CoveragePost
October 21, 2025
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The Solomon Islands government is looking into establishing a defence force which would make it the fourth Pacific nation to have a military. Some parliamentarians support the idea, while others are pointing to the country’s history of violent unrest. National Security Minister Jimson Tanagada said the government was in ... <a title="‘Not an attempt to militarise our nation’ – Solomon Islands considers own military" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/21/not-an-attempt-to-militarise-our-nation-solomon-islands-considers-own-military/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Not an attempt to militarise our nation’ – Solomon Islands considers own military">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 30, 2024
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The first prime ministerial candidate has been announced in Solomon Islands and it is not Manasseh Sogavare. The man of the hour is Jeremiah Manele, the MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in Isabel Province, who served as minister of foreign affairs in the last government. Manele’s candidacy was announced by ... <a title="Manasseh Sogavare bows out of prime ministerial race in Solomon Islands" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/30/manasseh-sogavare-bows-out-of-prime-ministerial-race-in-solomon-islands/" aria-label="Read more about Manasseh Sogavare bows out of prime ministerial race in Solomon Islands">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 23, 2024
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s Our Party, were tied ... <a title="No clear winner as lobbying to form next Solomon Islands government intensifies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/23/no-clear-winner-as-lobbying-to-form-next-solomon-islands-government-intensifies/" aria-label="Read more about No clear winner as lobbying to form next Solomon Islands government intensifies">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 20, 2024
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after a day of counting, according ... <a title="Solomon Islands political chess begins with Manasseh Sogavare re-elected in East Choiseul" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/20/solomon-islands-political-chess-begins-with-manasseh-sogavare-re-elected-in-east-choiseul/" aria-label="Read more about Solomon Islands political chess begins with Manasseh Sogavare re-elected in East Choiseul">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 17, 2024
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Polls have opened today in Solomon Islands. “Today is polling day. Polling Station opens at 7 am and closes at 4 pm. Be at the correct polling station and be in the voting line before 4 pm,” a text message from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission alerting ... <a title="Let the games begin – coalition negotiations underway in Honiara" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/17/let-the-games-begin-coalition-negotiations-underway-in-honiara/" aria-label="Read more about Let the games begin – coalition negotiations underway in Honiara">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 28, 2023
By Charley Piringi in Honiara The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has adopted a fresh approach in addressing the longstanding and sensitive West Papuan issue, says Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Upon his return yesterday from the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York last week, he clarified to local media about why he ... <a title="Sogavare hails ‘new approach’ on West Papua – Wale calls PM ‘Judas’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/28/sogavare-hails-new-approach-on-west-papua-wale-calls-pm-judas/" aria-label="Read more about Sogavare hails ‘new approach’ on West Papua – Wale calls PM ‘Judas’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 17, 2023
RNZ Pacific Washington has announced plans to reopen the United States Embassy in Solomon Islands. Inside the Games reports that the move is a bid to counter China’s increasing assertiveness in the region, which has seen Beijing fund infrastructure for this year’s Pacific Games which take place later this year. The US Department of State ... <a title="Fears over China influence leads US to reopen Solomon Islands embassy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/01/17/fears-over-china-influence-leads-us-to-reopen-solomon-islands-embassy/" aria-label="Read more about Fears over China influence leads US to reopen Solomon Islands embassy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 29, 2022
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The Solomon Islands government has threatened to ban or deport foreign journalists “disrespectful” of the country’s relationship with China, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office this week. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned this “grave infringement on press freedom” and has called on Prime Minister ... <a title="IFJ condemns Solomons threat to ban ‘disrespectful’ foreign journalists on China" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/29/ifj-condemns-solomons-threat-to-ban-disrespectful-foreign-journalists-on-china/" aria-label="Read more about IFJ condemns Solomons threat to ban ‘disrespectful’ foreign journalists on China">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 25, 2022
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The ABC has soundly condemned the Solomon Islands Office of the Prime Minister for a series of “factual errors” in a statement released which criticised the Four Corners investigative report Pacific Capture: How Chinese money is buying the Solomons. In a rare statement defending its independent journalism, it said today the ... <a title="ABC blasts Honiara for ‘factual errors’ in attack over Pacific Capture doco" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/25/abc-blasts-honiara-for-factual-errors-in-attack-over-pacific-capture-doco/" aria-label="Read more about ABC blasts Honiara for ‘factual errors’ in attack over Pacific Capture doco">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 12, 2022
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The head of the Solomon Islands state-owned broadcaster has defended its role in the face of the government tightening control — a move that critics say is squarely aimed at controlling and censoring the news. The government said last Friday that the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) would retain editorial control ... <a title="SIBC chief defends ‘free’ state media broadcaster in face of tighter controls" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/12/sibc-chief-defends-free-state-media-broadcaster-in-face-of-tighter-controls/" aria-label="Read more about SIBC chief defends ‘free’ state media broadcaster in face of tighter controls">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 6, 2022
RNZ Pacific The Solomon Islands government has prompted anger by ordering the censorship of the national broadcaster. The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has forbidden it from publishing material critical of the government, which will vet all stories before broadcast. The Guardian reports that on Monday the government announced that the Solomon Islands Broadcasting ... <a title="Backlash after Solomons government reins in public broadcaster" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/06/backlash-after-solomons-government-reins-in-public-broadcaster/" aria-label="Read more about Backlash after Solomons government reins in public broadcaster">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 5, 2022
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the censoring of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) as an “assault on press freedom” and an “unacceptable development” amid mounting concern over China’s influence on the media and security. “The censoring of the Solomon Island’s national broadcaster is an assault on ... <a title="Censoring SIBC an ‘assault on media freedom’ in Solomons, says IFJ" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/05/censoring-sibc-an-assault-on-media-freedom-in-solomons-says-ifj/" aria-label="Read more about Censoring SIBC an ‘assault on media freedom’ in Solomons, says IFJ">Read more</a>
