Latest News Archive September 2026
51 articles
SIART invests $8.7 million in 20 community pig farming groups
A SIART media release says the money has gone to groups in Malaita, Guadalcanal and Makira/Ulawa provinces, with 532 households said to be better off.
UK to help draft laws for new Solomon Islands energy regulator
The British High Commission says the UK has agreed the next stage of its energy programme with the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, including legal work for an independent energy regulator.
SIART expects coconut output to rise in three provinces
A media release from the SIART Project says copra production should increase among the 14 producer organisations it supports in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa.
Ministry says Naha health centre goes 24/7 from 6 October
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services said the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre will run around the clock from 6 October.
Health ministry reviews reporting forms to cut workload for health workers
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has begun a national review of health indicators and reporting forms to reduce clutter and make routine data easier to use, the World Health Organization said.
Health ministry marks World Heart Day with call to act on rheumatic heart disease
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and its partners marked World Heart Day in Honiara on 29 September, where an ultrasound machine for echocardiography was handed over by the Australian Government through DFAT.
Solomon Islands rejoins global extractives transparency initiative
Solomon Islands has rejoined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the United Nations Development Programme said on 29 September, as gold and nickel projects expand the mining sector.
Drought may raise risk of sorcery accusation violence in PNG, researchers write
Researchers say drought losses can trigger sorcery accusations in Papua New Guinea and that planning for the coming El Nino should include prevention measures, in an article on the Devpolicy Blog.
Police arrest 30-year-old over Lalana Island stabbing
Police in Auki detained a 30-year-old man on 28 September 2026 over an alleged knife attack that left a 45-year-old man in critical condition, according to a police statement published on the Solomon Islands Government portal.
Pacific advocates press for women's voice in water decisions before COP31
Research by WaterAid and the University of Technology Sydney found Pacific activists rank the exclusion of women from water and climate decision-making as the root cause of other gendered climate impacts.
Australia Backs Phone Repair Training for Deaf Solomon Islanders
Australia has partnered with Honiara business Smart Technology to train 10 hearing-impaired Solomon Islanders in mobile phone repair, with participants to receive tools, mentoring and support at the end.
Government portal says Kunkwaikwai land recording reaches three-month notice stage
A statement on the Solomon Islands Government portal says the Kunkwaikwai customary landholding group of Ward 30, Central Kwara'ae, has moved to the public notice stage of customary land recording.
West Papuan researcher graduates with doctorate on Muyu noken string bags
Dr Veronika Triariyani Kanem, from the Muyu region of South Papua in West Papua, graduated with a PhD from the University of Auckland on 24 September for research on the cultural and environmental significance of noken string bags.
Tongan graduate first Pasifika student to finish Auckland commerce and sport conjoint
Meleana Payn is the first Pasifika student to graduate with a conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, the university said.
Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh visits Tuvalu for first time
Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, the first Commonwealth Poet Laureate, made her first visit to Tuvalu in August, running creative writing workshops in Funafuti after weather postponed the country's first Cultural Festival.
Tuvalu and Ireland outline plans for 2027 fossil fuel transition conference
Tuvalu and Ireland set out their vision for the Second Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, to be co-hosted in Tuvalu in 2027, at a side event of the UN General Assembly in New York on 25 September.
US Marines hand over UXO training classroom to police at Hell's Point
The U.S. Embassy said a classroom provided by the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific's Humanitarian Mine Action programme has been handed to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force at Hell's Point for demining and EOD training.
USP Pro-Chancellor tells Honiara graduates they are regionalism in action
Speaking at the USP Solomon Islands Graduation Ceremony at Friendship Hall on 25 September, Pro-Chancellor Siosiua Utoikamanu said graduates carry the next chapter of Pacific regionalism.
Coaches and Umpires Trained in Sports First Aid
Coaches and officials in Solomon Islands have completed first aid and sports trainer training delivered by St John Ambulance Solomon Islands and an Australian Defence Force accredited trainer, the Australian High Commission said.
215 Graduate from USP Solomon Islands Campus in Honiara
The University of the South Pacific conferred certificates, diplomas, bachelor's and master's degrees on 215 students at a ceremony at Friendship Hall in Honiara on 25 September.
Solomon Islands moves above Pacific life expectancy average, economists write
Average life expectancy in Pacific Island countries has risen to 68.8 years from 52.7 in 1960, and Solomon Islands has moved from below the regional average to above it, Albert Prabhakar Gudapati and Stephen Howes wrote.
Solomon Islands Officials Study Fiji Road and Traffic Systems
Fourteen representatives from Solomon Islands traffic and transport agencies completed an Australian-supported study tour of Fijian agencies responsible for vehicle licensing, traffic enforcement, road safety and road infrastructure.
Ministry says 14,665 farmers supported under SIART project
A SIART media release on the government portal says grant agreements worth SBD38.08 million are in place with 96 producer organisations in three provinces.
Health ministry asks public to use city clinics for non-emergency care
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has advised people with coughs, fever, diarrhoea and other common conditions to go to their nearest clinic rather than the National Referral Hospital Emergency Department.
Two RSIPF officers travel to UK for police leadership programme
Two Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers left for the United Kingdom on 25 September for a month-long International Leadership Programme run by the UK College of Policing, the British High Commission said.
NRH says CCTV and fencing planned as theft reports rise
National Referral Hospital management says it will bring in new security measures, with support from police at Honiara Central Police Station, to protect patients, staff, visitors and property.
North Guadalcanal Constituency gives $100,000 to two churches
The Solomon Islands Government portal said the North Guadalcanal Constituency Office provided $50,000.00 each to two Anglican churches preparing for consecration.
Government announces State Funeral for Sir Nathaniel Waena
The National Government said a State Funeral will be held on Friday 26 September 2026 at Saint Barnabas Anglican Cathedral in Honiara for former Governor-General Sir Nathaniel Waena.
PNG needs private sector alongside public health system, CPL chairs write
Papua New Guinea's health challenges are too large for government to carry alone, Stephanie Copus Campbell and Sir Mahesh Patel wrote on the Devpolicy Blog, arguing for partnerships with safeguards rather than privatisation.
ULMWP says six West Papuans killed, urges UN General Assembly to take up case
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said six West Papuans were killed and four wounded by the Indonesian military, and called on the UN General Assembly to raise West Papua. The claims are not independently verified.
Health ministry records sustained rise in flu-like illness across six provinces
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services said its surveillance system recorded a sustained rise in influenza-like illness cases between 24 August and 13 September 2026, with Honiara and five provinces affected.
Ministry says Koehoto and Suta groups sign boundary agreement
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey said the Koehoto and Suta landholding groups signed a Common Boundary Agreement on Saturday, 19 September 2026.
Ministry reports first Central Islands health summit, new clinic supplies
A statement posted on solomons.gov.sb said community, health and provincial leaders met in Tulagi from 14 to 18 September for the first Central Islands Provincial Health Summit.
Local Contractors Train On Site at Malu'u Market Redevelopment
Thirteen team leaders with Exodus Trade and Development have completed practical workshops in project planning and construction management while building the new Malu'u Market in North Malaita, the Australian High Commission said.
ADF Sports Program Returns to Honiara With Hockey and Tennis Added
The Australian Defence Force International Sports Program has returned to Honiara with volleyball, hockey, netball and tennis, the Australian High Commission said, with police and local sporting groups taking part in coaching and officiating training.
Sāmoan astrophysicist graduates with first physics PhD at Auckland university
Dr Sean Richards graduated on 22 September as the first Sāmoan to complete a PhD in Physics at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, with doctoral research on how stars evolve and die.
Tourism Solomons seeks clarity on new e-Visa system for visitors
Tourism Solomons said it backs the government's move to a digital visa system but is seeking clarification from the Immigration Department on several parts of the new e-Visa process, which it said has created uncertainty for travellers and airlines.
Australia caps backpacker visa extensions, opening room for PALM, Howes says
Development Policy Centre director Stephen Howes said Australia's cut of 84 per cent to third-year backpacker visa extensions granted for regional work is a significant opportunity for the PALM labour mobility scheme.
UXO Director says 114,560 items destroyed in Solomon Islands
UXO Director Benzily Kasutaba, speaking at Palau, said unexploded ordnance still threatens communities, land access and development, according to a government statement.
Police raid kwaso production sites at Fiu village
Officers from Auki broke up homebrew production houses and stalls at Fiu village and seized cooking equipment, according to a statement on the Solomon Islands Government portal.
Solomon Islands Woman Joins Pacific Tennis Leadership Programme in Fiji
Jennifer Mark of Solomon Islands is among the participants in the 2026/27 Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis programme, held in Fiji from 13 to 18 September, Tennis Australia said.
Leigh urges governments to fund only the programmes evidence shows work
In an address to Asian Evaluation Week in Manila, Australian Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh said rigorous evaluation should decide which programmes are scrapped and which are scaled up.
Forestry Ministry and JICA sign forest management project
The Ministry of Forestry and Research and JICA have signed a Record of Discussions for a new technical cooperation project on community-based forest management, according to a Solomon Islands Government statement.
Police say sunken border patrol boat beached in south Bougainville
Villagers at Nikumu in South Bougainville recovered a police speed craft that sank at the western border on 18 September 2026, police said.
Pacific Delegations Press Fisheries Priorities at FAO Committee in Rome
Pacific Island countries and territories used the 37th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries in Rome to call for stronger international support for regional fisheries systems, SPC said.
RSIPF Officers Complete Australian-Run Border Surveillance Training
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers have completed border surveillance and small boats courses delivered by the Australian Defence Force under Exercise Coastwatchers, which runs from 31 August until 23 September.
Auki police charge 25-year-old man over Kwaibala road assault
The suspect was arrested the same day and remanded at Auki Correctional Centre on a charge of unlawful wounding, Malaita police commander Superintendent Michael Ramosaea said in a statement published on 15 September.
Police treat Temotu beach death as suspected murder
Lata police are investigating the death of a man in his 30s whose body was found on the beach at Bamoi village on Santa Cruz Island, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force said.
China-funded boats and engines handed to West Makira, ministry says
A $1.5 million package of 17 boats and 18 outboard motors funded by China’s Rural Sustainable Development Program was delivered to West Makira Constituency on 4 September, the Ministry of Rural Development said.
Shortland Islands completes $5 million 2025 CDF delivery, government says
The third and final shipment of the constituency's 2025 development fund projects, including 57 boats and 57 outboard engines, has been delivered, according to a statement on the Solomon Islands Government portal.
New Zealand Beat New Caledonia 4-0 to Win Eighth OFC U-16 Women's Title
A second-half double from captain Bonnie Rice helped New Zealand defeat New Caledonia 4-0 in the OFC U-16 Women's Championship final at the National Stadium in Honiara on 19 September.