PNG Now magazine: June/August 2022

INSIDE:

ISSUE 10 | June–August 2022

NEW SOCIAL PAGES

JUST FOR LAUGHS BREAKFAST WITH COMEDIAN KLENNETH POMBO

+ FOOD | TRAVEL | CARS | SPORT | PNG MONI

Welkam!

A recent report by bank ANZ on Papua New Guinea talks about ‘green shoots’ in our economy – those early signs of business activity that signal things are starting to bounce back after a tough couple of years.

As you read through this magazine, you’ll be able to read about plenty of these ‘green shoots’ for yourself.

For example, on Page 12 we report on three interesting new restaurants that have opened in Port Moresby, while we review a fourth – the new Akura restaurant at Harbourside – on Page 44.

On a larger scale, Nambawan Super’s exciting new K300 million Rangeview residential and retail development is now open on Port Moresby’s Waigani Drive. It will feature no less than five more restaurants, as well as shops (see Page 58).

Existing hospitality venues are also coming back: the Hilton Hotel’s striking Summit Bar has reopened after a two-year closure due to COVID-19 (see Page 15), while the Holiday Inn Express is also back in business (see Page 16).

Meanwhile, there’s no better example of an economic boost than the launch of a brand-new mobile phone network, Vodafone PNG (see Page 57).

The social scene is also returning, as meeting restrictions have been relaxed – one reason we have launched our new social pages in this issue. Visit Page 28 to see if you or someone you know has been snapped by one of PNG Now’s photographers.

On a sadder note, we want to acknowledge the tragic death in May of PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sam Basil. Our sincere condolences to all who mourn him.

Mr Basil’s passing came at the start of PNG’s National Elections period, which is now under way.

It’s a time to reflect on his contribution to the nation but also to look to PNG’s future leaders.

PNG Now wishes all candidates the best of the luck in the elections, which we hope will be safe and successful.

www.pngnowmag.com Join the PNG Now conversation on Facebook facebook.com/ pngnowmag, Instagram @pngnowmag, and on LinkedIn.com.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 3

CONTENTS UP FRONT

Vox Pop: What do Papua New Guineans mostly use their phones for, and which social media apps are the favourites? 06 My World, what people are reading, watching and listening to 08 Breakfast with comedian and social media influencer Klenneth Pombo 10

Around Town 12

Port Moresby gets its vibe back with restaurant, bar, and hotel openings

PEOPLE

The PNG filmmaker taking on the world 18 PNG gets nod for the Academy Awards 21 The man who has skateboarded in more than 50 countries 24

NEW SOCIAL PAGES

Photos of Papua New Guineans out and about at business and social events 28

CITY GUIDES & TRAVEL

The Port Moresby Guide updated 32 The Lae Guide 34 Five ‘must-see’ places in PNG 36

LIFE LESSONS

The wisdom of elder Janet Yaki, teacher and humanitarian 38

ENVIRONMENT

PNG women making a difference to Pacific Ocean 40

FOOD

Recipe: Eggs shakshuka made the PNG way 45

MOTORING

Roadtest: Toyota Hilux and Mazda BT-50 46

SPORT

Locker Room Chat with footballer Godfrey Haro 48

WELLBEING

Get physical with weight training 53

PNG MONI

Business news at a glance 56 Property report 58 Loyalty programs bring rewards for PNG consumers 60

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Player Profile Dilbert Isaac on playing for the SP Hunters, and life after rugby league

50

Eating Out 44

PNG Now is a free magazine produced by Business Advantage International Pty Ltd in association with

We review Akura, the hot new restaurant at Harbourside

Distributed by Pascoe Promotions, Port Moresby © Copyright 2022, Business Advantage International and contributors. All rights reserved. www.pngnowmag.com Join the PNG Now conversation on Facebook facebook.com/pngnowmag and Instagram @ pngnowmag.

22

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Charles Saldanha ads@pngnowmag.com +61 (0) 404 842 472

FASHION QUEEN

EDITOR Robert Upe editor@pngnowmag.com

The PNG fashion designer who flunked school but has got to the top with sheer hard work

EDITORIAL ADVISORY TEAM Penny Burns, Aaron Chin, Leanne Jorari, Sylvia Pascoe

At Work With 62

Radio personality Michael Arifeai

CONTRIBUTORS Richard Andrews, Dean Arek, Mary Aseari, Paul Chai, Natalie Cholohei, Ruby Gamoga, Leanne Jorari, Toby Hagon, Godfreeman Kaptigau, Lemach Lavari, Poliap M’Buleau, Gabriella Munoz, Carmel Pilotti, Peter Schofield (designer), Kimberly Tatut, Sally Woollett (proofreader) COVER: Comedian and social influencer Klenneth Pombo, photographed by Godfreeman Kaptigau. See our story, Page 10.

Proudly printed in Papua New Guinea

by BizPrint

52

UP FOR THE FIGHT Fists fly at Tru Warrior boxing night

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 5

Vox Pop

WORD ON THE STREET

BY MARY ASEARI

How do you mostly 01 use your mobile phone?

Which social media 02 apps do you use?

SEBULON TAMUR 45, ICT coordinator, Lae

01

I mainly use my phone for calling, texting, sending credits and phone banking.

02

I use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and LinkedIn.

ELLOY SAMBA 26, cook, 5 Mile

I use my phone to communicate with loved ones. I also use it to listen to music as a form of relaxation.

01

I only use the social media apps Facebook and WhatsApp.

02

MANINAH BANZUMAI 25, postgraduate student, Morata 1

01

I mostly use my phone to access the internet and to communicate with family and friends.

02

The social media apps I use are Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

LANCEFORD KUASIRO

35, administration & finance officer, Popondetta

I use my phone mostly to text and call family, friends and workmates. I also use my phone to listen to music and refresh my mind from a long day’s work.

01

WINDA AMAKANA 30, health worker, East New Britain

I use my phone to communicate with friends and family by calling, texting and video calling.

01 02

The social media apps I use are Facebook and WhatsApp.

6 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

MYRTLE MASTI

22, biology graduate, Erima

I mostly use my phone to text, call and watch videos.

01

I have WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest on my phone.

However, I only use WhatsApp and Instagram. I keep in touch with family and friends through these two social media apps. I use Pinterest to search for creative ideas on things I’m interested in.

02

The social media apps that I use are Facebook, WhatsApp, Gmail and Google. I often use WhatsApp and Gmail to communicate with my (work) superiors and workmates. I only use Google for research.

02

Culture

MY WORLD NIGEL HUKULA RUGBY LEAGUE COACH

BY NATALIE CHOLOHEI | PHOTOGRAPH: POLIAP M’BULEAU

What new music are you listening to?

Burna Boy, Sir George Telek, Willie Sebas and Patti Potts Doi. I appreciate the PNG artists because their songs are culturally oriented.

You have to know where you came from to know where you’re going.

Which Papua New Guinean artist do you most admire?

I will say Sir George Telek. I see him as a real advocate for PNG music.

He is authentic and his music is unique. He is a national icon who has made it into the international music arena, but he hasn’t changed anything too much. What you see is what you get.

What’s the best live music you’ve ever seen?

I absolutely love live bands. I’ve watched two Australian bands live: AC/DC in 1997 and Cold Chisel in 2003. I appreciate all kinds of music, and people who play live are special.

What’s the best book you’ve recently read?

The Shoe Dog, a memoir by Nike co-founder Phil Knight. This book is about being resilient and wanting to be successful. I relate it to my work and management.

Favourite movie?

I’m a mad fan of Mafia movies like The Godfather series. I remember going to England for a World

CA F E B A KERY COF F EE ROA STE R SP ECIA LTY COF FE E DUFFY CAFÉ LOCATIONS GABAKA ST, GORDONS HARBOURSIDE PRECINCT, TOWN POM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

8 PNG NOW JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2022

Cup tour and I watched all The Godfather movies on the flights there and back. Al Pacino is one of my all-time favourites. I love the way he talks, and I like a good storyline and it having a twist in it.

Have you binge-watched any TV recently?

The Top Boy series on Netflix.

What is your favourite podcast?

The Sports Psych Show by Dan Abrahams, who is a highperformance sports psychologist helping people achieve their best in sport.

What is one gadget you can’t live without?

I can’t live without a smart watch, a mobile phone, a driver’s licence and a bank card – it’s terrible, aye! It’s because everything is integrated and right there at your fingertips.

Where would you most like to travel next?

I would like to visit the Netherlands. I love the cold weather.

Nigel Hukula is an assistant coach for the Port Moresby Vipers in the PNG National Rugby League. He is from East Sepik Province and has also had coaching and training roles with the Kumuls, SP PNG Hunters, Goroka Lahanis and Gulf Isapea.

Conversation

BREAKFAST WITH …

KLENNETH POMBO COMEDIAN & SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER

BY CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPH: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Why have you chosen the Kopi Haus Restaurant at the Holiday Inn for breakfast?

I love the place – been coming here since I was a kid. And love the breakfast buffet.

What have you chosen for breakfast?

I got bread, beans, salami and ham. For breakfast I like to carb load because I move around a lot.

Lots of carbs and lots of protein.

You chose stand-up comedy as a career a few years ago.

Stand-up is not very common in Papua New Guinea, so how is it going?

It started out as a hobby and came from telling jokes and making memes, and then turned into my career. In PNG, the audience don’t really get stand-up comedy yet, so I’ve been trying to find the balance between introducing it while keeping to what makes Papua New Guineans laugh.

What makes Papua New Guineans laugh?

It’s mainly slapstick comedy. It’s more people laughing at you than laughing with you. With stand-up, it’s more of you bringing stuff that makes you laugh and sharing with other people for them to laugh with you.

How nerve-wracking is it to do a stand-up routine?

I’ve been performing for a while, since I was a child, so I’ve never 10 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

The only thing that makes me nervous is if the crowd is not getting my jokes.

how it works from Trevor Noah.

You have Kevin Hart who has very good storytelling skills. He can tell an ordinary story, but his delivery makes it funny. Then you have people like Dave Chappelle who delivers in a serious manner, but his ideas are the funny part.

had stage fright. The only thing that makes me nervous is if the crowd is not getting my jokes.

When I first started out, I was really worried about it. So, finding the balance was important, between bringing my flavour and fusing it with what people are familiar with.

You’ve built quite a following on your social media platform PNG 4 Realz. What is it about?

When I started the page in high school, there were a lot of regional pages talking about which place (in PNG) is better, so I created PNG 4 Realz (facebook. com/Png4Realz) for the purpose of pointing out that we have good and bad, and only together can we make the nation better. I do what I do to elevate and educate people’s mindsets, whether through humour, or actively going out into the community.

Most admired comedian?

I see my most admired comedian every day I look in the mirror – you didn’t see that one coming did you (ha ha)! It’s almost a sin to copy someone’s style – while you do admire them, you can’t really have a favourite, because it might have too much of an influence on your work. I look more at the science than people – I read about what triggers laughter, how to write better. You can draw some things, though, from certain comedians. You can get the power of an accent and

Do you find that your audience receives your content well? What are some examples of your content?

Yes, I would say they receive my content well. Most of the time I will make memes and do skits.

But I’m starting to see people are also responding well to my videos, in which I give my take on current events. People like seeing my take on things, and in fact they ask me to have my say on certain things so they are more knowledgeable on it. I do a lot of research so people appreciate that.

What is the main inspiration for what you’ve chosen to do with your life so far?

The main inspiration is people.

I want to see the people of this nation prosper, especially the young people. If the young people are stronger, more robust and economically empowered, the nation will change. Everyone speaks about different forms of empowerment; what the country really needs is economic empowerment. So I focus on business ideas and helping people start their journey towards economic stability.

Why do you feel that what you do is important?

I think it’s important to show people that if they do things for themselves and not rely on other people or authority, they’ll be able to get things done for themselves. When that happens, they stop being dependent, and when they are not dependent, they see things in a different light, because they realise the power they have.

Where do you hope your path will take you next?

Right now, I’m trying to create the pathway for other content creators who are coming up because I had to wait for about eight years before I actually saw any (financial) benefit from what I do. So I’m sort of like a manager/ agent now – going out and getting endorsement or sponsorship for other creators.

The Kopi Haus Restaurant is on the ground floor at the Holiday Inn at the corner of Waigani Drive and Wards Road, Boroko. Open from 6am daily.

Klenneth Pombo, a stand-up comedian, also has a serious side with his social media influencing.

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FYI

AROUND TOWN

BY RUBY GAMOGA, NATALIE CHOLOHEI | PHOTOGRAPHS: DEAN AREK, RUBY GAMOGA, POLIAP M’BULEAU; SUPPLIED PHOTOGRAPHS BY FISHO’S & COZY’S DINER

Port Moresby gets its vibe back

Above: Bunka Cafe, a new kid on the block.

Left: Bunka owner Kali Alu, serving simple but tasty food.

Port Moresby has seen an upswing in restaurant, bar and hotel openings in recent months.

Some are new, while others are old favourites that are reopening after being forced to close because of COVID-19.

Numerous plans for new city apartments (see story on Page 58), are another sign that life may be returning to some normality despite COVID-19.

Three new diners include Bunka Cafe on Baruni Road, Cozy’s Diner on Ela Beach Road, and Fisho’s, the only fish

12 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

and chip shop in the heart of downtown.

When I ask owner Kali Alu where the name Bunka comes from, she says it is a phonetic spelling of the word ‘bunker’, one of the relics left behind from World War 2 at Paga Hill, where she had originally planned to set up shop before finally settling on a site at the industrial ECM compound.

“It’s a very friendly environment,” Alu adds. “I try to know everyone by name.

The food is simple but tasty. My assistant makes the drinks and I make the food, so it’s quick service as well.”

Bunka’s menu includes sandwiches, sides, pies, smoothies and teas. The food is made and served from a shipping container kitchen, and customers can dine alfresco.

Cozy’s Diner, which opened last December, is another place with a good feel. There’s good food, live entertainment (they provide a small platform for new vocalists to play for free) and an excellent variety of beer and spirits.

Co-owner Andreas Kotsonis says Cozy’s has a lot of repeat customers. “People keep coming back – they absolutely love it here,” he says. “You see them relaxing, with their feet folded on the chairs. They become one with the environment. We have a great family vibe.”

With its brown pallet facade, Cozy’s is inconspicuous and

easy to miss. There is a modest outdoor setup, but Kotsonis has plans to develop that into a beer garden to make use of the beachfront views. The place also has unique internal decor, with a bike as a centrepiece, hung by chains above the bar counter, and many curious antique items on display such as cultural masks, a legless foosball table, retro diner signs, and a collection of paper money from around the world.

Another striking feature is the value for your buck: nowhere else in Port Moresby are you able to get three sizeable drumsticks in a mains meal for only K35. Says Kotsonis: “In Cyprus where I’m from, we either have a lot of little dishes served up as a feast or we serve an overkill of a single plate, so you’ll find most of our main

meals are served this way.”

Fisho’s, the latest addition to the chain of Meat Haus outlets, also serves portions that surprise.

Their battered and crumbed ling

Above: Cozy’s Diner has quirky interiors, including a bike hanging on the wall.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 13

FYI fish, at K10, is the size of your hand and it can be paired with a side of potato scallops, coleslaw, salad, pineapple fritters, battered crabsticks and calamari, plus chips of course. The place is located at what was previously Meat Haus Town. There isn’t much room for dining in, but customers are able to sit at tables at the adjacent Buffalo Burger, its sister company.

A fourth noteworthy opening is that of the Japanese-influenced Akura at Harbourside. To see our review of this vibrant restaurant/ bar that opened in April, turn to Page 44. RG Bunka is open from 7.30am to 3pm weekdays. Cozy’s Diner is open from 10am until late every day. Fisho’s is open every day from 10am to 9pm.

14 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

Left: Generous portions are the order of the day at Fisho’s, a new fish-and-chippery in the downtown area.

Above: Grilled lamb rack at Akura, an elegant dining and lounge bar that has opened at Harbourside.

Bar with views open again Summit Bar, the sophisticated cocktail lounge on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel at Hohola, has recently opened after being closed for two years due to COVID-19. Patrons can now enjoy twinkling views of bustling Waigani on the outdoor patio or sit back in the stylish leather chairs in the moodily lit interior (pictured on Page 4).

To help usher in this new epoch of nightlife, there are two-forthe-price-of-one discounts on selected signature cocktails, wines, spirits and food items available until 7pm from Sunday to Thursday. RG See facebook.com/hiltonpng.

The Summit Bar’s outdoor patio.

On the buses A new bus service has been launched in Port Moresby by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) to cover eight routes not served by PMV operators. NCDC Governor, Powes Parkop (pictured), recently took a ride on one of the buses. The new routes include Gerehu to Laloki via the Nine-Mile roundabout; Nine-Mile to Manu and return; and Gerehu, Baruni, Badihagwa, Ela Beach, Koura Way and Waigani-Gerehu. “This service is affordable, convenient, and a safe transport system for our city,” Governor Parkop said.

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FYI

There’s room at the inn The Holiday Inn Express has reopened after a two-year shutdown caused by COVID-19.

The eight-storey hotel in the heart of Waigani has 199 queen and twin rooms, including two wheelchair-accessible rooms, a small conference room, an undercover parking area and airport shuttle bus.

Area general manager Maoro Leone says business looks promising in the next quarter.

Since the reopening, the hotel has had a good number of guests coming in.

“The hotel was officially closed for two years, even though we did use it as an overflow when

16 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

the Holiday Inn & Suites was full,” Leone says.

Leone says the most difficult part of the closure was letting staff go. “Hotels are a big family, and it was sad to send them off, but the happy thing is that slowly we are getting a lot of them back.”

Hotel manager Rashmi Tulsiani says: “We are very excited we are back in the market.”

The Holiday Inn Express shares facilities such as the gym, squash and basketball courts, pool, bar and a walking track with the Holiday Inn & Suites.

NC See ihg.com or call 1800 007 697.

Out and about If you’re looking for things to do in town, here are six suggestions.

SECOND-HAND SHOPPING Moale Dabua at Waigani often has surprise bargains of designer items.

01

COOKING MASTERCLASS Handson training run by a Bacchus restaurant chef at Airways Hotel,

02

food_beverage@airways.com.pg.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NETWORK OF PNG Meet engaged, like-minded individuals at their monthly ‘Cuppa at the Copper’ sessions, facebook.com/ YPNPNG.

03

MORESBY ARTS THEATRE See well-known plays adapted for a PNG audience, facebook.com/MoresbyArtsTheatre.

04

J’S CAFE Try the famous all-day tower breakfast at this new getaway spot at 17 Mile.

Overlooks the Laloki River, facebook.com/jscafepng.

05

DONUTS AT KOPIBIN Drop into POM’s only specialty donut store, with branches in town and Eight Mile, facebook.com/kopibindonuts. RG

06

Donuts in the display case at Kopibin.

WHERE TO FIND US PNG Now has extensive distribution in cafes, hotels and other social hubs.

In Port Moresby, this includes Duffy outlets (pictured), Airways Hotel, The Hilton and The Stanley (cafes), Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CHM at Vision City, the POM City Markets and Harbourside Night Markets.

In Lae, it can be picked up at the Lae Chamber of Commerce and the Lae International Hotel.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 17

People

MR MOVIES

THE PNG FILMMAKER TAKING ON THE WORLD

BY RUBY GAMOGA | PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

Switching careers in the middle of your medical residency may not be the most ideal time to change your mind, but that is precisely what Papua New Guinean filmmaker Spenser Wangare did.

“It wasn’t my passion,” Wangare says of his medical residency. “I wasn’t interested in working in a hospital.”

Wangare’s first short film, though, had a medical theme. The film, Epidemic, is about the lifestyle causes of diabetes.

“It screened at the PNG Human Rights Festival countrywide in 2016,” says Wangare. “Studying medicine showed me the impact of lifestyle diseases and in my film I wanted to address this indirectly. To influence people indirectly.”

Wangare, from Kolobi village in Enga Province, has been on a remarkable film journey since then.

Projects he has worked on have been streamed on Apple TV and Amazon Prime, and one of his 18 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

latest collaborations, Deep Rising, which explores the environmental and cultural consequences of a controversial deep-sea mine proposed by Canadian company Nautilus Minerals, will premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. “We just got the acceptance letter,” Wangare says.

His journey has been even more remarkable because the film industry is struggling to get off the ground in PNG, even though it’s just been granted the ability to submit films for consideration at the Academy Awards (see our story on Page 21).

While things might be looking up for Wangare, they haven’t always been that way. “Until the last two years, I never made much money from filmmaking,” he says. “It took me seven to eight years to get to where I am. The number one issue has been funding.

For first timers wanting to get funding in the industry, it is very complicated. But after you make yourself known, it can get a bit easier.”

Left: Spenser Wangare directing a cameraman on the set of his latest movie, Black Python.

Above: Spenser Wangare, who switched careers from medicine to film.

Below: At work on the film Wara, a story about grief and loss, shot on Duke of York Island in East New Britain Province.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 19

People Wangare says he has survived almost a decade in the industry by helping people produce media materials.

“The people I helped, helped me,” Wangare says.

“I didn’t ask for money, especially when starting out.

The more I helped others, the more I learnt and the more of an expert I became. All the things I needed such as a computer and good equipment just came towards me.”

Wangare received gear worth K40,000 from Tim Wolff, an acclaimed American documentarian with whom he made I’m Moshanty: Do You Love Me? It is a riveting US-funded feature about South Pacific musical star Moses Tau and her experience as the public face of transgender people in PNG. Having Wolff as a contact was also strategic for distribution: Wolffe helped Wangare land a contract with US streaming service Hulu for his upcoming film about martial arts called Black Python.

Black Python is a superhero film, the “PNG equivalent of Avengers,” says Wangare. Among its cast is the country’s leading actor, David Kaumara, who starred in Jungle Child, a 2011 German drama about a linguist’s true encounter with a PNG tribe in the 1980s, and in Mr Pip, alongside three-time Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie.

Black Python is being released in June. Also in the pipeline are its sequel, Black Python 2, Time with Xi, a series about China’s growing influence globally, which will soon air on the Discovery Channel, and Lukim Yu 2, the second instalment in the franchise about young Papua New Guineans finding their footing in a modern world.

In the first Lukim Yu, Wangare assisted Canadian producer and director Christopher Anderson as an actor and cameraman, but for the second film he will be executive producer. “We might begin filming next year,” he says.

Anderson says: “Spenser shows tremendous drive and passion. He’s one of those guys who, when I met him, I knew right away he’d be successful. Making films in PNG is incredibly difficult but he doesn’t let obstacles hold him back. He gets over the finish line.

His passion is infectious and he bugs me regularly to see where things are up to with Lukim Yu 2.”

When I ask Wangare why he bases many of his films on social issues, he says it has to do with where he comes from.

“Where I come from, there are warring clans. So, in movies, I can address this, make people think and hopefully they get the message. I also want to preserve our culture and history because, who knows, after 20 years, the film will still be there but the culture might not.”

20 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

Behind the scenes on the set of Wara.

SPENSER WANGARE’S FAVOURITE FILMS PNG Tin Pis (1991) One of the earliest films

01 produced in PNG.

Tukana (1984) Features Albert Toro, one of

02 PNG’s leading actors.

Lukim Yu (2016) Addresses the cultural clash

03 of characters growing up in Port Moresby.

Grace (2014) The movie version of the

04 10-episode TV series about the experiences of PNG women who want to pursue their dreams.

Mr Pip (2012) By a New Zealand filmmaker

05 but delves into the Bougainville Crisis.

INTERNATIONAL Avatar

01 (2009)

Lord of the Rings trilogy

02 (2001–2003)

Ivan’s Childhood

03 (1962)

Badlands

04 (1973)

An Autumn Afternoon

05 (1962)

Film

PNG GETS NOD FOR ACADEMY AWARDS

BY RUBY GAMOGA

Papua New Guinea was recently included in the list of countries that can nominate films for consideration at the Academy Awards.

David Taim, the interim chairman of the PNG Academy Awards Secretariat, says that two years after the application the Academy has approved PNG’s participation.

The application was facilitated by the Native Arts and Fashion Academy Group (NAFA), a volunteer body of educators that aims to develop talent in culture, fashion and the arts.

“Being educators, we have always wanted people to improve in areas they are passionate about,” says managing director Preetha Prasad. “This program provides people with broader opportunities for their career.”

Eleven categories, including best actor, best actress, best screenplay, best direction, best cinematography, and best costume design, are open to PNG nominations. The categories open for nomination will be revised annually.

The technical requirements for each category will be posted to a new PNG Academy Awards website so entrants can ensure their online submissions meet the minimum standards.

NAFA, and their partner the National Cultural Commission, the government-appointed custodian of all cultural activities in PNG, are optimistic young talents can really raise the bar in the arts industry.

“We recently showed a short documentary made by grade 10 and 12 students at Paradise High School and it was amazing,” says Prasad. “There was great clarity, good resolution, and an excellent thought process behind making the movie. It was just a short, but they made it. You don’t need fancy

The Academy Awards, popularly called the Oscars, have for the first time opened up to PNG filmmakers.

equipment nowadays. You can use a smartphone, as they are very powerful and normally have 1920 x 1080 resolution, one of the Academy Award requirements.”

Tutorials may also be uploaded, if applicants are having trouble understanding the requirements.

“We have links with international filmmakers who can support the online classes,” Prasad adds. “We are working towards a win for Papua New Guineans, and we will also have our own awards show.” Details of the show were still pending when PNG Now went to press.

For updates, see facebook.com/NAFAPNG and ncc.gov.pg.

Eleven categories, including best actor and best actress, are open to PNG nominations.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 21

People

FASHION QUEEN HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR PNG DESIGNER

BY LEANNE JORARI | MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

US fashion designer Vera Wang once famously said: “I want people to see the dress but focus on the woman.” Well, focusing on this particular woman is not hard to do when she is attired in her colourful and stunning designs.

Yaku Ninich is a Papua New Guinean fashion designer best known for her label, PNG Fashion International (PNGFI). Her designs appear on everything from clothes and bags to comforters and bedding sets.

Now based in North Carolina in the US, Ninich has risen to her career heights through sheer hard work and resilience.

“I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit in me,” she says. “I see rainbows in one small idea – that is how my brain works.

I never saw being a dropout in grade 10 (in Lae) as a failure or a burden to restrict me from being great or being the best in what I want to do.”

Ninich juggles a full-time job at Toshiba-America and running PNGFI in the evenings and weekends.

As if that’s not enough, the entrepreneur and mother of three is doing part-time studies towards an MBA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

To say her designs 22 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

are bold is an understatement.

Influenced by her PNG roots, they prominently feature Papua New Guinean flora such as hibiscus, frangipani, and the bird of paradise.

An ode to her Oro heritage (she is from both Morobe and Oro provinces), many of her designs are also heavily influenced by the traditional tapa design.

“I started drawing tapa designs and bird of paradise to bring me closer to home,” she says. “I did some research on print-ondemand companies and I did some blanket and scarf designs for my personal use.”

Ninich was inspired to design her own apparel while employed by the US department store Macy’s, where she worked as a sales associate and later as a sales manager. She says working at the store gave her the ideas and confidence to design handbags, clothing, and accessories.

She started making things for herself, but then started selling them in 2015.

Ninich regularly commutes from the US to PNG. She says PNG customers make up 60% of her business.

“Right now, I

concentrate on selling my products through Glow Boutique in Port Moresby and Kenny Collection in Lae. I see lots of imitations in the PNG marketplace but as designers we have to continue to innovate our ideas and continue to come up with new designs and styles to be ahead of our competition.”

Ninich believes that while PNG does not currently have a fully functioning fashion industry, there is nowhere else to go but up.

“PNG does not have a fashion industry yet. Just because we have a few fashion shows every year, does not make it an industry,” she says.

“What happens after the fashion show? Do designers continue to grow their brand? How do they do that? Are they able to continue selling their designer clothes?

Are they able to fulfil customers’ orders?

“PNG does not have full-function manufacturing, distribution, marketing, retailing and advertising arms for the fashion industry,” she says.

“I applaud designers who continue to showcase their own work and host their own

Left: PNG fashion designer and entrepreneur Yaku Ninich has based herself in the US. Opposite page: Yaku Ninich’s designs at the 2021 Miss PNG Pacific Islands runway show.

I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit in me. I see rainbows in one small idea.

Left: A colourful wrap by Yaku Ninich.

Above: A tapa-inspired travel bag from her collection.

shows – that is brand exposure.

It is expensive but you have to spend money to make money.

PNG designers and artists should be ready to make clothes and accessories to meet their customers’ expectations and demand.

“On the other side of the coin, retailers like Jack’s, Papindo and RH should have their buyers scouting what is new out there and should be ready to invest in buying clothes and accessories from PNG designers and artists.

These retailers have the industry power to buy PNG made first to support local creativity.”

These days Ninich is as busy as ever. She is rebranding, expanding her wholesale business, selling online on PNGFI’s social media platforms (over 40,000 followers combined across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter) and dressing Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2022 contestant, Alibi Writer Collin.

Ninich believes in setbacks being setups and there being no substitute to hard-work. “My setback can one day be a setup for something greater because I allowed God to take the lead. I am always proud to tell my story of how this village girl went from being a high school dropout to working for one of the top Fortune 500 companies in the US,” she says.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 23

People

ON A ROLL

THE SKATEBOARDER ON A GLOBAL MISSION

BY RICHARD ANDREWS | PICTURES: SUPPLIED BY OLIVER PERCOVICH

From the empty pool of a luxury hotel in Lae to an abandoned fountain in war-torn Afghanistan, Oliver Percovich has skateboarded in more than 50 countries.

Along the way he’s founded Skateistan, a non-profit that empowers underprivileged children – especially girls – with “skateboarding, courage, life skills and education.”

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Percovich spent his early years in Lae and Mt Hagen.

“Dad was a mechanical engineer and we all loved Papua New Guinea so much, he kept renewing his contracts.”

Percovich recalls arriving in Lae, aged six, with his family and riding a hand-me-down skateboard in the empty pool of their hotel.

“I wasn’t very good and slammed into the wall. But I was hooked,” he says.

“After that, any flat, smooth surface was fair game.

I got skateboards banned at every school I attended,” he adds with a chuckle.

Percovich credits PNG as the “perfect environment” for an adventurous young boy to grow up.

“I hung out with the local kids and also had friends from many other countries. PNG taught me the importance of community and primed me to engage internationally.”

After returning to Australia, Percovich travelled widely, ending up in Afghanistan in 2007, where his girlfriend had a research job.

“Skateboarding the streets of Kabul on what seemed like a magic carpet attracted crowds of kids, especially girls,” he says. “As soon as I showed them how to use the board, they were hooked, like me.”

Girls in Afghanistan are traditionally excluded from activities reserved for boys, such as football, cricket or kite flying.

“However, skateboarding was a loophole in the social rules,” says Percovich. “It didn’t exist before, so no cultural bans existed for girls. That allowed me to form Skateistan, in response to their requests.”

Excited by the idea, some European ambassadors 24 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

Above inset: Oliver Percovich, who spent his early years in PNG. Main: Skateboarders in Afghanistan. Their faces cannot be shown for safety reasons.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 25

People

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in Kabul committed their government involvement.

Donations from the skateboarding community and other supporters funded construction and staffing of an indoor skatepark and three schools in Kabul.

Now based in Berlin, Skateistan has grown into a global organisation with projects as far away as Cambodia and South Africa.

Percovich sees the sport itself as a carrot used to attract children whose education was often disrupted.

“What is courage?” asks a teacher in an Oscarwinning documentary, Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul. “Courage is when a girl goes to school and studies,” answers a young student.

Tragically, Skateistan schools were shut down for security reasons last August, when the Afghanistan government fell to the Taliban.

“We’re committed to return when it’s safe for our employees and will not turn our backs on the hundreds of children who look to Skateistan as a haven,” says Percovich. “Rebuilding in Afghanistan is one aspect of our new chapter.”

26 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

“It’s still early days but I dream to go back to PNG and set up a (skateboard) project there.”

That new chapter includes 20 proposed locations including Jordan, Kenya, Bolivia and the Middle East.

“We also provide boards and funding to a small group in Port Moresby,” says Percovich. “It’s still early days but I dream to go back to PNG and set up a project there.”

In the middle of all this activity, the youthful Percovich still finds time, 41 years later, to tic-tac, kick turn and ollie (his nickname) on any nearby flat, smooth surface.

“I see myself primarily as a skateboarder. It’s an important part of my identity,” he says.

To find out more, see skateistan.org.

The Social Pages

SEEN AROUND TOWN PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU & SUPPLIED BY VODAPHONE

Port Moresby’s business community gathered recently at APEC Haus for the launch of Vodaphone PNG’s new mobile network. Invited guests were told at the corporate evening that Vodaphone was looking to invest K3 billion in Papua New Guinea.

See the photos from the evening on these pages and read the full story about Vodaphone’s move into PNG on Page 57.

Meanwhile, PNG Now cameras also focused on a recent business breakfast hosted by

the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Westpac PNG and Business Advantage International (the publisher of this magazine).

The purpose of the breakfast at Lamana Hotel was to announce the results of the 2022 PNG 100 CEO Survey.

Each year since 2012, the survey has asked PNG’s business leaders how they see the year ahead in PNG.

01 03 01 Vodafone Fiji Chairwoman, Kalpana Lal, arriving at APEC Haus with a Huli welcome.

02 28 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

02 Vodafone’s regional chief executive officer Pradeep Lal spoke at the launch of the company’s new mobile network in PNG. 03 Vodaphone workers got into the act at the company’s official launch at APEC Haus.

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04 05 06 Guests at the POMCCI breakfast event at Lamana Hotel to announce the results of the 2022 PNG 100 CEO Survey.

Richard Kassman from TotalEnergies and Rio Fiocco from the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce catch up at the breakfast.

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08 From left: Rio Fiocco from the Chamber, Paul Barker from the Institute of National Affairs, and Andrew Wilkins from Business Advantage International.

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JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 29

The Social Pages

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Guests at POMCCI’s CEO Survey breakfast.

THE PORT MORESBY GUIDE CAFE CULTURE

☛ Copper Cafe at the Hilton Hotel (pictured) has an air of elegance and sleek couches, also a bar, facebook.com/hiltonpng. ☛ Duffy, three locations in POM, excellent coffee and bakery items, you can now place to-go orders ahead of pickup by WhatsApp 7483 6118, duffypng.com. ☛ Edge by the Sea, marina outlook, alfresco, at Harbour City, facebook.com/edgebythesea. ☛ Jeanz Cafe, great vibe, at Gordons Plaza, gordonsplaza.com. ☛ Rainforest Cafe, surrounded by a living tropical rainforest wall at The Stanley Hotel, thestanleypng.com. ☛ Cuppa Cafe, consistently good brewed-to-order coffee in a buzzing atmosphere, at Vision City Mega Mall, visioncitypng.com/cuppa. ☛ Deli KC, all-day, particularly good lunches poolside at the Airways Hotel, airways.com.pg.

CATCH UP

☛ Heritage Bar, Monday to Saturday happy hour has free tapas and live entertainment, at Crown Hotel, crownhotel.com.pg. ☛ Port Moresby Yacht Club, where you can enjoy a sundowner as the yachts bob in the water. Non-members need to be signed in by a member, rpyc.com.pg. ☛ Mojo Social, a hip spot for after-work drinks any night of the week, facebook. com/mojosocialeatdrink. ☛ Port Terrace, soak in hilltop views of Fairfax Harbour while drinking cocktails, facebook. com/PortTerrace. ☛ Alibi Bar & Grill, a happening spot at Harbourside, great steaks, facebook.com/ AlibiPNG.

EATING LOCAL ☛ For traditional local-style PNG cuisine try the Mumu restaurant (pictured) at the Hilton Hotel, hilton. com, and the Sanctuary Hotel and Spa where Chef Donald David is cooking up a storm with his aigir, thesanctuary hotelpom.com.

OUR FAVOURITE BURGERS

☛ The Buffalo Burger with two beef patties, melted cheese, gherkin, caramelised onion and aioli is one of the best-loved hamburgers in Port Moresby. There are four Buffalo Burger stores in POM, including the town store in Hunter Street. The Dirty Burger now has three outlets in town (Ela Beach, Boroko and Gordons). Be sure to try the crunchy chicken burger with sweet pickles.

OUR FAVOURITE FINE DINING

☛ Bacchus Restaurant at Airways Hotel has reopened after extensive renovations, airways.com.pg. ☛ The 15th Floor by Chef Krisna at Grand Papua changes its menu every month, grandpapuahotel. com.pg.

OUR FAVOURITE JAPANESE

☛ The new Daikoku at Harbourside has a sizzlinghot teppanyaki menu, Tel. 7111 0425.

OUR FAVOURITE ASIAN

☛ Anna’s Kitchen, in Waigani, for Vietnamese cuisine and French pastries, Tel. 7068 1766. ☛ Seoul House, a long-time go-to, home to the best Korean food in town, Tel. 325 2231.

OUR FAVOURITE PIZZA

☛ There’s great debate about the best pizza in POM, but we’ve settled for the pepperoni at Mojo Social in the heart of Harbour City, facebook.com/ mojosocialeatdrink. It’s K50 for eight slices of pepperoni smothered in napoli sauce and mozzarella.

Highly recommended are Mr Mike’s Pizza, Yellow Captain’s and Enzo’s Pizza, which has four outlets and counting.

DISCLAIMER The hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants and other businesses and activities listed in this guide have been selected on merit, chosen by PNG Now writers.

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☛ The Southside Fitness Centre at Koki has modern equipment and fitness classes, facebook.com/pg/ssfcpom.

☛ The Royal Port Moresby Golf Club has 18 holes, accepts non-members (there’s a dress code) and hires equipment, royalportmoresby.com.

☛ Port Moresby Racquet Club (pictured) is a great spot for a social game of squash or tennis, facebook.com/ pomracquetsclub. ☛ The Ekere Studio at Savannah Heights has functional workouts and dynamic group fitness and dance classes, facebook.com/ ekerefitnessdance.

MARKETS

☛ Airways Hotel, and one of the best in the Pacific, close to airport, airways.com.pg.

☛ Grand Papua (pictured), a centrally located premium hotel with plenty of executive options, also a new member of Radisson Individuals, grandpapuahotel.com.pg.

☛ The Stanley, luxury accommodation adjacent to Vision City, thestanleypng. com. ☛ Hilton Port Moresby, 15 storeys of typical Hilton comfort, hilton.com. ☛ The Sanctuary Hotel and Spa, most spacious twin-share rooms in Port Moresby, handmade furniture, walk-in bird enclosure, thesanctuaryhotelpom.com.

☛ Holiday Inn Express, affordable, in Waigani, ihg. com. ☛ Citi Boutique, boasts exclusive rooftop bar views of the National Football Stadium, the spiritual home of PNG rugby, facebook. com/citiboutiquehotel.

☛ The Port Moresby Nature Park has 550 native animals and hundreds of plant species in beautiful gardens, and cafe, www.portmoresbynaturepark.org. ☛ Adventure Park, watch live feeding of crocodiles and enjoy a fun ride on the ferris wheel at PNG’s only amusement park, facebook.com/adventureparkpapuanewguinea.

☛ Dates for the Harbourside Markets and Motu-Koitaba Market events are being varied due to COVID-19 restrictions. For updates see pascoegroup.com/ events. ☛ Meri blouses, bilums, baskets and necklaces are available weekround at the craft market at Four Mile.

APPS TO DOWNLOAD ☛ PGO, PNG’s equivalent of DoorDash, is fast becoming a delivery service not just for food and groceries but also clothing and jewellery, phipax.com. ☛ Odesh, PNG’s first on-demand taxi and chauffeur platform, odesh.net.

☛ Varirata Nature Park (pictured), splendid lookout of Port Moresby, lakeside picnic areas, waterfalls, camping, trekking and tree-house climbing, facebook. com/Varirata.

GALLERY

LATE & LOUD

☛ Laguna Hotel Craft Market (first Saturday every month), Moresby Arts Theatre Craft Market (second Saturday), POM City Market at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery (second Saturday), Holiday Inn Craft Market (third Saturday), Ela Beach Craft Market (last Saturday), POM City Market at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery (second Sunday).

STAY HERE

NATURE

GET PHYSICAL

☛ Ela Beach has space for joggers; the volleyball and basketball courts are free for public use.

☛ The PNG National Museum and Art Gallery at Waigani has artefacts from all 22 PNG provinces, some dating back to the 1800s, museumpng. gov.pg.

☛ The Lamana Gold Club has a reputation as the ‘party capital’, with resident DJs, live music stations and international artists, lamanahotel.com.pg. ☛ The Element Restaurant and Bar has a more subdued crowd but isn’t averse to dancing, facebook.com/ elementpng.

The listings are not meant to be comprehensive and are not based on commercial considerations. They represent what we like.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 33

STAY HERE

☛ Lae International Hotel, Lae’s longest-standing hotel with expansive grounds, pool, gym, bar, restaurants and conference facilities, laeinterhotel.com. ☛ Lae Travellers Inn, affordable, comfortable and conveniently located in Top Town, lti.com.pg.

SUNDOWNERS

THE LAE GUIDE ☛ Lae Golf Club, lush outlook with cold beer, pokies and food, facebook. com/laegolfclub. ☛ Lae Yacht Club, the perfect place to watch the sun set over the Huon Gulf, laeyachtclub.com.pg. ☛ Jack’s Bar, a lively sports bar at Lae’s biggest hotel, laeinterhotel.com.

MEET-UPS

☛ Hotel Morobe, panoramic views with fresh juices, waffles and coffee, hotelmorobe.com. ☛ Crossroads Hotel, located at Nine Mile with lush grounds, infinity pool, restaurant and meeting rooms, facebook.com/ crossroadshotellae.

BITE TO EAT

☛ Lae City Hotel, excellent range of Asian and western dishes. Try the baby back ribs, laecityhotel.com. ☛ Bunga Raya, Lae’s most famous Chinese restaurant, conveniently located at the Golf Club, facebook.com/ bungarayarestaurant.

WHAT TO SEE

☛ Kokomos, classic fare at Lae International Hotel with fantastic Indian dishes, laeinterhotel.com. ☛ War memorial, a peaceful place honouring the fallen of World War 2, cwgc.org. ☛ Botanic gardens, PNG’s only national botanic gardens is home to exotic tropical gardens with an extensive collection of orchids, as well as an RAAF DC-3, laebotanicgardens.com. ☛ Rainforest habitat, home to native birds, fish and other wildlife, including ‘Agro’ the giant croc. Located at Unitech, unitech.ac.pg.

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☛ Foodmart, convenient location in Top Town with good coffee and meals, facebook.com/ officialfoodmart.

DAY TRIPPING ☛ Boat hire can be organised through the Lae Yacht Club. ☛ Salamaua, a historic township before it was destroyed in World War 2, is Lae’s best-kept secret with fantastic beaches and snorkelling. Guest house available. ☛ Busama, a picturesque beachside village with a nearby Buli Waterfall, 45 minutes by boat from Lae Yacht Club. ☛ Finschhafen, three hours from Lae by boat, is a small town settled by Lutheran missionaries and where you’ll find the iconic Butaweng Falls.

Travel

FIVE ’MUST-SEE’ PLACES IN PNG

BY LEANNE JORARI

As the world moves on from quarantines and lockdowns, and figures out how to live with COVID-19, international borders are slowly opening back up, allowing tourists to fulfil their wanderlust.

Papua New Guinea has myriad amazing, Instagramworthy places to visit. You may have already heard of the more popular attractions like Tarvurvur Volcano in East New Britain Province or the white sandy beaches of New Ireland Province, so here we’ve put the spotlight on lesser known but equally magnificent attractions around the country.

02 TURUBU COAST, EAST SEPIK PROVINCE

If the Sepik River is the heart of East Sepik Province, then the Turubu coastline is its charming counterpart.

Boasting miles of aweinspiring beaches and warm ocean breezes, the coastline is perfect for a family picnic or day out.

03 RONDON RIDGE, WESTERN HIGHLANDS PROVINCE

Cradled in the hills surrounding Mt Hagen, Rondon Ridge lodge has panoramic views of the Waghi Valley below and the surrounding mountains; you also won’t want to miss the golden sunsets or sunrises. Instagram worthy, for sure.

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REGION OF BOUGAINVILLE

01 EIWO RIVER,

ORO PROVINCE

If you ever find yourself in the Oro Province (just a 30-minute flight from Port Moresby), take a drive up the Kokoda Highway. There you will find crystalclear, fast-flowing rivers. One in particular, the Eiwo River at Pija village, is a turquoise dream. It’s about 30 minutes from Popondetta and well worth the visit.

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If you only have time for one Bougainville destination, make it Arawa, an utterly gorgeous small town, haunted by the civil war that was fought there decades ago. If you have the chance, make a side visit to the Panguna Mine.

05 BUTAWENG FALLS, MOROBE PROVINCE

This must-see PNG landmark is difficult to find and difficult to get to, but if you do get there you won’t be sorry. Take a dip at the falls or simply admire the beauty with a picnic lunch.

Life Lessons

WISDOM

JANET YAKI TEACHER, HUMANITARIAN

BY CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Janet Yaki has survived eight surgeries and now campaigns for others with health difficulties.

38 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

Janet Yaki was born in 1958 to subsistence farmers in Waluweli village in Pangia, in the Southern Highlands.

The only girl in a family of six, she remembers being carried around the cold mountains of Pangia in baby bilums, and sleeping in warm leaf-beds beside a fire in the centre of the hut that was home.

Schooling started at the local Catholic mission in Amburungi. She went on to high school in Tari in 1969, then the Holy Trinity Teachers’ College in the Western Highlands in 1973.

She taught at many schools in the Southern and Western provinces before her 18-year teaching career was cut short by cancer.

The cancer resulted in the removal of part of her large intestine. Since the life-saving surgery, she has had to live with a stoma bag and has dedicated her life to helping others in a similar situation.

One of my earliest memories is going to school. I followed my mum and grandma to church and the missionary there, Sister Mary Rame, came over and took me to the girls who were already going to school. We slept at school, in a long dormitory type kunai house. We slept on the floor with woven pitpit mats, and each tribe had a fireplace where we cooked.

One of the biggest events I remember is when man landed on the moon (July 20, 1969). An antenna was put up on the church to pick up the radio and we got to hear when the astronauts touched down. The nuns and priests were American, so they told us all about it before we got to hear the actual landing on the moon.

My mentor was my elder brother Aloysius Nale Tamu. He was away at school in Banz when he got news via a Catholic mission run radio network that my mother had given birth to me. He finally returned home when I was in grade three, and I didn’t know who he was. He always urged me to continue with education. He was protective and disagreed when a young man came to my mother to ask for me in marriage.

An antenna was put up on the church to pick up the radio and we got to hear when the astronauts landed on the moon in 1969.

One important lesson I’ve learned is to always be there for your children.

My advice for young people is to choose wisely.

Choose someone who really respects you, loves you.

And if not, you don’t have to fight for that person.

Walk away.

I’m inspired by people who have come out of the village environment and done well. They have known hardship but have prevailed. Sometimes I keep things

for 20 or 30 years and my family ask why. Growing up, I only had a grass skirt and no warm clothes; this is one reminder of what we went through and how we came out.

I’m proud that I became a teacher and I was able to teach village children who did not even know how to speak Pidgin or English. By the second term they would already be reading and writing. They did very well. Some of those students have come up to me since.

I have survived eight surgeries and 13 years as an ostomate (a person who has undergone surgery to create an opening in the body to discharge waste).

I didn’t know what it was, how to live with it, and if my family would accept me – but in the end I knew that God was going to use me. I discovered that there were many others living with the same condition in Papua New Guinea, and I’ve been able to help a lot of them through my work with the PNG Stoma Association. The only thing that keeps me going is my passion to help others. As I say, out of my brokenness, God uses me to make another person whole.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 39

Environment

CHAMPIONS OF THE SEA

HOW PNG WOMEN ARE HELPING SAVE CORAL REEFS

BY MARY ASEARI | PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED BY THE SEA WOMEN OF MELANESIA

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Women around the world are making a mark in fields previously seen to be male dominated, the field of science included. The Sea Women of Melanesia (SWOM) is an exceptional example of Papua New Guinean women making an impact in marine conservation.

SWOM gives women in the South Pacific skills to monitor the health of coral reefs, and create and restore marine protected areas.

The organisation, headquartered in Port Moresby, is unique in that it not only uses science but combines gender equity and sustainability in its work with traditional landowners to develop marine reserves to enhance fisheries and biodiversity.

Since its inception in 2016, SWOM’s marine conservation work has been in an area known as the Coral Triangle. The triangle covers about 5.7 million 40 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

square kilometres between the Great Barrier Reef, Melanesia and South-East Asia.

Home to countless marine species, it is one of the world’s premier destinations for underwater tourism and home to a major fisheries industry. According to SWOM, it is also threatened by the surging human population, waste levels and climate change.

The good news, says SWOM, is that coral reefs are resilient and can recover if the marine environment is safeguarded.

SWOM aims to combat marine degradation by empowering indigenous women with the education, skills and resources needed to take an active role in raising awareness about the problem, as well as creating and monitoring marine protected areas on their local coral reefs.

The sea women are, at the same time, changing

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In the ‘office’, two SWOM workers doing a coral reef survey.

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S WOM women in the Solomon Islands.

A SWOM member snorkels over a coral reef.

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04 A gathering of like minds, SWOM members with biology students from UPNG.

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Shore clean-ups, reef surveys and the creation of marine reserves have taken place around the country.

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Environment SWOM is working to save Pacific Ocean environments.

narratives about a woman’s role in her community and her opportunities for leadership. The women are combining indigenous knowledge with science to engage with their communities.

In PNG, the sea women are active in several places, including Kimbe, Madang and Gona Bara, where SWOM has been able to work with landowners to help manage manta ray feeding grounds. Shore clean-ups, reef surveys and the creation of marine reserves have also taken place around the country.

SWOM has gained international recognition for its work, most recently being awarded the 2021 Champions of the Earth Award, the UN’s highest environmental award.

To find out more see seawomen.net.

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Food

REVIEW

AKURA HARBOURSIDE

BY RUBY GAMOGA | PHOTOGRAPHS: RUBY GAMOGA & SUPPLIED BY AKURA

The elegant dining and lounge bar Akura opened at Harbourside in April and is already gaining rave reviews from diners.

The name, I am told, comes from the Japanese word sakura, which refers to the pretty cherry blossoms native to the Asian country that are on prominent display at the restaurant’s entrance.

“We dropped the ‘s’ because everything else at Harbourside also owned by Justin Tan, such as Alibi and Asia Aromas, starts with an ‘a’,” says assistant manager Darren Wong. “We wanted to make it consistent.”

Akura’s menu is Western, but there is a strong Japanese influence.

Tempura, a staple dish in Japan, features as a mushroom-based starter. The crispy deep-fried imported baby mushrooms are a great alternative to chips. The dish is generously portioned, with about 20 mushrooms. They are flecked with pieces of seaweed and paired with a sweet and sour sauce made from curcumin, vinegar and sugar; the flavours are eclectic. You can add Tabasco for a hint of heat.

My main course was a grilled lamb rack with a rich and lemony coriander pesto. It is strikingly fragrant, with all elements, including the crunchy salad garnish, complementing each other.

Dessert was a baby pineapple sitting on a base of shaved ice.

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Top left: Grilled lamb.

Left: Baby pineapple.

Above: Mushroom tempura.

Top: Akura’s elegant interior.

Just in case you’ve forgotten, this dish reminds you that Papua New Guinea has the tastiest fruits.

“The fresh pineapple is hollowed out the night before,” says chef

TEL. 7320 7777 ONLINE instagram.com/akurapng OPEN: Daily, from 11am until late.

STYLE Lounge bar with a Western menu.

GO-TO DISHES Mushroom tempura; lemongrass lamb with coriander dip; baby pineapple; BBQ duck with crepe cucumber and spring onions.

PRICES Starters K50-70; mains K70200; desserts K50.

David Hitovea. “And then, just before being served, we add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, and top it off with ice flavoured with pineapple juice.”

Despite sounding like it might be too sweet, the dose of sugar is surprisingly moderate. The pineapple is garnished with mint, which only adds more interest.

Akura has a good wine list to complement the food, but if you prefer spirits or cocktails the Long Island iced tea – made with tequila, Bacardi rum, vodka, gin, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and Coke – is a hit. Sip while enjoying sunset harbour views.

Food

A MIDDLE EASTERN FAVOURITE EGGS SHAKSHUKA

BY NATALIE CHOLOHEI | PHOTOGRAPHS: POLIAP M’BULEAU

SHAKSHUKA Serves 2–4 Easy to make

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp olive oil 2 red onions, chopped 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 garlic clove, sliced small bunch coriander stalks and leaves, chopped separately 550g cherry tomatoes 1 tsp caster sugar 4 eggs

HOW TO DO IT

The Port Terrace Restaurant & Bar has added eggs shakshuka to its menu, a much-loved spicy Middle Eastern dish that can be prepared with local ingredients.

The restaurant’s head chef, Riane Stubbs, shares his recipe on these pages with PNG Now readers.

The chef, who has worked around the world, including in Fiji, Brunei, Singapore, Ukraine, Qatar and United Arab Emirates, says shakshuka is simple to make. The bonus is that it’s healthy.

The Port Terrace Restaurant & Bar is open seven days a week from 6am to 10pm, at the Crowne Plaza Residences, portrestaurant.com.pg.

1 Heat the oil in a frying pan that has a lid, then soften the onions, chilli, garlic, spices and coriander stalks for five minutes until soft. Stir in the tomatoes and sugar, then let bubble for 8–10 minutes until thick. (Can be frozen for one month.)

2 Using the back of a large spoon, make four dips in the sauce, then crack an egg into each one. Put a lid on the pan, then cook over a low heat for 6–8 minutes, until the eggs are poached to your liking. Scatter with the coriander leaves and serve with crusty bread.

BIG TICKS FOR SHAKSHUKA ✔ It’s affordable.

✔ Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. ✔ Eggs provide excellent-quality protein. ✔ All ingredients healthy and vegetarian.

Top left: Shakshuka at the Port Terrace Restaurant & Bar. Above left: The restaurant’s head chef Riane Stubbs flanked by sous chefs Bruce Waim (left) and Glen Baro (right).

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 45

Motoring

A RUGGED DUO

ROADTEST: TOYOTA HILUX & MAZDA BT-50

BY TOBY HAGON

If you’re looking to head off-road or tackle some of Papua New Guinea’s tougher roads and tracks, it pays to get a vehicle designed for the task. For many, that ends up being a pick-up truck, allowing both the loading flexibility expected in a vehicle with a large tray out the back and seating for up to five people.

Two of the best on the market are the Toyota Hilux and Mazda BT-50.

The Hilux is popular with good reason, updated late in 2020 with some minor design tweaks and a power boost to the 2.8-litre, four-cylinder engine.

The Mazda, on the other hand, has youth on its side. The current BT-50 is fresher than the Hilux, having only gone on sale in 2021.

For Mazda, the latest BT-50 is a change of direction, at least in how it was created. Previously the model was built by Ford, sharing the mechanical components of the Ranger. The latest comes out of an Isuzu factory, sharing its trucking expertise with the D-Max light duty pick-up.

INSIDE There’s a familiarity to the Hilux that goes with its tough-as-nails nature. What it lacks in pampering 46 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

TOYOTA HILUX 4X4 DUAL CAB Engine: 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel Power/torque: 150kW/500Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto, part-time 4WD

luxury it makes up for with a rugged demeanour that gives the impression it will fend off dust and muck for years to come. The most recent update saw some tweaks, including the addition of a dial to adjust the volume on the touchscreen, which incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Mazda matches that connectivity, although there’s a wireless functionality to the CarPlay that means there’s no need to plug your Apple phone in.

More space, too. The BT-50 is a wider vehicle that provides more elbow room and rear legroom, both handy if you’re travelling with a full house.

Pick-up trucks are designed to carry big loads and both the Mazda and Toyota can carry about one tonne (inclusive of any people you add to the car).

Each can also tow up to 3.5 tonnes.

MAZDA BT-50 4X4 DUAL CAB

The Mazda BT-50 and Toyota Hilux are among the best pick-up trucks on the market.

UNDER THE BONNET It’s a battle of the four-cylinder turbo diesels.

Under the bonnet of the BT-50 is a tough 3.0-litre engine making 140kW and 450Nm, and it’s that torque that defines how it drives. While there’s a gruffness to its sound and its character, it’s backed up by good pulling power that makes light work of hills and heavy loads.

In the Hilux, the engine is smaller, at 2.8 litres in capacity. But since an update in 2021 it’s a vastly more enthusiastic engine. There’s a full 150kW and 500Nm, something that ensures thoroughly respectable performance. The extra grunt also means it works better with the optional auto transmission, holding gears when it makes sense to utilise the plentiful torque.

ON (AND OFF) THE ROAD Utes are designed to do work – and that continues well beyond the bitumen.

The Hilux has long had a reputation for being among the toughest vehicles on the road and it’s no different with this latest iteration. Firm suspension means the ride can feel taut over bumps, although it doesn’t take much weight on board to settle that and ensure more compliance. The steering is light and faithful, although there’s some additional weight to

Engine: 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel Power/torque: 140kW/450Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto, part-time 4WD

its motion at parking speeds.

It’s off-road where the Hilux really proves its mettle.

Proven 4x4 hardware ensures loads of ground clearance and underbody protection, but there’s also some electronic smarts that work beautifully in rugged or slippery terrain. The traction control does a great job of ensuring the Hilux muscles its way up craggy rocks or squelching through mud.

The BT-50 is similarly capable although you’re more likely to occasionally need to engage the rear differential lock in genuinely challenging conditions.

Still, there’s ample clearance and a solidity that suggests it will cope with plenty of punishment.

The BT-50 is also more relaxed on the road and has a slightly quieter cabin when you’re driving at speed.

Its steering requires a little more of a twirl to get the desired result, but the responses are faithful and predictable.

DIFFERENT TASTES The Mazda BT-50 and Toyota Hilux are among the best pick-up trucks on the market, each highly capable of dealing with challenging gravel roads or more technical off-road obstacles.

The Hilux’s well-earned reputation for reliability and its suitability to rough conditions make it a logical choice for those looking to get dirty.

The BT-50 fights back with more space and comfort and a few more tech trinkets.

Whichever way you jump you’ll be buying a highly capable truck that should have years of punishment ahead.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 47

Sport

LOCKER ROOM CHAT GODFREY HARO FOOTBALLER

BY LEMACH LAVARI | PHOTOGRAPH: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Godfrey Haro is a Papua New Guinean footballer on the rise.

He is described as a brilliant defender, because of his tenacious ability to lock in on his opponents, shutting down their attack and winning the ball for his team.

Haro debuted for the Kapuls, PNG’s senior men’s team, in the FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers in March, hosted in Qatar. The Kapuls were eliminated in the qualifiers, but gained international experience.

Godfrey Haro on …

Being part of the Kapuls in Qatar was a great learning experience as it exposed me, and other younger players, to international football.

To be selected in the senior men’s team was something special for me and my family.

It was a goal of mine to one day reach international level, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon. I was focused on making the PNG Under 23 side, but thankfully I was given the chance to play for the Kapuls.

FOR THE RECORD Name: Godfrey Haro Age: 23 Position: Left wing/right wing Local competition: Port Moresby Soccer Association Club: FC Genesis Follows: Real Madrid Favorite players: Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid defender) and Daniel Joe (Hekari United defender).

48 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

I was introduced to football by my older brother, Maso, who played in the Premier Division for the Cosmos FC in the Port Moresby Soccer Association.

I started playing for Cosmos FC in the Under 17 division in 2013.

By 2019 I had made the Premier Division; and then the national

competition, the National Soccer League, playing for Gulf Komara for two years.

My big brother Maso and my parents have been very supportive of my football career.

They are always there motivating me and pushing me to be better, pushing me to attend training, and helping me recover from injuries. I wouldn’t be where I am in my football career without their commitment to me.

My Christian faith has helped in keeping me humble and focused, and in overcoming my fears.

Faith over fear, I say.

Before every game I like to meditate on how I want to play. Being with the Kapuls, we huddle and sing Christian hymns thanking our God before every game.

Sport

VETERAN IS COUNTING ON A LONG CAREER PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED BY SP PNG HUNTERS

Dilbert Isaac, 29, is a senior player for the SP PNG Hunters who, along with his teammates, has relocated to Queensland for the Hostplus Cup. Here, he speaks to PNG Now about the challenges of living away from home for the season, and how he is preparing for life after rugby league.

What are the challenges you have faced relocating to Australia?

The hardest part has been leaving my family behind. I have two beautiful girls, Agnes and Lynne, and my wife Brenda. They are my inspiration and biggest supporters and it’s hard to be away for so long.

The weather is also different here, and the lifestyle – everything is so expensive. And I’ve had to learn how to use public transport: trains, trams and busses.

What’s a typical non-game day like for you in Australia?

We wake up around 6 or 7am (the team is accommodated at Gold Coast Performance Centre) and sit down for breakfast together. I sometimes skip breakfast if we have training straight after, because I don’t like to train on a full stomach. We may have a field session in the morning, a team lunch, and a gym session in the afternoon. When I’m not training, I catch up on my study, go for walks to the beach or shops, play cards and watch movies. The players who aren’t in the Hunters team on the weekend play in the local

50 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

A grade competition, so we will go and watch them play and support them. We also catch up for team barbecues.

What’s it like being a professional sportsman?

It can get tedious. Eating the same foods, doing the same training can be challenging. Being a professional sportsman is a constant job and it can be tiring, but all those little things (your preparation) will affect your game on the weekend. I learned while playing in the Digicel Cup how important preparation is.

What has rugby league meant for your life?

Being with family back home is my priority. However, playing for my country and representing PNG is a duty and a responsibility. Although I would love to be with my family, playing for the Hunters is worth making the sacrifices. This way, I can still provide for them. So, while I am here (in Queensland), I am also representing my family, my village and my province. I just want to make them proud, make my mum and dad proud.

Best on-field memory?

Playing for the Simbu Lions in the 2015 Digicel Cup grand final. We didn’t win that game – we were the underdogs and the Gurias had lots of Kumuls in the team – but I was very proud to represent my province and family in the grand final.

You had spinal TB, which must have been a massive blow not only to your general wellbeing but to playing sport.

I played most of 2018 and 2019 for the Hunters and at the end of the 2019 season my lower back was really affecting me. I spent the offseason working with the physios to try and rehab my back, but the pain was bad. My wife urged me to not play in 2020 and although at the time I really wanted to play, I am glad I listened to her. It was a blessing in disguise to take 2020 off – I got to spend more time with my family, and I also began studying a diploma course in accounting.

I am thankful that God had a bigger purpose, a higher calling for me and I think the time off helped to prolong my career so I can be here today.

How much longer would you like to play?

As long as I can play.

How are you preparing for life after rugby league?

I have completed a diploma in accounting and a diploma in business. I also have a certificate in MYOB AccountRight. While I am here in Australia, I am working on a certificate in accounting principles skillset.

Having a certificate that is recognised in Australia will help me gain employment once my playing career is over.

Any words of advice for aspiring players?

The best thing you can do is be a good person. Respect is a two-way street and doing little things like opening a door for an elder or helping someone in need can go a long way.

Even on the field you need to play with respect – play hard and aggressive but always be respectful.

WITH ROBERT UPE Dilbert Isaac, after rugby league he is eyeing a career in accounting.

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Sport

UP FOR THE FIGHT

BY CARMEL PILOTTI |PHOTOGRAPHS: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Tru Warrior delivered another exciting round of amateur boxing to a big crowd at the Lamana Gold Club in May. There were 26 bouts of three rounds each with boxers from 11 local clubs fighting it out in categories from cadet up to heavyweight.

Six women’s bouts were included, among them a rematch between PNG representative Flora Loga and the women’s 60-kilogram national trials winner Hazel Laing. Laing won the contest in three tough rounds.

Tru Warrior has been bringing local boxers together and showcasing their talent for the past couple of years. More events will be held throughout the year.

Check Tru Warrior’s Facebook page for scheduling.

52 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

Boxers slug it out at the Tru Warrior event that brought together the best fighters from 11 local boxing clubs.

Fitness

GET PHYSICAL

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT WITH A WEIGHTS SESSION PHOTOGRAPHS: XXXXXXXXXXX

As one of Papua New Guinea’s premier gym complexes, the reputation of Airways Hotel’s health and fitness centre precedes it. The state-of-theart exercise equipment, elegant artificial grass tennis court and that 20-metre infinity lappool with its stunning view of the Owen Stanley Ranges are common knowledge.

But there’s much more. There are two squash courts, a table tennis table plus a barre/yoga studio with a weekly schedule of classes. Gym instructor Alex Tony will even become your personal trainer if you need extra motivation.

There are six modern treadmills in the gym (overcrowding is never an issue), but if you’d rather do your cardio outside then hotel guests also have access to the neighbouring recreation park.

Guests staying at Airways have complimentary access to the health and fitness centre.

A limited number of annual memberships are also available.

The gym also has a good range of weights, so here Alex Tony provides his top tips on getting started with some weight training.

Any new fitness program should be started under supervision of/with advice from a qualified instructor, or a doctor if there are health conditions.

Gym instructor Alex Tony has provided the tips here for starting off a weights program in the gym.

WARM UP Some aerobic activity, such as a five-minute jog or brisk walk, will increase blood flow to your muscles and prime them for a good workout. Skipping rope or doing jumping jacks for a few minutes are also good warmup options.

START WITH LIGHTER WEIGHTS Start with a weight that you can lift 10 to 15 times with proper form. Begin with one or two sets of 10 to 15 repetitions, and slowly progress to three sets or more.

GRADUALLY INCREASE THE WEIGHT When you can easily do the recommended number of sets and repetitions, increase the weight by 5–10%. Check to make sure this is the right weight for you before doing a full workout.

REST FOR AT LEAST 60 SECONDS IN BETWEEN SETS This helps prevent muscle fatigue, especially as you start out.

LIMIT YOUR WORKOUT TO NO LONGER THAN 45 MINUTES You can get the workout you need in this time frame. Longer sessions may not lead to better results and may increase your risk of burnout and muscle fatigue.

GENTLY STRETCH YOUR MUSCLES AFTER YOUR WORKOUT Stretching can help boost your flexibility, ease muscle tension and reduce your risk of injury.

REST A DAY OR TWO IN BETWEEN WORKOUTS Resting gives your muscles time to recover and replenish energy stores before your next workout.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 53

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MONEY | BUSINESS | REAL ESTATE | WORK

60

JUST REWARDS

How you can benefit from loyalty programs

56 ANZ BULLISH Bank sees bright prospects for PNG economy

57 WELL CONNECTED Vodaphone launches in PNG

58

62

PROPERTY REPORT

AT WORK WITH …

Upmarket residential properties come on to market

Radio personality Michael Arifeai

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 55

PNG Moni/News

PNG BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

BY STAFF WRITERS

ANZ bullish about PNG business growth A new report by ANZ says business in Papua New Guinea is proving resilient as the country looks to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Papua New Guinea: Green Shoots, ANZ says it expects the country’s GDP to increase by 2.1% in 2022 before strengthening to 5.6% next year and averaging about 8% per year through to the end of this decade.

Business investment, it says, is showing signs of turning around from the second half of this year and continuing a better path for another eight to 10 years.

While the report is bullish about PNG’s future growth, the bank is predicting a “soft” 2022, in spite of “a fillip from

government expenditure and elevated national income, boosted by an uplift in commodity prices.”

Like the most recent Bank of Papua New Guinea quarterly bulletin, ANZ’s report also warns about inflation.

“Consumer prices will rise further with greater conversion of higher input costs (raw materials for food, energy and shipping rates) to final retail prices. That said, temporary suspensions of taxes on selected grocery and essential items will provide a partial offset.”

The bank is projecting a positive outlook in the coming year for several key industry sectors in PNG, notably

SMEs confident too According to a new Pacific Trade Invest report, 87% of small and medium-sized businesses in the Pacific are confident they will survive the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the survey, 84% of SMEs in the Pacific have faced negative impacts because of the pandemic in the first quarter of this year, with over 74% of businesses reporting a decline in revenue because of COVID-19.

However, the report also found that 47% of businesses are expecting revenue to improve this year.

According to respondents, the top three challenges facing businesses are increasing costs of products (raw materials), poor cash flow and not knowing how long the COVID-19 crisis will last.

56 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

agriculture, mining, information and communication technology, and accommodation and food services. In 2023, it expects the outlook to improve more broadly across the economy.

Further in the future, the report is even more positive, thanks to expected new resources projects.

“We see PNG experiencing exceptionally high GDP growth over the 2028–32 period. In 2028, the first gas from Papua LNG is expected to come online, nearly doubling PNG’s LNG exports to 15 million tonnes. The upstream P’nyang development is also expected to start in 2028, taking over from the completion of Papua LNG.”

Brian Bell sets up new shop in Mt Hagen The Brian Bell Group has invested K40 million in a new Home Centre in Mt Hagen. The store has created new jobs in the town, and has a wide range of products for sale, including musical instruments, white goods and furniture.

Group chairman Ian Clough says: “Mt Hagen will be proud of commitment to the region and ongoing investment.

We have now created the largest department store ever for Mt Hagen.”

Vodaphone connects with PNG After almost two years of delays caused

by COVID-19, PNG finally has a third telecommunications player with the launch of Vodafone PNG in April.

Vodaphone’s regional chief executive officer, Pradeep Lal, says there is immense potential to grow the market in PNG, which is currently estimated at about three million mobile customers in a population of about 10 million people.

Citing the ratio of SIM cards to head of population, he says some figures show that market penetration here is 37% of the population. Internet penetration stands at just 20%.

“Fiji is at 130% mobile penetration – the same as Australia and New Zealand. Vanuatu and Samoa are at 100%. PNG can very easily reach between 80 to 90% mobile penetration in the next couple of years,” he says.

In such an expanded market, he believes, there is plenty of room for a third operator to compete effectively and provide the stimulus needed to spur increased competition.

One of the competitive advantages Vodafone PNG brings, Lal says, is its access to the latest technology.

“We are very determined to provide top quality products and services. All our base stations are

3G/4G+, offering greater speed and capacity,” he says.

Lower prices on products such as handsets and cheaper data are a part of the Vodafone offering at launch. The cheapest 4G smartphone on offer retails for just K89.

The long-held policy goal for PNG’s telecom sector has been for genuine competition, enabled by the sharing of network infrastructure among all telcos and an ease of movement between companies for consumers.

In contrast to previous network launches, an interconnect agreement is already in place between Vodaphone PNG, Telikom and BMobile to ensure phone users in PNG can call phones on all three mobile networks.

Initially, Vodafone PNG is issuing new mobile phone numbers to its customers. However, Lal believes that number portability will provide customers more choice and help lift overall standards in the market.

“If your service is below par, then customers have a choice; they will migrate to a new provider but continue to maintain their current number.

We strongly support number portability.”

Lal also believes that tower sharing is a “no brainer” and will eventually benefit all players in the market.

Property developers band together PNG’s major property developers and investors recently banded together to create the PNG Property Developers Association (PNGPDA).

For many years, a handful of companies have driven major real estate development in PNG: superannuation funds Nambawan Super and Nasfund, finance company Credit Corporation, and the development arms of companies such as Curtain Bros, Steamships and Lamana

Development.

The PNGPDA’s deputy chairman Rupert Bray says the new association represents about 80% of the A-grade market.

The purpose of the association is threefold.

Bray says: “One is to try and encourage and advocate for regulatory reform and policies that are supportive of a mature property market.

“The second is

to improve liquidity: at the moment, it’s difficult to buy and sell property, and it is hard for corporate investors to get involved in the market.

“And the last piece is town and urban planning. As big developers, we have a vested interest in ensuring all the urban centres are properly planned, benefiting not just today’s occupants but future generations.”

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 57

PNG Moni/Real Estate

PROPERTY REPORT WITH CARMEL PILOTTI | PHOTOGRAPH: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Coming onto the market this quarter are two luxurious, upmarket developments, including the long-anticipated Rangeview complex on Waigani Drive, adjacent to the NCD City Hall.

The K300 million Rangeview commercial and residential property is owned by Nambawan Super, Lamana Development and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC). It is already 90% full and offers a world-class shopping experience and 88 apartments.

Rangeview’s commercial arm will also house a 24-hour international medical centre and five restaurants.

Residences range from two- and

58 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

three-bedroom townhouses for rent from K2500 a week.

Away from the city centre is the Coast Watchers Court residential development – a fitting name for the magnificent views of Ela

The K300 million Rangeview development on Waigani Drive.

Beach and APEC Haus from one of Port Moresby’s most sought-after

locations on Konenamo Crescent, Touaguba Hill.

With villa options at K4100 a week, and three-bedroom apartments at K3900, tenants also have use of a newly built, fully equipped gym, monthly electricity provision, six gas refills annually, fully kitted apartments, an internet package and cable television.

To find out more, go to Strickland Real Estate, sre.com.pg.

The recently released 2022 Hausples Real Estate Survey found that housing behaviour during the pandemic last year is an indicator of a resilient local property market with an increase in property buyers, almost doubling from 3% to 5.75% in 2022.

There was, however, a slight reduction in those looking for investment properties, according to the survey.

As large numbers of expatriate workers living in Papua New Guinea were repatriated due to the pandemic during 2020 and 2021 and demand dropped significantly, the survey says the market became moderately more affordable. In addition, several housing projects in Port Moresby should be coming online later this year and in 2023.

For the majority of Papua New Guineans, the market remains unaffordable, and a lack of developable land is a major issue.

Prices are also affected by yield, calculated as the total annual rental income as a percentage of the property’s value.

As the survey found,

unsurprisingly the single most crucial factor when buying a home is the price. Location comes second, followed by security and finally quality and return on investment.

The survey received feedback from 3000 respondents, improving the accuracy of results by 50% compared to past years.

The number of participants aged between 31 to 40 increased sharply and there was a reduction of respondents aged under 30, suggesting that the property consumer population is moving into the more mature and financially established market, and supporting other survey results that show a lack of suitable housing for young adults.

To find out more, go to hausples.com.

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 59

PNG Moni/Loyalty Schemes

LOYALTY HAS ITS REWARDS

BY PAUL CHAI

Loyalty schemes have dramatically transformed in Papua New Guinea recently with customers being offered more schemes, as well as more choice within existing loyalty programs.

Margaret Frank, the marketing manager at IHG Hotels and Resorts, says the change in the hotel industry schemes has been driven by more global hotel chains competing for local dollars.

“Customers want to be rewarded for their loyalty and rewarding your loyal customer is now a requirement in the travel industry,” she says.

“Our IHG One Rewards members are nine times more likely to book direct, return 15% sooner than non-members, stay 20% longer and are 15% more profitable than third-party online bookings.”

IHG debuted its new loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, in April. According to IHG, it provides members with industryleading value and richer rewards than ever before, as well as a new tier and bonus points earning structure.

Another group seeing a change in the loyalty landscape is the CPL Group, whose Real Rewards Plus was the pioneering loyalty program in the country when it started in 2003.

“The engagement and interaction from our members have been great and we have seen a lot of traction in terms of member activity on a month-tomonth basis,” says Kevin Alo, the general manager for strategic marketing at CPL. The growth of the scheme encouraged CPL to introduce 60 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

points once you acquire enough points for the selected items; one kina earns you one point.

Real Rewards cards have an expiry date on their points, which are lost if there has not been any activity within two years. oints 50 p ts DAY 58 poin O T 7 DS WAR TOTAL Y RE

M

Loyalty schemes can provide rewards in many forms, from airline flights to hotel stays and free groceries.

a tiered program within its membership. “If you are a gold member, the perks can include select free grocery items, or even gift cards,” he says.

Here’s a rundown on some of the loyalty schemes available to PNG customers.

CPL REAL REWARDS

Real Rewards is open to anyone over 18 so you can walk into any participating CPL Group store (City Pharmacy, Stop & Shop, Hardware Haus stores nationwide) and join.

You can begin redeeming your

shop.cpl.com.pg/real-rewards

IHG ONE REWARDS

The InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) loyalty program has recently re-branded under the name IHG One Rewards. Points earned in the program can be used around the world with airlines, supermarket chains, credit card merchants and even for magazine subscriptions, ebooks and games.

Loyalty members can use their points to stay at any one of the 6028+ IHG hotels worldwide, and they can even use their points to fuel their next flight with airline partnerships that service PNG, including Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Velocity.

ihg.com

GRAND PAPUA HOTEL (RADISSON REWARDS)

Earlier this year the Radisson entered the PNG market, signing up the Grand Papua Hotel, and that means guests are now eligible to join the Radisson Rewards scheme.

The scheme is free to join, and topline features are up to 10% when booking directly, earning points towards a free stay, and getting complimentary room upgrades if available.

radissonhotels.com/en-us/rewards/ benefits

AIR NIUGINI DESTINATIONS

One of PNG’s largest and longest-

established loyalty schemes is run by national carrier Air Niugini.

Destinations allows you to accrue points by not only flying with the airline, but also by buying goods and services from program partners such as the Brian Bell retail group and Coral Seas Hotels.

Destinations points can also be used for ancillary purposes, such as upgrading to business class, paying for excess baggage, and getting access to Air Niugini’s domestic lounge network.

The airline is currently upgrading the program to introduce features such as status points, which allow you over time to upgrade from the standard classic membership to silver or gold memberships, which offer greater benefits. Air Niugini even has a Destinations membership for minors. airniugini.com.pg

ABLE HOME & OFFICE REWARDS

The Able Rewards scheme is open to all shoppers with a valid email address or phone number, and you can join at any Able store. For every K100 you spend you receive one Able Rewards point that is equal to K1 that can be redeemed, but it cannot be redeemed for cash. You can redeem your points once they reach 100 and there are some limitations on how the points can be used, for example no lay-bys. able.com.pg

RH HYPERMARKET WANTOK REWARD

There are two types of cards: Wantok Reward Card is free to get, and customers earn points towards free items; the Wantok

Gift Card requires a K30 deposit and offers more rewards.

Wantok Reward members get 10% off in selected items store and are eligible for on-the-spot, members-only promotions. facebook.com/WantokRewards-647936845277053

NASFUND MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT PROGRAM

This superannuation loyalty scheme offers up to 25% off services such as optical, electrical, pharmacy and flights.

Partners for the scheme include CPL (a big 33% discount), Brian Bell & Co (15%), Mills Dental Care (15%) and a range of retailers and restaurants. For a full list of partners check out the website. nasfund.com.pg/services/ membership-discount-program

JUNE–AUGUST 2022 PNG NOW 61

PNG Moni/CV

AT WORK WITH

RADIO PERSONALITY MICHAEL ARIFEAI

BY KIMBERLY TATUT | PHOTOGRAPH: GODFREEMAN KAPTIGAU

Michael Arifeai, 31, is a senior producer and presenter at Tribe 92.3.

Previously broadcasting as Mala on PNG FM, he’s now live on Saturday nights at Tribe with his on-air persona of Triber Mikey.

As a senior producer, he assists in content gathering for other presenters on Tribe.

Michael Arifeai on …

Working the dream I knew I wanted to be a radio presenter at the age of six. I wanted to do the same job as my father, Allan.

He was a broadcaster for 30 years and worked with NBC. Starting out I did an interview at PNG FM when the station was looking for new presenters and personalities in 2012. Although I finished second in the interviews, I got my foot in the door.

On air I’m on Tribe on Saturday nights from 6pm until midnight.

Previously, I did a show called GMT (Good Morning Tribe) from 6–10am daily.

Keeping nerves in check Although

Although I am talking to a large audience, my approach is to imagine I am talking to one person.

62 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022

I am talking to a large audience, my approach is to imagine I am talking to one person.

The audience Knowing that a large audience tunes in is the greatest part of the job.

Our target audience of people between 12 and 35 makes up 60% of the population.

A typical working day Sometimes I’ll be out doing an interview or gathering content.

When I’m in the studio, I edit stories to go on

air, and provide presenters with content ideas, guidance and encouragement. I like to say that I am the medicine of the team, but I can also be the poison when things aren’t done.