PNG Haus Bung

CPL Group, through its City Pharmacy Medical Clinic brand, has partnered with India’s leading healthcare provider, Apollo Hospitals, to establish integrated referral pathways for Papua New Guineans seeking specialist medical care.The partnership was formally launched in Port Moresby on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CPL Group Chief Executive Officer Ajay Patel and Apollo Health Senior Manager for International Marketing, Dr Harsh Jadhav.The signing followed a Continuous Medical Education event attended by visiting Apollo specialists, including cardiologist Dr Varun Bansal and oncologist Dr Asit Arora, along with Port Moresby General Hospital oncologist Dr Peter Olali and other medical professionals and industry partners.Mr Patel said the partnership aims to connect Papua New Guineans with international specialist medical expertise while helping patients make informed decisions before travelling overseas for treatment.He said the collaboration would also create opportunities for international medical knowledge and expertise to be shared locally, strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals in PNG.Through the partnership, patients will have access to specialist consultations, telehealth services, multidisciplinary clinical expertise, advanced treatments, robotic technologies and artificial intelligence-driven healthcare solutions.As part of the visiting delegation’s programme, Dr Arora and Dr Bansal are scheduled to provide specialist oncology and cardiology consultations at City Pharmacy Medical Clinic in Port Moresby.CPL Group says the partnership will improve access to innovative and patient-centred healthcare while giving Papua New Guineans greater opportunities to benefit from advanced medical services.The company says it remains committed to its vision of helping Papua New Guineans live better and healthier lives and looks forward to building a long-term partnership with Apollo Hospitals.

Prime Minister James Marape has officially commissioned the University of Goroka’s new K130 million Central Administration Building and Humilaveka Student Forum Square, describing the investment as a major commitment by the Government to improving education as Papua New Guinea enters its next 50 years.Speaking at the university, Prime Minister Marape said investment in modern infrastructure must result in better-trained teachers, improved schools, and stronger learning outcomes for children across the country.He said quality education must remain a national priority, stressing that the future of PNG depends on the standard of teaching and learning provided to its children.Prime Minister Marape described the new facilities as some of the finest educational infrastructure in the country and acknowledged the contribution of the university’s leadership, councils, contractors, traditional landowners, government agencies and taxpayers.He said the project was made possible through taxpayers’ contributions and represented a significant national investment.Prime Minister Marape said UOG carries a special responsibility because the teachers trained there will go on to educate and influence future generations of Papua New Guineans.He directed Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Kinoka Feo and his department to develop a programme to raise teacher-training standards to international levels.He said producing quality students begins with properly training and equipping teachers.The Prime Minister also called for teachers to receive remuneration that reflects their qualifications and the importance of their profession.He said improved salaries must also be supported by better teacher housing, working conditions, classrooms, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and other essential school infrastructure.Prime Minister Marape said the education system must recognise that children have different abilities and talents and should not be forced into a single academic pathway.He said some children excel in sports, arts, music, science and technical fields, and the education system must provide opportunities for them to develop their full potential.He also encouraged greater use of Flexible Open and Distance Education to give school leavers a second chance to return to education and pursue further studies.The Prime Minister said the next decade would be critical in transforming PNG’s education system and ensuring more young people have access to quality learning opportunities.Prime Minister Marape urged young Papua New Guineans who have left school not to give up on their education.He shared examples from his Tari-Pori electorate of people who returned to education through second-chance programmes before progressing to university and employment.Reflecting on his own journey, he recalled beginning Grade One in 1978 and walking for hours to attend school before eventually being sent to boarding school by his father.He said his father encouraged him never to abandon education, describing it as a highway to a better future.Prime Minister Marape said his own journey from a remote rural community to becoming Prime Minister demonstrated the potential of children across rural PNG when they are given access to quality education.Prime Minister Marape has also backed plans to significantly expand student accommodation at the University of Goroka.Higher Education Minister Kinoka Feo presented plans for a major new dormitory development aimed at addressing the university’s accommodation shortage.Prime Minister Marape said the Government would support the construction of the proposed dormitory.However, he stressed that increased government investment must be matched by discipline, professionalism, and high standards among students preparing to become teachers.He urged students to become role models and uphold the standards expected of those who will eventually teach and influence the country’s children.With PNG set to mark its 51st Independence Anniversary on September 16, Prime Minister Marape said the coming ten years will be crucial in preparing the next generation.He said the push for quality education must begin with strengthening teacher training and education at institutions such as the University of Goroka.

Three schools in and around Lae have received a combined 3,000 books to mark International Literacy Day, giving hundreds of students’ greater access to learning and reading resources.The donation was facilitated by Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP), with each school receiving 1,000 books valued at K13,800.The beneficiary schools are Amba Demonstration Primary School, Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School and Situm 7th Australian Division Memorial Primary School.The books are designed to support students across different age groups and learning levels, from young children to secondary students.The School Library Kits include storybooks, activity books, dictionaries, atlases, teacher reference materials and general information and research books.The organisation says the books were carefully selected and packed according to the learning needs and age groups of each school.The library kits were presented by Australian Consul-General in Lae Brenton Kanowski, Express Freight Management Project Manager Gerald Pagdanganan, Captain Christopher Lenton of the Australian Defence Force and BbP teachers.Mr Kanowski said Australia was proud to support partnerships that give more children in Papua New Guinea access to books and quality learning resources.“Education is central to opportunity, community resilience and Papua New Guinea’s future prosperity.”The delivery of the books was also supported by logistics partners SEAFAST and Express Freight Management, with the latter assisting with the transportation of the books from Port Moresby to Lae and onward to the schools.The Australian Defence Force also provided logistical assistance to deliver books to Situm 7th Australian Division Memorial Primary School, which requires four-wheel-drive vehicles to access the school.BbP Founder Anne-Sophie Hermann said the donation was particularly meaningful because some of the schools had gone decades without books for their students.She said investing in education was one of the most rewarding investments a country could make.More School Library Kits are expected to be delivered to schools and communities in other parts of Papua New Guinea in the coming weeks.These include Emmanuel Primary School on Muschu Island in East Sepik, Koravake Primary School in Kikori District, Gulf Province, and a community reading corner in Rigo.

His Excellency President Ishmael Toroama witnessed the Kokoda Constituency’s declaration of being independence-ready, with other members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, partners from the Solomon Islands and the people of Kokoda Constituency yesterday. While addressing the people at the event, President Toroama urged citizens to be responsible for their social behavior as they continue to develop their constituency, now that they have declared themselves independence ready. “No one else will come and control you; we have to be responsible in the act and the manner that we are prepared to go into. I want to congratulate you for being ready for independence. I want to reiterate that we (Autonomous Bougainville Government) continue to stand and bring this idea to all the constituency members in the House of Representatives and the members of the National Parliament; let us work together.” His Excellency has pledged to build a level two hospital and a police station in the Kokoda Constituency to further boost the institution that they currently have. “Today I want to say thank you and congratulate the Member for Kokoda Constituency, Honorable Member, Philip Pinaung. I want to say that the government stands with you and is ready to progress the work in the Kokoda Constituency, the work that has happened and those that will happen in the next year. The Government is placing K20million on the road to develop a level 2 hospital at Toimanapu and a police station that will be built here (Kerekere),” President Toroama said. He reminded the people of Kokoda that the Autonomous Bougainville Government has held the people’s dream for independence in high regard and dialogued with the Papua New Guinea Government only for independence and no other options. “We have consulted for a result, which is independence; we did not consult for the highest possible autonomy; we consulted for independence. The talks we had, the government stood with you. Because a leader must stand to protect your rights, the ideology and dreams of the people of Bougainville in the past and now the present.”His Excellency also acknowledged the ex-combatants who fought for Bougainville during the conflict and now play a vital role in redevelopment in their communities and constituency. “Leadership of the ex-combatants, I want to say thank you for your support; the support that the community brings with the general public is tremendous. Working together as we stand to pave a way that we can exercise our right.”As Bougainville progress towards the target date for self-governance and independence, the region’s economy remains the greatest challenge. His Excellency stressed the importance of redeveloping the Panguna Mine to jumpstart the economy before independence. “The biggest challenge the government has faced in the fourth and current House, is how to build the economy. I stand today and mention Panguna Lloyds Metal, who is our partner in redeveloping Panguna Mine; we also have Island Passage, which has come to complete explorations, and if we go into actual mining, we can look at those areas.”   He stressed that being independent and ready is everyone’s responsibility.“Fathers, mothers, you are responsible; civil society, you are all responsible. We are responsible for this declaration. Youth leaders, you are responsible for the way your youths behave and socialize; it is your responsibility. Ward members, it is your responsibility; we have our constituency members who stand to implement the vision for an independence-ready mission.""Today I want to say that we will not back down from the comments made by people who tell us that we are not ready. Bougainville, we are ready! We are ready to declare Self-Government on the first of September 2027.”  

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has concluded its second Strategic Government Repositioning Workshop in Arawa last week, with a strong focus on turning government priorities into measurable outcomes ahead of 1 September 2027. Opening the workshop, ABG President His Excellency, Ishmael Toroama, said the political direction towards self-government was clear and the focus must now shift from planning to delivery. “Today, we are not here to discuss what government should do, but rather, what government must now deliver.”President Toroama called on Ministers, Heads of Departments and the public service to take ownership of specific deliverables and ensure progress was measured by tangible results—not simply activities, meetings or consultations.“Our objective is therefore to move from planning to execution, from intention to delivery, and from activity to results.” He said the focus must be on outcomes including legislation enacted, institutions established or strengthened, powers transferred and operationalised, revenue streams secured, systems made functional and services improved. President Toroama said that 1 September 2027 was a fixed political and administrative deadline, requiring government to work with urgency, coordination and accountability.“The time for repositioning through words is passing. The time for repositioning through delivery has arrived.” He said the Government must be able to demonstrate, by the time it reaches 1 September 2027, that it had prepared, delivered, and taken responsibility for Bougainville’s future. “We have one year to demonstrate what we are capable of building. Let us use that year wisely.” The ABG Vice President Hon. Ezekiel Masatt, provided a political update on Bougainville’s independence agenda, outlining three strategies of Bougainville gaining its independence: firstly, through the ratification process as contained under the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA), the Bougainville Constituent Assembly/constitution-making process, and international lobbying. He said the preferred pathway through the BPA ratification process had been ‘endangered’, reinforcing the need for the strategic repositioning of the ABG machinery.“The President has presented the Final Bougainville Position – that position is non-negotiable,” he said.  He called for all sectors to align their work with the timeline of the Final Bougainville Position. ABG Chief Secretary said the workshop was an opportunity for departments and agencies to demonstrate what they had delivered since the first repositioning workshop in July this year. “We are here to show what were the tangible outcomes that were delivered over the last two months.”He said the focus was on repositioning the public administration towards practical and tangible outcomes in line with the Government’s priorities for self-government

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, or TKCP, is partnering with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology to advance research and conservation efforts in the YUS Conservation Area of Morobe Province.The partnership aims to strengthen cooperation between TKCP-PNG and PNGUoT’s Centre of Excellence for Environmental Research and Rainforest Habitat, with both organisations agreeing to develop a field-based cooperation plan with support from local landowners and communities.The agreement will focus on six key research areas: terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, coastal and marine ecosystems, YUS culture and society, sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing, conservation management and threats, and human resource development.The partnership is expected to deliver direct benefits to communities by strengthening local skills and knowledge through training, workshops, and opportunities to participate in research activities.It is also expected to support sustainable livelihood initiatives, encourage greater community involvement in conservation, and provide communities and landowners with access to scientific knowledge and research findings that can help inform local environmental management and development.The sharing of knowledge, data and resources between the two organisations will also help build local research capacity and create opportunities for students, researchers, and community members to exchange expertise.PNGUoT Professor Patrick Michael says the university is refocusing its research, innovation and development agenda to help transform a broader society.He says the Memorandum of Understanding with TKCP-PNG forms part of the university’s strategy for the next 50 years of development.TKCP Executive Director Modi Pontio says the organisation’s work places local communities at the centre of sustainable conservation and management efforts.Mr. Pontio says the partnership will strengthen environmental and rainforest habitat research while building local capacity and encouraging greater community participation.He says research outcomes will also be shared with academic, government and community stakeholders to ensure the findings can contribute to conservation planning and socio-economic development in the YUS Conservation Area.The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program works to protect biodiversity, support local communities and promote sustainable livelihoods across the YUS Conservation Area, while PNGUoT has a long-standing role in education, research, innovation and development in Papua New Guinea.The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, or TKCP, is partnering with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology to advance research and conservation efforts in the YUS Conservation Area of Morobe Province.The partnership aims to strengthen cooperation between TKCP-PNG and PNGUoT’s Centre of Excellence for Environmental Research and Rainforest Habitat, with both organisations agreeing to develop a field-based cooperation plan with support from local landowners and communities.The agreement will focus on six key research areas: terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, coastal and marine ecosystems, YUS culture and society, sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing, conservation management and threats, and human resource development.The partnership is expected to deliver direct benefits to communities by strengthening local skills and knowledge through training, workshops, and opportunities to participate in research activities.It is also expected to support sustainable livelihood initiatives, encourage greater community involvement in conservation, and provide communities and landowners with access to scientific knowledge and research findings that can help inform local environmental management and development.The sharing of knowledge, data and resources between the two organisations will also help build local research capacity and create opportunities for students, researchers, and community members to exchange expertise.PNGUoT Professor Patrick Michael says the university is refocusing its research, innovation and development agenda to help transform a broader society.He says the Memorandum of Understanding with TKCP-PNG forms part of the university’s strategy for the next 50 years of development.TKCP Executive Director Modi Pontio says the organisation’s work places local communities at the centre of sustainable conservation and management efforts.Mr. Pontio says the partnership will strengthen environmental and rainforest habitat research while building local capacity and encouraging greater community participation.He says research outcomes will also be shared with academic, government and community stakeholders to ensure the findings can contribute to conservation planning and socio-economic development in the YUS Conservation Area.The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program works to protect biodiversity, support local communities and promote sustainable livelihoods across the YUS Conservation Area, while PNGUoT has a long-standing role in education, research, innovation and development in Papua New Guinea.

Santos has marked a historic milestone at the Kumul Marine Terminal, with the appointment of Jackson Jim and Willie Mapal as Team Leaders, making them the first Papua New Guinean nationals to fully lead the facility.The milestone is being described as a significant achievement in the history of one of Papua New Guinea’s key energy export facilities and reflects decades of investment in developing the country’s workforce and technical leadership.Located in the Gulf of Papua, the Kumul Marine Terminal is the primary offshore export terminal for Papua New Guinea’s crude oil production and plays an important role in supporting the country’s petroleum industry and economy.Santos PNG Vice President PNG Operations, Rhys Ward, says the appointments demonstrate the strength and capability of Papua New Guinea’s national workforce.Mr. Ward says the achievement reflects the company’s long-term investment in people, leadership development and sustainable careers for Papua New Guineans.Santos Country Chair PNG, Leon Buskens, says seeing the Kumul Marine Terminal fully led by Papua New Guinean nationals is a significant and proud achievement.He says the milestone highlights Santos’ continued commitment to developing local talent and leadership within the country’s petroleum industry.Newly appointed Team Leader Jackson Jim says he is proud to be part of the first fully Papua New Guinean leadership team at the Kumul Marine Terminal.He says the achievement demonstrates the opportunities available to Papua New Guineans through investment in local talent and professional development.

Prime Minister James Marape has called on Eastern Highlanders to turn the Government’s multi-billion-kina investment in the Highlands Highway into increased coffee production, businesses, jobs and household incomes. Speaking at Bena, where he commissioned the new K20.2 million Bena Bridge and launched the Goroka Four Lane Road Project towards Korofeigu, Prime Minister Marape said improved roads and bridges must translate into greater economic productivity.“This is the economic lifeline that keeps our economy growing,” he said.“The money we are putting into this road is not a misplaced allocation. It is the correct allocation in terms of our strategy to grow the economy.” Prime Minister Marape challenged communities along the highway to increase coffee and agricultural production. “I want you to deliver coffee bags to repay the money we are investing in building infrastructure,” he said. “There is wealth growing by you through the use of your land, your sweat and your effort, and the road enables the marketing. “When you improve, the country improves. Together, we all grow.”He encouraged unemployed Papua New Guineans to pursue agriculture and small-to-medium enterprises rather than wait for formal employment or government assistance. “If you are already in SME, good on you — keep going. If you are already in employment, be faithful in employment. If you are unemployed, I point you back to SME and agriculture as an SME option,” he said.Prime Minister Marape also urged provincial and district leaders to use government funding to help people become economically productive“Teach a man how to fish; don’t just give him fish. Let us lead our people into self-employment activities so that this road can contribute to improving their lives and, collectively, the economy of our country.”With Papua New Guinea eight days away from its 51st Independence Anniversary, Prime Minister Marape said the country must move forward with a stronger culture of work and personal responsibility. “The drive we took over the last two days is just a symbol of ‘can do’. We can do it,” he said.“Our fathers laid the cornerstone of our national unity by 1975 when they gave us our Constitution. But the work of uniting the country must continue.”

The Royal Papua New Guinea (RPNGC) has released photographs of four Persons of Interest (POI) in connection to the theft of gold bullion in Port Moresby on September 2nd, 2026.The four individuals have been identified as Allan Wai, Steven Siskii, Lawrence Sausau, and Hans Nane.The Commissioner of Police David Manning said the public should not approach the individuals but report their location and other additional relevant information to police.“Investigations have identified these four individuals as Persons of Interest that police seek to question in relation to the recent robbery of a private security vehicle.”“This is a request to the public for information on the whereabouts of these individuals.”“It is believed that the four POIs are in Port Moresby.”Commissioner Manning stressed to the members of the public to call the police hotline number on 112, or the NCD/Central Command on 1800100, or report the information to a local police station.“All information provided by the public is treated as confidential.”

Families living in remote communities along the Kokoda Track are gaining improved access to essential healthcare through Australia-supported maternal and child health patrols.For Joyce Joe and her one-year-old son, Maxwell, accessing medical services can mean travelling for up to 30 minutes by dinghy, followed by an hour-long drive.Joyce said a new aid post near Sirinumu Primary School has improved access, but remains difficult to reach for families living further away.“There’s a new aid post now near Sirinumu Primary School, but that’s still 30 to 40 minutes away by dinghy for us.”The quarterly Maternal and Child Health patrols, funded through Australia’s Kokoda Initiative Partnership, provide critical healthcare services to communities where rugged terrain and long distances remain major barriers to medical care.Maxwell recently received treatment through an MCH patrol while recovering from severe pneumonia.Joyce said she was grateful that healthcare services were being brought directly to remote communities.“I’m grateful these services are being brought to our village. In the past, we had to travel by dinghy and then walk to Sogeri Health Centre if there was no public transport.”More than 1,200 people across the Sirinumu communities accessed essential health services during the latest MCH patrol.Women and young people accounted for 59 per cent of those who received treatment.The patrols addressed a range of common health conditions, including high blood pressure and respiratory infections, while also providing maternal and child health services.Australia, through its partnership with the Provincial Health Authority, continues to support efforts to bring healthcare closer to remote communities across the Kokoda region.

Geoff and Nini Eri, the creative force behind OFAE Arts, are set to bring a powerful narrative of family, cultural identity, and Papua New Guinean enterprise to PNG Fashion Week 2026.The emerging label will present its latest collection at APEC Haus in Port Moresby on September 18 and 19, marking its second runway appearance following a successful debut in Brisbane in July 2026.Designed for Papua New Guineans both at home and across the global diaspora, OFAE Arts was founded with a clear and deeply personal purpose: to create garments that allow wearers to proudly declare, “I am from Papua New Guinea.”For Geoff, the foundation of the brand was laid long before his entry into fashion. Born at St Theresa Hospital in Hohola, Port Moresby, he spent parts of his childhood in Sydney and Canberra while his father, the late Sir Vincent Serei Eri, served as a diplomat representing Papua New Guinea in Australia.Sir Vincent- a distinguished author, public servant, diplomat, and former Governor-General, was also a passionate hobby oil painter. Watching his father create art sparked a lifelong passion for drawing and visual design in Geoff.“My greatest influence was my father,” Geoff said. “From an early age, I became interested in painting and drawing.”The family’s roots in Gulf Province remain central to the label’s aesthetic. Though raised between Hohola and Australia, Geoff identifies Louapo in Iokea village as home.The rich heritage of Toaripi culture, traditional Gulf carvings, and the artwork that adorned his childhood home continue to shape his artistic vision.At the core of OFAE Arts’ identity is the emblem of the crocodile, inspired by Sir Vincent’s landmark 1970 book The Crocodile—widely celebrated as the first novel published by a Papua New Guinean author.Looking ahead, Geoff aims to translate the novel’s themes, stories, and characters into contemporary fashion, turning a pivotal piece of PNG’s literary history into wearable art.What began as a modest passion project, starting with a single black PNG polo shirt Geoff designed while living in Blackwater, Queensland, quickly gained traction.Encouraged by family and local PNG community members in Blackwater and Emerald, the initiative evolved into a full-fledged brand serving the global diaspora.The trajectory of OFAE Arts also underscores the immense economic potential within Papua New Guinea's creative sectors.Every locally conceptualized garment generates secondary economic activity, fueling jobs across design, manufacturing, printing, modelling, photography, marketing, retail, logistics, and event production.Furthermore, culturally distinctive apparel creates high-value export potential across diaspora networks, tourism, and sportswear.Yet, turning a creative vision into a viable business has presented significant hurdles.Geoff is candid about navigating financial setbacks, manufacturing bottlenecks, and the steep learning curve of commercial operations.“Cut your losses, learn from them and start again.”These challenges have ultimately honed the brand’s dedication to material quality, precise manufacturing, and refined craftsmanship.Moreover, Geoff’s journey mirrors the reality for many emerging PNG designers; creators rich in cultural innovation who require greater structural access to manufacturing, capital, professional development, and international retail markets.

Adventure Park has confirmed that a tragic incident occurred on Saturday, September 5th, 2026, during a non-scheduled crocodile feeding demonstration.During the feeding, a crocodile seized both the chicken intended for the bait and the leg of a senior, highly experienced animal keeper, refusing to let go.Emergency services were contacted immediately, leading to a coordinated effort to protect the keeper and secure the safety of everyone present at the park.The keeper was successfully freed and transported to the hospital for urgent medical care.Despite the tireless efforts of medical personnel, the staff member tragically passed away in the early hours of Sunday, September 6th, 2026.Adventure Park expressed its sincere appreciation to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and St John Ambulance for their swift and professional emergency response.In the course of the rescue operation, police officers euthanized the crocodile to protect human life.Describing the event as an extremely unexpected tragedy, Adventure Park management has launched a comprehensive internal review to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.This investigation will evaluate and reinforce existing safety protocols and procedures regarding animal handling, crocodile management, and feeding demonstrations.As one of Papua New Guinea’s leading family, recreation, and wildlife attractions, Adventure Park reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of its staff, visitors, and the wider community remain its highest priority, alongside maintaining responsible animal management practices.Adventure Park extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased keeper, noting that he was a deeply valued member of the team who will be profoundly missed.Management has asked the public and media to respect the privacy of the grieving family and staff as they navigate this painful loss, adding that further updates will be shared as the internal review progresses.