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RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands, Fijian students stranded in Israel return home safely
Left to right: Leeroy Wate, Diotee Deromae, Christina Eddie, Janice Kotu and Barnabas Firivave. Photo: Solomon Islands Government Five Solomon Islands and 13 Fijian students have all returned home after being stranded in Israel during its 12-day war with Iran. The Solomon Islanders were scheduled to return in mid-June, until the Israel-Iran tensions broke out. One of the students, Leeroy Wate, told Pacific Waves that they flew from Tel Aviv via Dubai, then Brisbane, then Honiara. He said his friends and loved ones came to meet him the airport. "They went to the airport, all of them, the friends, loved ones; and when they saw us, maybe some of them even cry," he said. He said they asked why he was still smiling. "I told them I'm smiling because I'm alive, and I'm here now." Wate, alongside his fellow classmates from the Solomons, had completed a 10-month agricultural course in Israel. Asked how he spent the first moments back home, he said: "Just in my mind, I just thank the Lord, that's the first thing." Now that he's back home, he said there are no plans to travel overseas again soon. "Maybe in five years' time, I don't know. But not for now." Some of the Fijian students who were successfully repatriated from Israel. Photo: Fiji Government Fiji's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, said that their students were successfully repatriated from Israel to ensure their safety and wellbeing, and enabling them to safely reunite with their families. The 13 students from the Navuso Agriculture Technical Institute were part of a 10-month practical attachment at the Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Israel since late last year. Upon arrival at the Nadi International Airport, the students were warmly welcomed by their families, friends, and officials from the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement said.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Crocodiles that spent 25 years in concrete cage behind a cafe rehomed in sanctuary
One of the crocodiles inside the litter-filled concrete cage it spent 25 years in. Photo: supplied After a quarter of a century living in a caged concrete pit, two salt water crocodiles in the Solomon Islands have been moved to a sanctuary thanks to a New Zealand animal charity. The crocodiles had been surviving on rain water in the litter-filled enclosure at the back of a cafe in Honiara. New Zealand based animal rescue, HUHA, became aware of the animals when it was in the capital for a dog desexing campaign. After months of wrangling, raising money and working with Australia Zoo the crocodiles have been rehomed at a local private sanctuary. HUHA founder and chief executive Carolyn Press-McKenzie told Checkpoint when she heard about the crocodiles from locals, it was the last thing she expected. "When you hear that something's off, you need to go have a look. So we went and had a look after surgery one day and they were there... it was awful. I can't even describe. "They were just in these little prisons of rubbish and concrete." Press-McKenzie said she decided they had to do something about the crocodiles, and hunted down their owner. "I think we got the guy at the right point because we know other people, including Australia Zoo, had been there over the years, seen them but not been in a position to get them and move them." The owner agreed to sell the animals to HUHA, who then owned them for about 10 months. "Over that 10 months, we didn't sleep much and we fundraised" One of the crocodiles being relocated. Photo: supplied While the fundraising didn't gather the full amount of funds they needed to re-home the crocodiles, Press-McKenzie said there were some "amazing" donors, with one woman donating $10,000. However, she believed the lack of support was due to New Zealander's disconnect with the scaly creatures. "Our thing is every animal matters and we don't discriminate. So basically for us, it didn't really matter that we weren't into crocodiles. Those crocodiles were in trouble and no one else was stepping up." HUHA then contacted Australia Zoo, and asked them to step in to help relocate the crocodiles. "I didn't see how we could actually relocate them safely unless we were with people who knew what they were doing." The zoo jumped into the mission, and were "blown away" by what HUHA had managed to achieve. Carolyn Press-McKenzie handing ownership of the crocodiles over to the new owner. Photo: supplied After managing to construct a private sanctuary, the crocodiles are now being relocated, their new owner well aware of the responsibility. "We signed the crocs to him two days ago and [the contract] says he can't breed them, eat them, use them as an exhibit, or on sell them and that if he has any problems, he has to talk to us." The new enclosure has a metre-and-a-half deep the pool for the animals to swim in, something they have never done before. "They can actually go right in and swim and rest at the bottom. So they've never walked and they've never swam before. So this is all new for them." After being kept in separate pits for 25 years, the two crocodiles have now had the opportunity to meet and settle into their new home together. "It's just it's really nice, they're safe." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Crocodiles that spent 25 years in concrete cage
After a quarter of a century living in a caged concrete pit two salt water crocodiles in the Solomon Islands have move to a sanctuary thanks to a New Zealand animal charity. The crocs had been surviving on rain water in the litter filled enclosure at the back of a cafe in Honiara. New Zealand based animal rescue, HUHA became aware of the animals when it was in the capital for a dog desexing campaign. It raised money and worked with Australia Zoo, and after months of wrangling the crocs have been rehomed at a local private sancutary. HUHA founder and chief executive Carolyn Press-McKenzie spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Solomon King FC in contention for inaugural OFC Professional League
Solomon Islands' Central Coast FC in action against Vanuatu's Ifira Black Bird FC at the OFC Men's Champions League 2025 in Honiara. 6 April 2025 Photo: OFC The Solomon Islands' lone football club in the running to be part of the new Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) League Professiobal League has been revealed. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has confirmed that Solomon King FC is one of the 13 clubs now awaiting final selection by the OFC, who will be annoucing the teams that will be part of the new league in September. The OFC Professional League is set to kick-off in January 2026. In a statement, Manele said that a new partnership forged between the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and the Brisbane-based Wynnum Wolves Football Club would help the new club. "In what is described as a major boost for Solomon Islands football, the partnership between SIFF and Wynnum Wolves FC will see the establishment of the country's first professional football club ahead of the newly introduced Oceania Football Confederation Pro League," the statement said. "Under this landmark partnership, SIFF will form a team to compete in the OFC Pro League, to be named Solomon King FC. "Solomon King FC will be the nation's first professional football club, comprising 18 local players and six international recruits. The team will be based in both Honiara and Brisbane, Australia, and will play matches across six different venues within the Pacific region. "Players will also have potential pathways to the German Bundesliga through Wynnum Wolves FC's relationship with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund." Manele expressed his appreciation to the Wynnum Wolves FC's President Rabieh Krayem. He also met with SIFF President Donald Marahare and SIFF chief executive Leonard Paia. OFC Professional League project manager Stuart Larman told RNZ Pacific on Tuesday that the Solomon Islands club is one of the teams now in the final phase. "Considering the club have announced their partnership, we can acknowledge that they Solomon Kings are one of the clubs that have applied to be in the OFCPL and that their application will be reviewed, as with all applicant clubs, after the 18 July deadline," Larman said, responding to queries raised with him. "As the only applicant club from the Solomon Islands, they will need to meet all the minimum requirements to attain a Club License to be recommended to the OFC Exco for entry into the OFCPL 2026." The OFC says there are currently 13 clubs from around the region vying to be selected, with the final eight teams expected to be known in August, with licenses to be given in September. In May, the confederation confirmed that there are six OFC Member Associations who have clubs in the list, with two from Fiji, two from Papua New Guinea, one each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the other two clubs from Australia. "We expect the quality of submissions to continue at the same level as we have seen in the first phase of the Club Application Process," Larman told the media in May. The OFC Club Licensing Committee will pass its recommendations to the OFC Executive Committee in August and the eight selected clubs will be confirmed in September. The competition will run from early January until the end of May, with each club playing a minimum of 17 matches. There will be five circuit series rounds at various Pacific locations in a double round-robin format before the teams are split into two playoff groups, Leaders and Challengers.
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands PM fires chief of staff over unauthorised Vietnam deal
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has sacked his chief of staff Mack Faddean Aoraunisaka after an "unauthorised" deal with two Vietnamese firms last week. RNZ Pacific understands that Aoraunisaka "coerced" Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Minister Jaimie Vokia into traveling to Vietnam and meet with multinational consulting firm SI Group with which he has a connection. There, they signed a controversial memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which would give SI Group and its client Growmax (a fisheries company), special commercial privileges. Vokia now faces a "disciplinary process" and possible explosion as a minister. Mack Faddean Aoraunisaka Photo: Solomon Islands Government On Friday, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister's Office issued a press statement to farewell Aoraunisaka. It stated that Aoraunisaka was "instrumental in the development and implementation of the Government for National Unity and Transformation policy during his tenure". However, Manele told a news conference the next day that his office is reviewing the relevant protocols, and that all ministers and staff are on notice. "I'm reminding my ministers that they must get permission to have to remember that any MOUs have to come to Cabinet to get a mandate." "Let me be clear, the MOU that was signed is non-binding." On Sunday, the Foreign Investment Division in the Ministry of Commerce issued a statement saying SI Group has no legal right to conduct business in the Solomons. "[SI Group's] presence in the Solomon Islands carrying out commercial activity without foreign investment approval or company incorporation violates the laws of this country." In 2024, parliament passed legislation allowing the government to create geographical zones, within which certain regulations or taxes can be bypassed. These SEZs can be established by corporations in partnership with the government to produce exports, store and process goods, conduct business services, or for tourism development. Incentives include wide-ranging tax and duty exemptions, automatic work permits for foreign employees, business visas, and the creation of "sub-zones" spread out across the whole country. Despite the controversy, Manele told reporters that the government will still push ahead with its SEZ policy. According to its website, SI Group describes itself as "the premier provider of global immigration solutions, trading consultancy, import-export business, and international real estate investment". The group claims to have operations in 20 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Photo: Hand-out Vokia travelled alongside Aoraunisaka and one other staffer to SI Group's headquarters to sign the MOU before 2 June. A co-signatory to the MOU was Growmax Group, which describes itself as "Vietnam's leading professional shrimp industry group". Vokia agreed to an SEZ with SI Group and Growmax that would grant commercial privileges for numerous different projects. These included a shrimp farm, fisheries processing hub, gold and bauxite mines, a hospital, vocational training centres, a logistics hub with cold storage, energy, water and telecom infrastructure, and a "dedicated SEZ bank". There would also be "a luxury resort, casino, and golf course" even though the SEZ legislation explicitly excludes casinos. The MOU set out a six-month timeframe to formalise the SEZ agreement, including finalising the "legal and regulatory frameworks". SI Group would have a special "strategic adviser and priority investor" with the role of "supporting legal, financial, and regulatory alignment to attract long-term investment". They described the Solomons as "positioning itself as a new frontier for global investment". RNZ understands that Aoranunisaka has connections within SI Group. Aoraunisaka featured in an SI Group press release from April 2025 entitled "Solomon Island government reaffirms citizenship is not for sale", which hinted at the potential for a citizenship by investment programme, or golden passport, in the future. "The [government] remains committed to establishing, if pursued, a Citizenship by Investment program based on rigorous due diligence, transparency, robust regulation, and above all, the preservation of Solomon Islands' sovereignty and national pride." "The necessary legislative, regulatory, and operational frameworks are still under development." A spokesperson for Prime Minister Manele told RNZ Pacific that Vokia has not yet been sacked or suspended. "The Prime Minister's decision on what action to take is yet to be known," the spokesperson said. The Kadare Party, of which Vokia is the sole member in parliament, came to the defence of SI Group on Tuesday. SI Group is sponsorring a free concert to promote the Kadare Party on 12 July, starring dancehall reggae artist Busy Signal . In a news conference with a SI Group senior director by his side, party executive member Martin Housanau defended their presence in the Solomons. "The event that is happening now is a non-commissioned activity, and under the laws it doesn't benefit [the SI Group] in any convening [the event]." Aoraunisaka has been replaced by former MP Douglas Ete. SI Group did not respond to RNZ Pacific's request for comment.
