The 65th Hagen Cultural Show drew thousands from August 15–17, 2025, highlighting Papua New Guinea’s cultural diversity while passing knowledge from elders to youth. First staged in the 1960s to promote peace among Highlands tribes, the Show has grown into one of the country’s most iconic festivals and a crucial platform for preserving tradition. This year’s opening featured various individuals from the government, government departments and international partners including, Member for Vanimo-Green and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Belden Norman Namah, Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa, Member for Mul-Baiyer, Jacob Maki, National Cultural Commission Executive Director Steven Enomb Kilanda, and…
Author: Aseneth WAIDE
The construction of the Ependa School of Evangelism Building Complex located approximately ten kilometers (km) outside Mendi in Southern Highlands Province, is progressing steadily, with significant milestones being reached throughout 2024 and 2025. The ground-breaking ceremony for the ambitious project took place on May 11th, 2024, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Ependa School of Evangelism. The building complex is set to have essential facilities for students, including a lecture hall, dining hall, dormitories, and self-contained units, all within one location. The first day of construction began on June 24, 2024, with the team focusing on preparing…
Mahogany Finance and 2 Fast Motors have strengthened their partnership to offer tailored vehicle financing solutions for JAC vehicles to individuals and businesses across Papua New Guinea. This collaboration ensures customers can access fast, accessible, and flexible finance options through Mahogany Finance, with simplified loan applications, competitive interest rates, and personalized repayment plans. Terry Hall, CEO of Mahogany Finance expressed delight in working with 2 Fast Motors. “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with 2 Fast Motors. Our collaboration is founded on a shared vision – to make quality vehicle ownership more accessible for Papua New Guineans.” “By working…
Australia has boosted Papua New Guinea’s defence capability with the official handover of 12 up-armored Landcruiser’s to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), alongside the opening of the refurbished Sergeant’s Mess at Murray Barracks. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles made the announcement in Port Moresby recently with PNG’s Minister for Defence Dr Billy Joseph. The handover, valued at more than PGK 8 million, is aimed at strengthening PNG’s ability to respond to domestic security challenges and deepening defence cooperation between the two nations. The lightweight, armored vehicles will allow PNGDF personnel to move securely and…
The Granville Seventh-day Adventist Church at 9 Mile in Port Moresby city, recently held a Career Fair Workshop, providing participants with practical tips on career growth, job preparation, and online safety. The event covered topics like developing a growth mindset, academic coaching, CV and cover letter writing, interview skills, and cyber safety. Mr. Allan Robert from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) spoke about the various types of cybercrimes affecting Papua New Guinea, such as identity theft, cyberbullying, and cyber harassment. He emphasized the importance of being mindful when sharing personal information online and encouraged participants to use…
Westpac PNG has announced the appointment of Miriam Rothera as its new Head of Retail Banking, a key leadership move aimed at supporting the bank’s strategic transformation, community engagement, and alignment with Papua New Guinea’s national development goals. Miriam Rothera brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served within the Westpac Group for 36 years across a range of senior positions in Australia. Her impressive career includes leading the Queensland Property team, heading the Business Institute in Sydney, and managing retail branch networks at both St George and Westpac. Known for her “people first” leadership approach, Rothera is…
Children from Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Tatana Library Learning Centre recently visited Bank of South Pacific’s (BSP), Waigani Head Office to learn about the importance of financial literacy and the importance of saving while still young, as part of their Book Week programs. The visit provided the children with a chance to participate in interactive activities, observing how money is handled, how transactions occur, and how customers are attended to, effectively bringing their classroom lessons to life in an authentic banking setting. The children received a warm welcome from Samuel Okti, Branch Manager of BSP Waigani Banking Centre, who shared…
The United States has ramped up efforts to support Papua New Guinea in addressing the threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) through training and major funding initiatives aimed at keeping communities safe. A five-week Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) training program recently concluded, led by U.S. Marines from the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company. The training was conducted in Port Moresby city and other regions and equipped Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) personnel with essential EOD skills, including safe handling, ordnance identification, controlled demolitions, and emergency response. Col. Baskins, U.S. Defense Attaché in Port…
Children from Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) swapped their classrooms for printing presses during an educational excursion to Theodist’s printshop in Port Moresby city as part of National Book Week celebrations. The visit, part of a partnership spanning more than a decade, gave students a behind-the-scenes look at how books, brochures, and other printed materials are created. Guided by Theodist’s graphic designers and printing team, the children designed and printed their own brochures while learning how the machines operate. BbP Founder Anne-Sophie Hermann said the hands-on experience was a valuable way for children to connect their love of reading with real-world…
Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) has officially launched its 2025 Book Week celebrations (August 11–15) with the release of five new titles in its When I Grow Up reader series, aimed at inspiring children to dream about future careers. This year’s theme, “My Future Career – When I Grow Up I Want to Be a…”, introduces young readers to local professionals through engaging stories and role play activities at BbP’s learning centres across Papua New Guinea. The five new titles launched are: – When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chef – featuring Chef Julian Henao (The Locker Room…