New Zealand officials are urgently considering a formal request from Solomon Islands for assistance from New Zealand.
File photo: The Royal New Zealand Air Force helped transport election officials, ballot boxes and other election material to remote communities in Solomon Islands. Photo: Copyright NZ Defence Force
Days of violent unrest rocked the Solomons capital, Honiara, prompting the local government to request security assistance from other regional countries.
Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji have together sent around 200 defence force, police and security forces personnel to Honiara since last week.
New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, spoke with her Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele, last night.
Her ministry describes the unrest as deeply concerning and says the high commission in Honiara is monitoring the situation. Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji have already deployed peacekeepers.
It's understood the New Zealand Defence Force is preparing a unit of troops at the Linton army base for possible deployment.