Mahuta told Morning Report it was a joint deployment made up of NZDF and police personnel.
"The response has been made in relation to a formal request from the Solomon Islands.
"We'll undertake a peacekeeping role to ensure that we can support the effort in the community to clean up the result of rioting, damage to property, loss of life.
"And then we will continue to support Australia, PNG and Fiji who are already working on the ground."
She said New Zealand's role was about maintaining "peace and security".
"We will do that as a third-party state in relation to the activities we undertake.
"It's not for New Zealand to get involved in the domestic politics of another country"
Mahuta expected further rioting.
"We're going in to deescalate the situation, undertake peacekeeping activities, help with the cleanup and stabilise, and deescalate the tensions there at the moment."
She said it was a short-term effort of about 30 days.