Solomon Islands has become a formal partner of the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme.

It joins five other Pacific Island nations - Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu - who are already providing temporary workers to New Zealand.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua, signed the partnership agreement, formalising Solomon Islands entry into the scheme in Nuie.

In addition, a new training scheme for Pacific Islanders will be introduced in New Zealand next year to give temporary workers an opportunity to develop other skills while they are in the country.

New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, admitted that teething problems are being sorted, to ensure that Pacific workers are not exploited.

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