, many Tongan workers have done it tough. To support them, check out handicrafts at Pasifiki-Tonga (backed by Tonga National Workers' Council, Tonga PSA and the Handicrafts Workers' Association). pasifikitongarndwebsite.com

From the New Zealand High Commission - Solomon Islands Facebook page:

This week, we deployed election observers across Solomon Islands to observe the election. 🇸🇧🗳

Election observers have been invited by the government of Solomon Islands and play an important role in…

Could my friends and colleagues please observe a moments silence for the victims of the massacre perpetrated by the pro-Indonesian militias at my uncle Manuel Carrascalao's house, on this day in 1999.
On this day, many Timorese lost family and friends, and my family lost our…

My latest: #China ’s growing security presence in the Pacific will be scrutinized this week as the Solomon Islands holds its national election on Wednesday.

Feat: Mihai Sora, Anna Powles, Parker Novak and Michael Walsh

voanews.com/a/chinese-secu…

After a week in Solomon Islands, meeting with friends and former colleagues and hearing about their concerns regarding the economy, health, security, and, of course, geopolitical concerns and aspirations. I have to say my most enjoyable time has been talking to young Solomon…