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Dilworth School’s former chaplain Ross Douglas Browne jailed

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz

Warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse and suicide.

One of Dilworth’s most prolific child sex offenders has been sentenced to six and a half years in jail.

Ross Douglas Browne in the High Court in Auckland on 2 December 2021.
Ross Douglas Browne in the High Court in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

In October, Ross Douglas Browne pleaded guilty at the Auckland High Court to 16 charges.

In the High Court in Auckland this morning one victim, now an adult, told Browne what he did flipped his life upside down, created a life-long anxiety and ruined relationships he later had, including his marriage.

Others have said they have lived with serious lingering effects caused by his offending.

The 73-year-old had pleaded guilty to 16 charges, most of them in relation to indecently assaulting boys between 1987 and 2004.

Most of the charges were for indecently assaulting boys between 12 and 16 years old.

Eight of his victims have been in the High Court in Auckland today, and more watched court proceedings via a video call.

The mother of one boy, who could not bear to talk about what happened, said her son became addicted to methamphetamine and told her it was to “numb the pain”.

Other victims told the court they had self-harmed or thought of suicide.

One said he had known of multiple former students who had died by suicide after being abused.

Justice Toogood said his offending was premeditated and predatory and sentenced him to six and a half years in prison.

Browne was Dilworth School’s chaplain from 1980 to 2006, and was also the Vicar of the Anglican Parish of Manurewa until he was charged.

He was also involved in youth theatre and a small radio station which young people were involved with.

He was one of 11 men linked to Dilworth School initially charged with historical sexual abuse.

Court documents, which Browne has verified as true, showed he invited boys to a room next to his office known as the Crypt.

In the Crypt, young boys would often sit on Browne’s knee where he touched them inappropriately. He would also offer them massages in their underwear or completely naked, during which he also touched them.

Browne encouraged boys, some as young as 12 years old, to be intimate with each other.

Before leaving the Crypt each day, the boys would be expected to hug Browne.

Separately, in the classroom, Browne ran a “Christian Living Class” where he encouraged boys to openly masturbate during the lesson.

He told them if they were aroused, “it was fine for them to masturbate in the class”. Up to 15 boys at a time did. This happened on multiple occasions, which the court documents say resulted in a “normalising” of the behaviour.

Anglican Bishop of Auckland apologises ‘unreservedly’ to victims

The Anglican Bishop of Auckland Ross Bay said the church apologises unreservedly to Browne’s victims.

He said there is no place for the offending within the Anglican Church and now the court process is complete, a tribunal will take place to determine Browne’s standing in the church.

Permanent removal from the priesthood is one of the sanctions available following a finding of misconduct, Bay said.

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What’s Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)

Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

New Zealand forces deployed to Solomon Islands

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz

The New Zealand government is deploying dozens of Defence Force and police personnel to Honiara in the coming days, “to help restore peace and stability”.

Thursday saw more looting and burning in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara as local police were overwhelmed by angry mobs. November 2021
Thursday saw more looting and burning in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara as local police were overwhelmed by angry mobs. November 2021 Photo: Solomons/Facebook

Since rioting and looting started in the Solomon Islands last week, Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have sent troops to help keep the peace there.

An initial NZDF team of 15 will joint them tomorrow, followed by a larger group of 50 at the weekend.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the response is short-term and to help restore peace and stability.

“New Zealand is committed to its responsibilities and playing its part in upholding regional security,” she said in a statement.

“We are deeply concerned by the recent civil unrest and rioting in Honiara, and following yesterday’s request of the Solomon Islands government, we have moved quickly to provide urgent assistance.

“Every deployment brings its risks and challenges, but our people have vast experience in the Pacific region and are amongst some of the most highly skilled when it comes to deescalating conflict,” Ardern said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand had a deep and long-standing relationship with the Solomon Islands.

“New Zealand will send a deployment of New Zealand Defence Force and New Zealand Police to Solomon Islands in the coming days. This is a short-term, immediate response and we will continue to monitor the situation,” Mahuta said in a statement.

Samoan police are also on standby to send personnel to assist peacekeeping forces.

The unrest stemmed from a protest calling for the removal of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and left major destruction in the capital.

Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.
Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare. Photo: Solomon Islands Government Communications Unit

All New Zealand personnel deploying to Solomon Islands are required to be double vaccinated, have had a negative Covid-19 test before departure and adhere to Solomon Islands Covid-19 testing protocols. They will complete managed isolation on their return.

The New Zealand High Commission in Honiara is providing SafeTravel advice to New Zealanders in Solomon Islands, including that they should follow the instructions and advice of local authorities and exercise care.

West Auckland shooting: Gunman who was shot dead in stand-off named

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz

The gunman who was shot dead by police in Glen Eden in West Auckland on Monday morning has been named.

Police were called to Danube Lane in Glen Eden on the morning of 29 November after reports of shots being fired.
Police were called to Danube Lane in Glen Eden on the morning of 29 November after reports of shots being fired. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

He was 55-year-old Tex Witika, also known as Rex.

He was killed and three officers were shot and injured in the stand-off.

Police were called to the property on Danube Lane in Glen Eden at 8.17am after reports of a house fire and a man discharging a firearm.

The house was engulfed in flames when police arrived.

They tried to engage the man to disarm over 30 minutes but he became increasingly agitated and aggressive, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said earlier this week.

In a statement, Waitematā district commander superintendent Naila Hassan said: “Two of our officers who were shot at the address have since been released from Auckland Hospital. One officer remains in hospital in a stable condition.”

She said there had been an overwhelming response from the community in providing police with footage of the incident.

“And we continue to encourage anyone who was recording the incident or any activity before it occurred to upload it into the portal .”

Hassan thanked the community and acknowledged “the courage shown by our staff who attended this tragic incident”.

“Police is ensuring our officers who were shot as well as those who were involved in this incident are being provided with welfare and are being well supported by their colleagues and the wider organisation.”

As investigations continue, there will be no update on the case for next few days.

Officials urged to move faster on vaccinating children aged 5-11

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Jake McKee of RNZ.co.nz

The clock is ticking for the government to get children aged five to 11 vaccinated against Covid-19.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday he expected advice from Medsafe in a couple of weeks and the rollout should start in late January.

But some are urging officials to move faster as a number of schools shut down for days because of infected students or staff.

Martyn was anxious because he wanted his 10-year-old daughter to be safe at school. She had underlying health conditions and was at high-risk of becoming seriously ill if she caught Covid-19.

Martyn wants his daughter, and the other kids at her school, fully vaccinated before the 2022 year starts, so beginning the rollout in late January was not good enough.

“The school year is end of January, early February. From all the information we’re being fed by the government about how the first dose takes a period of time of time to be partially effective, and you factor that into the timetable that’s been announced, it just doesn’t work,” he said.

“There’s certainly no option for a second dose in there for paediatric groups.”

Instead, Martyn had been left with more questions.

“Is there going to be, like in the rest of the general population, a priority or high-risk groups if we can’t get through the whole school population by the start of term?”

Pakuranga Heights School in Auckland closed for almost a week last month after a pupil tested positive for the virus.

Principal Fintan Kelly is keen on children being vaccinated but said the end of January did not give schools much time to prepare.

“What would be really useful is really clear guidance from the Ministry of Education, and Health, in terms of their expectations.”

Kelly “absolutely” wanted that guidance as soon as possible.

New Zealand Educational Institute president Liam Rutherford agreed, saying schools needed the advice before Christmas if officials wanted the rollout to start in line with the school year.

“Schools are definitely in planning mode for 2022 right now.”

He thought there was some sense to vaccinations happening at school.

But he warned immunising thousands of children would undoubtedly be disruptive to the school day.

“First and foremost we need to go about keeping people safe, and if getting children vaccinated is the best way to keep them safe then the education sector will be adaptable and we’ll deal with the disruption.”

Immunology professor and Mallaghan Institute Graham director Le Gros said children needed to be vaccinated because there could be “quite serious consequences” if the virus was allowed to “run riot”.

He said “for an immunologist”, a late January rollout was “not soon enough when we’ve got a virus knocking on our door”.

“We just need to get rid of it and protect against it so as soon as possible please authorities; Medsafe and the government.”

Solomons govt warns instigators are planning more unrest

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Solomon Islands government has warned that instigators are planning what it calls “another evil plan” to decimate the whole of Honiara.

Last week’s unrest, which stemmed from a protest calling for the removal of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left major destruction in the capital.

A government statement said the destruction of local businesses was done by heartless people with selfish agendas.

Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.
Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare. Photo: Solomon Islands Government Communications Unit

It warns that instigators are planning a next phase of unrest, including the declaration of Malaita province as an independent state.

Malaita’s provincial premier Daniel Suidani, whose administration has fallen out with the national government, denies claims that he instigated the unrest.

Malaitans played a central role in last week’s protest before opportunists and looters co-opted the mobilisation into major unrest.

The premier of Malaita Province Daniel Suidani.
The premier of Malaita Province Daniel Suidani. Photo: Daniel Suidani/ Official Facebook

The government statement said it was aware of reports that ring leaders behind the unrest were openly stating on Facebook that “in order to build a new house, the old house must be first destroyed”.

“Such statements are not helping the volatile situation we are currently experiencing in Honiara,” the statement said.

“To the peace loving and right minded Malaitans, we should ask ourselves whether we are comfortable with the violent advocators to lead our people to an independent state.”

However the national government said it was encouraged by” the wisdom of the majority of our citizens not to employ violence, looting or threatening tactics to impose one’s evil plan of decimating Honiara city, the capital of Solomon Islands.”

Samoa police on standby to send peacekeeping forces to Solomon Islands

Samoa Police are on standby to send personnel to assist peacekeeping forces in the Solomon Islands after days of rioting in Honiara.

TV1Samoa reports Acting Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo said so far there has not been any request for help but they are ready to help.

Samoan police headquarters in Apia
Samoan police headquarters in Apia Photo: RNZI/Sally Round

Since the rioting and looting started last week, Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have sent troops to help keep the peace there.

Auapa’au said under the RAMSI project, more than 300 Samoan Police had been deployed to help in Honiara and other areas of the Solomons.

Covid-19 udpate: 146 new community cases in New Zealand today

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz

There are 146 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today.

Wellington Covid-19 testing station on 23/8/2021.
(File image) Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Today’s cases include 124 in Auckland, 14 in Waikato, four in Bay of Plenty and one in the Nelson/Tasman region who was reported yesterday but officially added to the tally today.

The Ministry of Health said there are 83 cases in hospital, including nine in intensive care. Two are in Waikato and the rest in Tamaki Makaurau. Five of the Auckland cases are in ED or assessment units.

There are also three cases in MIQ recent returnees.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said modelling this morning shows hospitalisation and ICU bed usage had levelled off in Auckland.

In the Auckland District Health Board area, about 96 percent of eligible people have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

More to come.

Op-ed: Noble MPs are kingmakers; carry weight of king’s wish for people to vote wisely in general election

By
Kalino Latu
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OP-ED It is now apparent that the nobility MPs are the kingmakers in the run for the premiership election after it appeared interim Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa and his interim Minister of Education Siaosi Sovaleni would face each other on the election day.

Siaosi Sovaleni (L), Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa

Kaniva News has learnt four MPs have indicated their support for Tu’i’onetoa while 11 MPs have indicated their support for Sovaleni.

The noble’s representatives are now the kingmakers.

This means Tu’ionetoa needs all nine Noble MPs, while Sovaleni will only need to get the support of two of them so he can be elected Prime Minister and form the new government.

King’s wish

The strong public support for the king’s recent calls for the people, after he reprimanded the Tu’i’onetoa government, to be wise and voted into Parliament only the best candidates has now become a duty for the nobility MPs.

In deciding who to choose as the new Prime Minister, they must ensure they do not ruin the results of the people’s votes on November 18 which brought a highly regarded group of MPs with strong academic and business backgrounds into Parliament.

Tu’i’onetoa’s records

Tu’i’onetoa was re-elected and retained his Tongatapu 10 seat in what many believed was the result of his controversial development policy which allowed building of new wharves, installation of new water tanks, building new weaving houses and sealing almost every roads in his constituency with tar. The policy was mostly restricted only to Tu’i’onetoa and his Cabinet Ministers’ electorates.

Critics believed this policy was one of the many failures of Tu’i’onetoa to uphold fairness in the way he distributed the country’s wealth and opportunities.

Many believed he should not be re-elected Prime Minister given his dodgy record in the past two years he has been leading the country. He has been accused of repeatedly lying to the public and abusing female journalists.

READ MORE:  

He has been the subject of continuing criticism over apparent cronyism in the awarding of road building contracts and his repeated refusal for months to deal with convicted criminal and Cabinet Member ‘Akosita Lavulavu.

Tu’i’onetoa was criticised heavily for his attempts to operate the government like a Christian church, especially his failed national fasting campaign to protect Tonga from Covid. Despite his national prayer services, and fasting the kingdom reported its first coronavirus infection last month after a passenger travelling from New Zealand tested positive. The media later revealed he and his Cabinet ministers’ spouses were paid from the people’s tax money when they went on tour to the outer islands as part of the fasting campaign.

Perfect choice

Critics believe Sovaleni is the perfect choice to replace Tu’i’onetoa given the fact he was the MP with the highest number of votes compared to the rest of the MPs. He received 84 percent of his constituency’s total votes.

Veteran publisher and journalist Kalafi Moala told Kaniva News he believed Sovaleni’s high vote tally put him in the perfect position to be Tonga’s new Prime Minister.

“To me it is a simple issue of numbers, plus he has a much better record than Tu’i’onetoa or any of the potential PM candidates,” Moala said.

“Some of the nobles are still trying to play politics, talking to both sides. I think, though, that in the end they will support whoever has the greatest number of People’s Reps support”.

When asked about the potential candidates Moala said: “There are two candidates – Siaosi Sovaleni and Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa”.

“Apparently there are five (which includes Tu’i’onetoa) who have indicated their support for him.

“There are 11 who have indicated their support for Sovaleni, without any horse-trading.

“Based on the general mood here and public conversations going on, Sovaleni seems to be the “preferred choice”.

Tonga general election recount gives Tu’i’onetoa small boost

By
Kaniva Staff
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Interim Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s lead in his constituency after the November 18 election increased by three votes after election officials recounted over 1306 votes.

Supervisor of Election Pita Vuki. Photo/KanivaTonga news

The Election Supervisor updated the results on the government’s website this afternoon and Tu’i’onetoa’s previous total votes changed from 1303 to 1306 while votes for the runner-up Kapeli Lanumata was dropped by four votes.

“On Thursday 25 November 2021, the Electoral Commission received letters from candidates of 5 constituencies, seeking a recount of the results of the General Parliamentary Election for their respective constituencies”, the Election Supervisor Pita Vuki said.

“This included Siaosi Vailahi Pohiva for Tongatapu 1, ‘Akanete Lauti for Togatapu 5, Paula Piveni Piukala for Tongatapu 7, Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata for Tongatapu 10 and Tevita Lavemaau for ‘Eua 11”.

Candidates are allowed within one week from the declaration of the poll to request recounting.

“Recount of Tongatapu 1 and Tongatapu 5 commenced on Friday, 26 November 2021. The recount of ‘Eua 11 was completed on Saturday, 27 November 2021. As announced yesterday, Monday 29 November 2021, there were no changes as to the winning candidates of those three constituencies”.

The recount for Tongatapu 7 and Tongatapu 10 resumed on Monday, 29 November 2021 and the result of the recount is as follows:

TONGATAPU 7:

Taniela Vao: 33 votes
Paula Piveni Piukala: 610 votes
Sione Sangster Saulala: 810 votes
Feletiliki Teau’imo’unga Fa’otusia: 659 votes
Mele Teusivi ‘Amanaki: 80 votes
‘Emaloni Tau’akiloto Tongi: 359 votes

TONGATAPU 10:

Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa: 1306 votes
Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata: 1082 votes
Vika Taufa Kaufusi: 468 votes.

It said there were no changes to the winning candidates of those five constituencies that applied for a recount and these are the final results of the General Parliamentary Elections, 2021.

 

Watch: National Party’s new leader Chris Luxon and deputy Nicola Willis speak after vote

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.

Former Air NZ chief and MP for Botany Christopher Luxon has become the National Party’s new leader, and Nicola Willis the deputy after MPs voted this afternoon.

Watch the briefing live here:

The caucus was catapulted into chaos last week after then-leader Judith Collins tried to demote Simon Bridges – and National MPs then voted Collins out.

Luxon says it is an “incredible privilege and honour to be elected leader of the National Party”.

It was an uncontested leadership decision, he says.

“John Key has not been asked to get involved in this or talk to any MPs and he didn’t.”

He says he and Nicola Willis, who has been elected his deputy, will “be a formidable team”.

“We are the reset.”

He also thanked Willis for joining him in the leadership team, his wife and children for their support, and to his caucus colleagues.

He says he has known Nicola Willis for a long time and they are good friends and their skills are complementary.

Luxon thanked Judith Collins for her service during “a very difficult period” for the party, and said today they are putting the events of the past four years behind them.

“I don’t want to really talk about what’s happened in our past, what I can tell yo is the bottom line is we have an uncontested leadership selection and we’ve come together as a team.

“New Zealand is over it, the National Party members are over it, and the caucus is over it. So we want to turn the page and go forward together.

“We are going to do things differently from here on through. It’s very clear from today and you’ve watched this contest be different from previous contests, that actually we’re turning the page, we’re putting the baggage aside, we’re trusting each other, we’re doing that work…”

Luxon says he is not interested in things like leaks and he does not feel like he will need to watch his back.

There is a role for everyone in his caucus and there is very important roles for former leaders like Collins and Bridges, he says.

No positions have been set as yet. Luxon says he has yet to talk to leaders from other parties.

Having a team backing them up with complimentary skills is important, he says.

“We want to build a team based on talent and merit and performance and that’s what we’re going to do going forward.”

Conversations in the past few days have been about strategic issues around where the party goes and unifying, he says.

Luxon says his faith has often been misrepresented and protrayed very negatively.

“What I can tell you is that my faith is actually something that has grounded me, it’s given me context and put me into context with something bigger than myself but I want to be very clear, we have seperation between politics and faith, people shouldn’t be selecting an MP because of their faith and they shouldn’t not be selecting an MP because of their faith.”

He says he is here to represent all New Zealanders.

His background is about leading large complex organisations and solving problems, getting results and doing that through people. “That’s what this job is about.”

“You can’t plan anything in politics I learnt.”

He loves country music, water skiing and is an extravert who knows how to lead people, he says.

Willis says she is a mother to four, has a “hard head but a soft heart”.

Looking ahead and on the current government

No caption

Photo: Getty Images/supplied

He says to the 400,000 odd voters who moved away from the party that “National is back”.

New Zealand is at a critical crossroads as it grapples with the pandemic, he says.

“New Zealand needs an alternative now more than ever to take us in the right direction because frankly, the country is heading the wrong way.”

He says the government is very good at delivering PR “but woeful at delivering much else”.

“I think Jacinda Ardern is a fine communicator but the reality is we need much more than that at this point in time. We need a leader and we need a government that’s actually going to get things done.”

There is a big difference between words and presenting a vision, getting it done, he says.

He feels very confident in his caucus against Labour person-by-person.

He commented on how because of the government’s policies there will be a million Kiwis missing a Christmas dinner this year because they cannot get home, and that farmers are not villains.

“Over 100 days in lockdown, Aucklanders are still utterly confused and directionless.

“Nice ideas and good intentions don’t pay the rent or the mortgage, educate our children, keep us healthy, keep us safe from crime and gangs, improve our mental health, lower our emissions or keep us united.”

He says growing our economy and raising productivity are the single biggest thing we can do to improve the lives of New Zealanders.

“And the National Government I will lead will be a government of action.

“We will bring the tide back in and lift all boats.

“We need to seize the tremendous opportunities we have, rather than squander them.

Luxon says restructuring healthcare while we are dealing with a pandemic isn’t the smartest thing.

“In this country where we have issues around inequality and inequity, we need to really identify and target the people that need real targeted interventions and able to put them on a pathway where they can be independent and not dependent on the state.”

They want to make sure they build more houses in a sustainable way, he says.

Luxon says the biggest problem in New Zealand is that there isn’t a productive enough economy.

Kiwis are not generating high enough income, he says, investing in education is part of building this.

“We want to see a more productive economy that drives higher incomes and wages, we need to seriously address our education challenges, I don’t think the average New Zealanders understands how poorly we have have been performing in education.

“We need to think deeply about mental health and irrespective of political party that’s an issue for every New Zealander, that is touching every New Zealander. We need to think very deeply about how we manage emissions as we go forward and we need to think primarily about how we build and develop infrastructure.”

They are committed to the targets made around emissions targets.

Luxon says Māori did incredibly well under previous National governments including treaty settlements.

“We believe in an inclusive country and we’re going to take it from there.”

What happened today

Just before a caucus meeting this afternoon where the party was set to vote on the leader, his main rival and former party leader Simon Bridges tweeted his support for Luxon.

Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop, who had been raised as a possibility in initial speculation about the leadership, also backed Luxon.

Just half an hour into the 3pm caucus meeting, the National Party revealed through a statement that Luxon had become the new leader and Willis the deputy.

International community monitoring situation in Solomon Islands

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Christine Rovoi, RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.

With no plans to evacuate their citizens from Honiara, the international community is closely monitoring the situation in the Solomon Islands following a week of political unrest.

Members of the Fijian community in Honiara help BSP staff clean up. The bank was one of nearly 60 businesses torched by protesters last week.
Members of the Fijian community in Honiara help BSP staff clean up. The bank was one of nearly 60 businesses torched by protesters last week. Photo: Supplied/Fijian community, Honiara

There’s an air of calm across Honiara this weekend.

Resident Claire Percel puts it down to the arrival of Australian and Papua New Guinea defence forces to help the local police.

She said the reinforcements have “really helped the situation but we’re still nervous”.

“Roadblocks now set up in key locations and I’ve seen them check vehicles. Local businesses have started cleaning up the streets and removing the burnt vehicles.

“I managed to get out of the house today for a grocery shop and visit some family. Was a really good change of scenery. I took my kids with me, was a very difficult conversation trying to explain why this happened,” Percel said.

There was rioting and looting across the capital following a protest at Parliament on Wednesday calling for the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to stand down.

Mr Sogavare has since said he will not resign.

The tension escalated on Friday when more than 100 protesters reached Sogavare’s residence, throwing rocks while police with riot shields fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Australia and Papua New Guinea have deployed their defence force personnel to help the local police control rioting anti-government protesters.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Solomons reached out to his government for help. But he added Canberra was monitoring the situation in Honiara.

New Zealand officials are in contact with their citizens in Honiara and are aware that the travel plans of some have been disrupted.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government has not yet received a formal request for assistance from the Solomon Islands government.

..
.. Photo: Supplied/Fijian community, Honiara

“We are not activating evacuation plans at this stage but remain in contact with relevant partners on the ground and are monitoring events closely.

“The New Zealand High Commission is providing Safe Travel advice to New Zealanders in Solomon Islands, including to follow the instructions of local authorities.

“New Zealanders in Solomon Islands should not rely on New Zealand government-assisted departures in an emergency,” the MFAT spokesperson said.

Fijians safe, govt says

Fiji’s government said its citizens in Honiara are safe.

Fiji’s consul-general to the Solomon Islands, Atueta Balekana, assured family members of the 400 Fijians living in Honiara their loved ones are safe.

..
.. Photo: Supplied/Fijian community, Honiara

The only unfortunate incident for the Fijian community in Honiara, he said, was the torching of one of its members’ shops.

Balekana also said a former Fijian soldier working as a caretaker at one of Honiara’s biggest hotels was confronted by rioters.

However, the couple who own Oceanic Marine Equipment Ltd are safe and the security officer had sought the aid of hotel employees that were loyal to the Honiara-based Malaitans to protect the property.

“We have issued an advisory for all Fijians in the Honiara vicinity not to get involved in the rioting and to leave them as they are,” Balekana said.

“We have not come up with an evacuation plan as yet, but if things escalate we would have to resort to one.

“At this stage, we do not expect the situation to escalate any further as security forces have stepped in to control the situation.”

Balekana said the Fijian community’s contribution to the Solomon Islands’ development is widely respected and “we do not think that we are under any threat”.

“The Solomon islanders treasure our relations but it is good to always approach these situations with caution.”

Balekana said more than 45 Fijian citizens worked in Honiara, while there were more than 300 Fijians married to Solomon islanders.

Unrest forces workers home

Rotuman Kaitu Aisake arrived in Honiara in 2019.

Aisake said he immediately adjusted well to life in the Solomon Islands. He welcomed the locals and the lifestyle.

The recent events in the city took Aisake by surprise. He grew up in Fiji and had experienced political unrest.

Aisake said his office was among several businesses torched and looted by angry protesters on Friday.

Employees have been told to remain at home until further notice.

“The riots have always been politically motivated and they’ve always been targeting the township and industrial areas.

“The advice has always been consistent: just stay home. We will not return to work until the security situation can be confirmed that it is okay.”

Kaitu Aisake during a visit to Malaita Island.
Kaitu Aisake during a visit to Malaita Island. Photo: Supplied

Aisake warned the political unrest in the Solomons has plunged the country further into “darkness”.

“This already had a huge impact without the lockdown. Our communities have already been deeply impacted. Unemployment, crime rates have gone up so socially everything is dysfunctional.

“The bright side is that we’ve managed to keep Covid out of our borders but now with this, this rioting – whichever way you try to look at it, the impact is really bad though.”

Aisake hopes the arrival of security forces from Australia and Papua New Guinea helps stabilise the volatile situation in Honiara.

Tough times ahead, says ex-NZ resident

Former New Zealand resident John Wopereis said it’s been a “tough week for everyone”.

He moved from Nelson to the Solomon Islands four years ago.

Wopereis said the events that took place in Honiara took his family and friends by surprise.

“This all happened so suddenly. We didn’t have anytime to prepare our families with food or gas – with businesses being burned, there’s a bank branch that got burned too.

“Hundreds of Solomon Islanders unemployed. Where are they going to get their money to feed their families? In a couple of weeks, it’s going to get very bad because there’s going to be a shortage of everything. There’s nothing left.”

He said the unrest may have started as “something political but spiralled out of control”.

Wopereis said people are taking advantage of the conflict with majority of them violating the laws.

Former Nelson resident John Wopereis and his family in Honiara.
Former Nelson resident John Wopereis and his family in Honiara. Photo: Supplied/John Wopereis

“People are not respecting what is being asked of them so whether or not we did have a lockdown or not, I think it’s just gone totally out of control. It’s very sad because it’s not only men, it’s children too. I’ve seen kids walking around with batteries, with cartons of soft drinks. It’s total chaos.

“I do feel that the Solomon Islands will bounce back from this. The events that unfolded really exposed a lot of underlying societal issues in the country that the nation can learn from and build back better.”

Meanwhile, an Air Kiribati crew are stranded in Honiara after arriving hours before the conflict started on Wednesday.

Pilot Captain Salote Mataitini said she was concerned at the escalating unrest in the country.

Mataitini and a colleague had only arrived in Honiara from Tarawa when the protests began.

She said their flight to Brisbane later that day was cancelled but they are now both safe in a hotel.

“I guess as a pilot you are really calm in stressful situations, I guess once I get back to Tarawa I will think about this experience.”

The Air Kiribati crew will leave Honiara in two weeks.

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Photo: RNZ Pacific/Georgina Kekea
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