Solomons travel warning reissued

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry has renewed a travel warning for the Solomon Islands.

It advised against non-essential travel to rural areas of Guadalcanal province and Malaita, and New Zealanders in the Solomons were reminded to maintain personal security in the capital Honiara and throughout the islands.

The ministry said the Pacific Forum regional assistance mission had been collecting illegal weapons throughout the islands but there were many weapons still at large and the potential for tension and civil unrest remained.

Although visitors and expatriates were not believed to be specific targets the ministry warned New Zealanders against attending large political gatherings and demonstrations.

It said the Solomons police had limited capacity to respond outside Honiara and medical and other emergency services in the Solomons were limited.

Travel warnings have covered the Solomon Islands for several months after years of ethnic conflict, corruption and lawlessness resulted in the intervention of Pacific Islands Forum nations in July.

- NZPA