Auckland, New Zealand – Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele has officially commenced his visit to New Zealand with an engagement at the Auckland Fish Market, where he visited Sanford Limited, New Zealand’s oldest and largest seafood company.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Hon. Claudius Tei’ifi, Member of Parliament for West Kwaio and Chairman of the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Project Cabinet Sub‑Committee, alongside senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET).
Bina Harbour, located in Malaita Province, is a key national development site for establishing a tuna processing and transshipment facility.
The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) considers the Bina Harbour Project a strategic priority to generate employment, attract investment, and develop the fisheries sector by adding value locally rather than exporting raw products.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Sanford Managing Director Mr. David Mair and Executive General Manager Strategy and Innovation Mr. Vaughan Wilkinson. Discussions covered Sanford’s operations, its aquaculture focus on mussels and salmon, and their connections with Pacific Island fisheries.
Challenges of expanding into the Pacific were acknowledged, as was Sanford’s commitment to sustainable fishing and quota systems.
The Prime Minister expressed interest in partnership opportunities related to the Bina Harbour Project.
“Today’s discussions mark the beginning of a deeper conversation with Sanford on the future of fisheries development,” Prime Minister Manele said.
“We welcome Sanford’s openness to explore partnerships for the Bina Harbour Project and their ongoing employment of our citizens, which directly benefits families and communities back home”, the Prime Minister said.
Founded in 1904, Sanford Limited operates approximately 47 fishing vessels and over 220 aquaculture farms throughout New Zealand.
The company specializes in sustainably farmed King salmon and Greenshell mussels and holds a significant portion of New Zealand’s commercial fishing quota.
The visit to the Auckland Fish Market marks the start of Prime Minister Manele’s official engagements in New Zealand, highlighting the Solomon Islands Government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and unlocking economic opportunities through strategic partnerships especially in the fisheries sector.
In his absence his Deputy Fredrick Kologeto is the Acting Prime Minister.
– OPMC
