The Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and PNG National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) came together to launch WAN KANTRI a 60-minute documentary film on the how our forefathers gain independence from the Australian Government with a bright blend of interviews from individuals making a mark for the PNG future moving forward.
The film was launched yesterday 27th August 2025 at APEC Haus. WAN KANTRI blends rare archival footage, political history, and deeply personal accounts from citizens who lived through the country’s 1975 transition from Australian administration to sovereignty.
Narrated by NBC’s Maureen Orea, the film revisits the optimism and challenges of the nation’s founding leaders, including the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and his contemporaries, while reflecting on the sacrifices of ordinary Papua New Guineans who witnessed the raising of the national flag for the first time.
The documentary highlights key voices such as Dame Meg Taylor, who recalled the emotional moment the Australian flag was lowered, and descendants of leaders like Dulciana Somare, daughter of the nation’s founding prime minister, who emphasized the importance of remembering the unifying spirit that bound more than 800 tribes into one country.
It also revisits the work of the Constitutional Planning Committee, led by Dr John Momis and Sir John Kaputin, which carried the voices of ordinary people into PNG’s homegrown Constitution.
But WAN KANTRI is not only a reflection on the past. It also shines a spotlight on today’s youth, innovators, and farmers working to uphold the dreams of the country’s forefathers.
The film follows young leaders such as Slyney Tau, who is teaching communities about sustainable farming and local economic empowerment, proving that the spirit of self-reliance enshrined in the Constitution continues to inspire new generations.
With sweeping visuals of sing-sing, the Hiri Moale Festival, and village life, the documentary balances history with hope.
It portrays PNG as a land of a thousand tribes, united in diversity, and still striving to fulfill the promise of independence.
WAN KANTRI comes as Papua New Guinea prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence in September.
Both ABC and NBC described the collaboration as a way of honoring the shared history between the two nations while giving Papua New Guineans, especially its youth, an opportunity to see their own stories reflected on screen.