The funeral service for Late Lady Joy Kere was held in Honiara on Wednesday – 28th January 2026.
The sad and solemn ceremony brought together immediate family members, relatives, friends, former work colleagues and those who have come to know her.
The service was held at the St Barnabas Cathedral to allow every one to pay their last respect and tribute to as a respected diplomat, public servant, and sports administrator whose career broke barriers and inspired generations of women across the nation.
The ceremony featured a thought from the Word of God, prayer, singing, a reflection of her life through eulogy, paying of respect and laying of wreath.
Late Lady Kere was called to rest on Friday 23 January 2026.
Following her death tributes and message of condolences have been pouring from around the country and abroad.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) expressed its sadness over her passing as a Commissioner of the Political Parties Commission.
Late Lady Kere, in her role as Commissioner of the Political Parties Commission, worked closely and collaboratively with the Electoral Commission to uphold democratic principles and values, and to promote a stable, inclusive, and tolerant political environment in Solomon Islands.
Beyond diplomacy, Lady Joy Kere was deeply committed to sport development and women’s leadership.
She served as President of the Solomon Islands Netball Federation (SINFED), the country’s largest women-led sporting federation.
In this role, she worked tirelessly to strengthen governance, improve athlete pathways and raise the standard of netball nationally.
In March 2022, under her leadership as SINFED President, she signed an MOU formally integrating netball into the national High-Performance Program at SINIS.
Lady Joy was also widely admired as a mentor and advocate for women, encouraging young women to pursue leadership roles in diplomacy, sport and public service despite existing barriers.
Many remember her humility, wisdom and quiet determination to see Solomon Islands women succeed.
Her legacy spans diplomacy, sport, governance and nation-building. Lady Joy Kere not only represented Solomon Islands with honour on the international stage, but also helped shape stronger institutions at home.
The National Sports Council (NSC) also expressed its heartfelt condolences..
Chair of the NSC, Sika Manuopangai, noted that “Lady Joy’s absence will be sorely felt by the sporting family. She dedicated herself to netball and the challenges of organising in all provinces to ensure young women and girls have access to the sport.
“She oversaw the move of SINFED to full membership of World Netball to ensure more support would come to the national federation and its players.”
Background of Joy Kere
Source: grokipedia
Joy Kere is a diplomat from the Solomon Islands who served as the country’s first resident High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2014 to 2020.
Appointed to establish the mission in Wellington, she represented Solomon Islands interests in areas including trade, education, and development aid during her six-year tenure.
As the first woman to hold the role of High Commissioner for the Solomon Islands, Kere broke new ground in the nation’s foreign service, fostering closer ties with New Zealand amid regional Pacific diplomacy.
Her service concluded with commendations for strengthening bilateral relations, after which she returned to Honiara.
Family Background and Upbringing
Joy Kere originates from Malaita province. Her upbringing was markedly shaped by her mother, who lacked formal schooling yet acted as her primary mentor and source of inspiration, urging her to prioritize education despite such opportunities being rare for women during that period.
This maternal encouragement laid the groundwork for Kere’s subsequent commitment to public service, spanning over two decades.
Limited public records exist on further details of her familial origins or childhood experiences.
Formal Education and Training
Joy Kere earned a Master’s degree in International Studies, specializing in Peace and Conflict Resolution, from the University of Queensland in Australia.
This postgraduate qualification, obtained prior to her prominent diplomatic roles, equipped her with expertise in international relations and conflict management, areas central to her subsequent work in foreign affairs and peace-building initiatives within the Solomon Islands public service.
Details of her undergraduate education or earlier formal training remain undocumented in publicly available sources.
Diplomatic Career
Joy Kere entered the Solomon Islands foreign service in a senior capacity as Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, a position she held prior to her diplomatic posting abroad.
This role involved administrative oversight of the ministry’s operations, though specific dates of her tenure in this office are not publicly detailed in available records.
Her appointment as Permanent Secretary marked an early high-level engagement in foreign affairs administration, preceding the establishment of Solomon Islands’ diplomatic missions in certain regions.
Kere’s service in this position contributed to the groundwork for expanded international representation, as evidenced by her subsequent transition to head the newly created High Commission in New Zealand.
No earlier entry-level or mid-tier roles within the foreign service are documented in official announcements from the period.
Appointment as High Commissioner to New Zealand
In 2014, Joy Kere was appointed as the inaugural High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to New Zealand, establishing the country’s first resident diplomatic mission in Wellington.
This appointment coincided with Solomon Islands’ efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with New Zealand, a key Pacific partner providing development aid and technical assistance.
As a career foreign service officer with prior experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Kere’s selection reflected her expertise in multilateral diplomacy and regional engagement.
Kere’s appointment marked a milestone as the first Solomon Islands woman to head a foreign mission abroad, highlighting progress in gender representation within the nation’s diplomatic corps.
The decision was made by the Solomon Islands government under Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, amid broader foreign policy priorities to enhance presence in Oceania and address shared challenges like climate change and economic development.
No public controversies surrounded the appointment, which was presented in official statements as a strategic step to foster direct engagement with New Zealand’s government and diaspora communities.
Upon assuming the role, Kere presented credentials to New Zealand authorities shortly after her arrival, enabling immediate advocacy for Solomon Islands’ interests, including increased aid, trade opportunities in fisheries and agriculture, and labor mobility schemes.
Her tenure from 2014 was set for a standard diplomatic posting, later confirmed to span six years until early 2020.
Tenure and Key Activities (2014–2020)
Joy Kere was appointed as the inaugural High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to New Zealand in February 2014, marking the establishment of the country’s first resident diplomatic mission there and her distinction as the first Solomon Islands woman to head a foreign mission.
Her initial focus involved setting up the High Commission in Wellington and fostering bilateral ties, including an early courtesy call on New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in March 2014 to discuss cooperation on development, trade, and regional issues.
Kere emphasized promoting Solomon Islands’ economic interests, such as fisheries and agriculture exports, while leveraging New Zealand’s aid programs for infrastructure and education support.
Throughout her tenure, Kere engaged in high-level diplomatic initiatives, including advocacy for enhanced trade negotiations and participation in Pacific Islands forums hosted in New Zealand.
In 2015, she delivered a keynote address at a Women in International Security (WIIS) New Zealand event on the National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security, highlighting Solomon Islands’ post-conflict reconciliation efforts and gender inclusion in governance.
She also worked to strengthen people-to-people links, facilitating scholarships and training programs for Solomon Islanders in New Zealand institutions, which contributed to capacity building in public administration and health sectors.
Kere prioritized community outreach, acknowledging the Solomon Islands diaspora in Wellington for their role in cultural events like the 2018 Pasifika Festival, where they showcased traditional dances and crafts to promote visibility and cultural exchange.
Her efforts extended to lobbying for increased New Zealand assistance during natural disasters, such as Cyclone Pam’s aftermath in 2015, securing humanitarian aid and reconstruction support.
By 2020, Kere’s six-year term had advanced Solomon Islands’ diplomatic footprint in New Zealand, with commendations from her government for effectively advancing national interests amid challenges like limited resources.
She concluded her posting in February 2020, receiving farewell honors from the Wellington Diplomatic Corps and Pacific Heads of Missions, reflecting strengthened bilateral goodwill.
Return to Solomon Islands and Subsequent Roles
Following the end of her tenure as High Commissioner to New Zealand in February 2020, after six years of service, Joy Kere returned to Honiara.
In March 2022, Kere was appointed as one of the new Commissioners to the Public Prosecutors Commission (PPC), a body tasked with overseeing the appointment, promotion, and discipline of public prosecutors in Solomon Islands.
She was sworn in alongside other commissioners on March 17, 2022, with a fifth position left pending.
This role marked her transition from diplomatic service to a position within the national justice oversight framework.
Personal Life
Joy Kere is married to Sir Dr. Nathan K. Kere, a Solomon Islands physician who serves as Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University, appointed in October 2020, and Managing Director of East Medical Centre in Honiara.
The couple accompanied each other during official events, including Joy Kere’s farewell courtesy calls upon concluding her tenure as High Commissioner to New Zealand in February 2020.
She holds the courtesy title of Lady Joy Kere by virtue of her husband’s knighthood. No public records detail children or extended family.
Titles and Honors
Joy Kere holds the courtesy title of Lady by virtue of her marriage to Sir Nathan Kere, who serves as Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University.
As High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to New Zealand from 2014 to 2020, she was formally addressed as Her Excellency (H.E.) Lady Joy Kere, a standard diplomatic honorific for heads of mission.
Impact and Reception
Joy Kere’s appointment as the inaugural Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand in 2014 marked the establishment of the country’s first resident diplomatic mission in Wellington, enabling sustained bilateral engagement on development, trade, and security matters.
This presence facilitated formal presentations of credentials, such as her meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on March 7, 2014, to outline priorities for cooperation.
A key contribution involved advancing labour mobility initiatives, particularly New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) program, which Kere described as Solomon Islands’ flagship scheme for worker remittances and skills transfer in agriculture.
She advocated for expanded participation, leading to commendations in 2016 for progressing Solomon Islands’ interests under the program, including recruitment drives that supported economic ties.
Kere’s diplomatic activities strengthened broader bilateral frameworks, including New Zealand’s aid contributions to Solomon Islands’ infrastructure and health sectors, while underscoring mutual commitments during annual independence commemorations.
Her six-year tenure, ending February 2020, was credited with fostering enduring relations through consistent advocacy within Pacific diplomatic circles.
Criticisms and Challenges
Joy Kere’s participation in the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as Youth Representative, and her involvement with the National Peace Council, coincided with significant institutional challenges that contributed to the TRC’s overall perceived failure.
Established under the 2008 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act to address the ethnic tensions (1998–2003), the TRC faced chronic underfunding, prolonged delays in report delivery until 2012, and criticisms for inadequate consultation with rural communities and victims of sexual violence, limiting its impact on national healing.
These issues reflected broader post-colonial critiques of externally influenced transitional justice models ill-suited to local customary practices, resulting in a process that struggled to foster genuine reconciliation despite ministerial oversight from bodies like the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, where Kere previously held permanent secretary roles.
In her diplomatic capacity as High Commissioner to New Zealand (2014–2020), Kere navigated geopolitical challenges stemming from Solomon Islands’ abrupt switch in diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China on September 16, 2019.
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