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August 2025

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KPHL’s K3.3M Sponsorship is a Game-Changer for the Kumuls

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The PNG national men’s rugby league team, the PNG LNG Kumuls, has a huge boost for its international season.

Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) announced on Wednesday a three-year renewal of its platinum sponsorship, worth K3.3 million.

This funding is critical for the Kumuls’ international campaign, which includes the annual Prime Minister’s XIII and the Pacific Championships. According to PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) CEO, Stanley Hondina, the sponsorship is vital for managing the team.

“To assemble a national team like the Kumuls with most of its players playing overseas is a costly exercise,” Hondina said.

He added that the sponsorship will go a long way in assisting with travel, accommodation, playing & training gear, back-office support and administration.

The renewed partnership ensures the Kumuls can focus on their upcoming matches.

They’re set to play Australia in the Prime Minister’s XIII on October 12, followed by the Pacific Bowl Championships against the Cook Islands on October 25 and Fiji on November 1.

Wapu Sonk, KPHL’s Managing Director, said the company was happy to renew the sponsorship, reaffirming its commitment to “national pride, youth development and community engagement.

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International

Lessons from the Pacific: Australia Reflects 80 Years After WWII

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Eighty years after the end of World War II, Australians have paused to reflect on the sacrifices made for peace. Commemorations for Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day were held across the nation on Friday, honoring those who served and fell.

In Melbourne, Maureen Bell proudly wore her father Bert Jones’s war medals at the Shrine of Remembrance. She recalled her dad, who served in New Guinea, often telling funny stories to ease the pain of his experiences.

“He said he was called Screamer because they would play AFL football in New Guinea,” she reminisced, later learning the nickname was due to his loud personality.

Despite her pride, Ms. Bell expressed a somber view on the state of the world today.

“It’s important to honor those that have gone before us and made incredible sacrifices,” she said.

“But we don’t seem to learn from it. We keep doing it unfortunately.”

At the Sydney service, Phil Ward honored his father, a survivor of internment and the Burma railway. He described the commemorations as a moment of “enduring gratitude” for those who defended freedom.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the nearly one million Australians who served, 40,000 of whom never returned. He called the war a “nightmare made real” by human beings.

RSL Victoria President Mark Schroffel noted the sorrow that accompanies the victory, remembering the “unsung heroes who never returned home.”

He emphasized the importance of preserving their memory, stating, “Nobody really wins.”

Australia played a vital role in the Pacific theater, initially fighting in Malaya and Singapore before focusing on the defense of the mainland after the bombing of Darwin in 1942.

Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh described VP Day as marking the end of “the most devastating global conflict in human history.”

Source: Australian Associated Press

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News

PNG’s District Development Funds: A Crisis of Secrecy

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A new report by the advocacy group ACT NOW! PNG reveals a systemic and widespread failure of transparency and accountability across Papua New Guinea’s 96 District Development Authorities (DDAs).

The second annual DDA Watch Report, covering the period from July 2024 to June 2025, paints a grim picture of “persistent secrecy” despite nearly K2 billion in annual government funding intended for service improvement and infrastructure grants.

The findings highlight a critical disconnect between rising public investment and a lack of basic oversight and public access to information.

According to Cathy Tukne, Information Coordinator for ACT NOW!, transparency should be non-negotiable.

“Without public plans, budgets, audits, and inspections, how can communities trust their development funds are well spent?”

The report’s key findings highlight a profound communication and accountability crisis:

Bar Graph documenting findings of District Development Authorities
  • Development Plans Remain Secret: While 37 DDAs have launched their five-year development plans (2022-2027), an increase of 16 from the previous year, a staggering 61% of districts still lack one. More concerning, only nine districts have made their plans publicly accessible. Geographically, the disparity is stark: Western Province and Bougainville boast 100% coverage, while entire provinces like Western Highlands, Madang, West Sepik, and Manus have no district plans at all.
  • Acquittal Reports Go Unpublished: Of the 72 DDAs that submitted their 2024 financial acquittals to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD), only one, Talasea DDA in West New Britain, published its report. The report notes that 24 DDAs failed to submit their 2024 reports, and 35 are still outstanding from 2023.
  • Audits Are Non-Existent: For the second consecutive year, not a single audit report for any DDA was published. The Auditor-General’s Office cited “capacity constraints” as a key barrier, a finding that raises serious questions about the financial health and integrity of district-level spending.
  • Budgets Shrouded in Secrecy: The report found that 94% of districts are operating without a publicly disclosed budget. Only six DDAs announced a 2025 budget, and none of these were made public. This lack of transparency means citizens have no way of knowing how their tax money is being allocated or spent.
  • No Public Oversight on Projects: Despite DIRD’s mandate to monitor fund usage, no inspection reports on DSIP/DIP projects are publicly available. This failure to publish reports effectively shields project implementation from public scrutiny and accountability.

The report also detailed a communication crisis, with most DDAs being effectively unreachable by the public.

While 92 districts now have a named CEO, only seven have a working email address, and just 20 have a public phone number. The digital footprint is nearly non-existent, with only six DDAs maintaining an active website.

In response to these findings, ACT NOW! has issued a series of urgent “Calls to Action.” The group is advocating for the suspension of funds to districts without public plans or acquittals, and for action under the Leadership Code against officials who fail to publish required documents.

They also call for an expansion of the Auditor-General’s capacity to audit all 96 DDAs annually and for DIRD to step up its monitoring and reporting of projects.

The ACT NOW! report serves as a wake-up call, highlighting that despite increased funding, the foundations of good governance, transparency and accountability, are failing at the district level, undermining the potential for genuine development and citizen empowerment across Papua New Guinea.

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Sport

PNG Barramundis Receive Home Support in Guernsey Ahead of Jersey Tour

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The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Barramundis national cricket team recently concluded a series of three trial matches in Guernsey, part of their preparation for the upcoming Jersey Tour.

The warm-up fixtures were seen as a success, with the team sharpening their skills and building momentum for the international campaign.

A highlight of the Guernsey stopover was the unexpected support from a Papua New Guinean family living on the island.

For three days, Mr. Vele, his wife Elizabeth, and their son Genailiwa Kaiulo cheered on the team, proudly flying the PNG colours from the stands.

In a gesture of thanks, Barramundis batsman Kipling Doriga presented a team training shirt to the family on Monday, August 18, 2025, their final day in Guernsey.

Head Coach John Ovia noted the positive impact the support had on the players.

“The boys got excited when they saw PNG colours supporting them on,” Ovia said.

“It means a lot to carry the colours of the country and to have fans abroad. We thank the Kaiulo family for their support, especially little champion Genailiwa Kaiulo.”

The Barramundis are now focused on the Jersey Tour, where they will compete in a series of international fixtures.

The team is confident that the trial matches in Guernsey have prepared them for a strong performance.

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Rugby League

Bulldogs Warned to Fix “Comfortable” Mindset

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Bulldogs’ Viliame Kikau and captain Stephen Crichton are calling for the team to fix its “too comfortable” mindset as they head into the final stretch of the season.

The Bulldogs have had an up-and-down month, alternating between strong wins over Manly and the Warriors and disappointing losses to the Tigers and Roosters.

This inconsistency, according to Kikau, comes from a lack of effort.

“Just some of the areas that we pride ourselves on, all the effort areas, that came up a few times,” Kikau said after reviewing the loss to the Roosters.

“That’s been addressed and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”

Crichton agreed that the problem is mental, not physical.

“It’s kind of tapping into that mindset, where your mindset was in those two good games and where that mindset was in the two bad games,” he said.

The Bulldogs’ season will be defined by the next seven weeks, not the past seven months, Crichton warned.

“We were playing really good footy at the start of the year but no one remembers what happens at the start of the year. It’s where we are right now and the opportunity right in front of us is very special.”

The team’s senior players are taking charge to ensure there is no complacency when they face the Storm.

“As leaders of the group, we try and address it straight away so we don’t get that in the team,” Kikau said.

“Hopefully there’s none this week.”

Source: Australian Associated Press

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Cricket

Lewas Ready for T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Fiji

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The PNG Lewas have been announced as Papua New Guinea’s representatives for the East Asia Pacific (EAP) T20 World Cup Qualifier in Fiji, set to take place from September 7-15.

The winning team will earn a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.

The 14-player squad is captained by Brenda Tau and coached by Mahuru Dai.

According to Cricket PNG Chairman Michael Harrison, the team is well-prepared and carries “the hopes of the nation.”

“Our preparation has been good. We have been training for nine weeks… I am sure the PNG Lewas are ready to play for the tournament, and we are all looking forward which I am very confident that this team will deliver a strong performance in Fiji,” Coach Dai commented on the team’s preparations.

The Lewas will face teams from Fiji, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Samoa, Japan, Vanuatu, and the Philippines.

The team will first travel to Brisbane on August 31 for a week of practice matches before heading to Fiji on September 7.

Their campaign begins on September 9 at Albert Park, Suva.

PNG Lewas Squad:

1. Brenda Tau (Captain)

2. Noani Vare

3. Melanie Ani

4. Erani Pokana

5. Pauke Siaka

6. Henao Thomas

7. Lakshmi Rajadurai

8. Hollan Doriga

9. Hane Lohia

10. Dika Lohia

11. Isabel Toua

12. Geua Tom

13. Konio Oala

14. Mairi Tom

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Regional News

Samoa-Taufua: The Family Pride Behind Payne Haas’s Rugby League World Cup Dream

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In a powerful display of cultural and family pride, Brisbane Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas has revealed the deeply personal reason behind his decision to represent Samoa on the international stage.

The 25-year-old, a four-time representative for the Australian Kangaroos, spoke at Suncorp Stadium about the moment that cemented his choice: the anthems played before a clash with Samoa during the 2023 Pacific Championships.

“There was a moment when I played for Australia when we versed Samoa, the anthems were playing and my mind started racing back to lots of memories with my mum and her making us sing the national anthem of Samoa a lot in the back of the car,” Haas said, a red Samoan ula resting on his shoulders.

“From that moment onwards I wanted to play for Samoa and represent my mum’s side, the Taufua side, and make them proud and my grandparents as well.”

The journey to don the blue of Samoa is a full-circle moment for Haas, who was inspired by his uncle, Mark Taufua, a former Samoan Test player and now a staff member with the team.

“He played for Toa Samoa as well. I remember watching him do the Siva Tau (war dance) and I always wanted to do it,” Haas said.

“We used to always do it in front of the TV. So I get my moment now to play for Samoa, something I always wanted to do. I’m just privileged and blessed.”

Haas, who also has Filipino and Swiss heritage, said his mother, Joan Taufua, gave him her full blessing for the switch.

“It was more my mum and having her blessing. I spoke to her on the phone and she was all for it,” he said.

“To have my mother’s blessing means the world. I just want to make her proud and do our Taufua name proud.”

His decision has been met with respect, even from his former Australian coach. Haas said he spoke with Kevin Walters, who “took the news ‘well’ and understood his reasoning.”

With other top players like Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow reportedly considering a similar move, Haas offered a simple message to them: “Follow their heart.”

“Hopefully we get a few more boys over,” he said.

Haas is set to make his debut for Toa Samoa in the Pacific Cup against Tonga at Suncorp Stadium on October 26. He acknowledged the trailblazing efforts of Jason Taumalolo, who switched from New Zealand to Tonga in 2017 and changed the international landscape.

“He is someone that inspired me to make this move as well,” Haas said.

“I feel like versing Tonga here is just fitting. It is going to be massive. I can’t wait.”

The Pacific Cup is just the beginning. The ultimate goal for Haas and the Samoan squad is the Rugby League World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2026.

“I feel like we can win it with the team we have got now,” Haas stated confidently.

“We have great players and it is our goal to win the World Cup.”

Source: Australian Associated Press

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Arts & Culture

Reigning Miss Pacific Islands Arrives for PNG’s 50th Anniversary

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In a momentous occasion celebrating Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence, Moemoana Safa’ato’a Schwenke, the reigning Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands, is set to arrive in Port Moresby.

Dubbed “the Pacific’s living crown,” Schwenke’s visit holds deep cultural and historical significance for the region.

Born into a family dedicated to cultural preservation, Moemoana’s life embodies the belief that culture is a superpower.

An artist, dancer, environmental advocate, and UNICEF Pacific Regional Ambassador, she uses her platform to honour ancient traditions while advocating for modern Pacific voices.

Her work, which includes collaborations with institutions like the Australian Museum, blends artistry with advocacy for environmental awareness and youth empowerment.

Moemoana’s reign as Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands 2023–2024 is particularly historic.

She is the first person to follow in her mother’s footsteps, Maryjane McKibbin Schwenke, who held the same titles nearly 30 years ago.

This legacy highlights the enduring strength of Pacific women and the cultural heritage they protect.

Her visit to the Pacific Fashion Summit and GENESIS – PNG Fashion Week 2025 Showcase is not just symbolic; it’s a strategic move to show how fashion can be a vessel for sovereignty and a platform for dialogue.

With Air Niugini as the official air carrier, Moemoana will join other regional and international guests to contribute to this landmark occasion.

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Regional News

FFA Receives US$60 Million from the US under Economic Assistance Agreement

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The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) announced that it has received a US$60 million payment for 2024 from the United States government under the Economic Assistance Agreement (EAA) associated with the Treaty on Fisheries.

The payment, which was confirmed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau earlier in the week, will be allocated to the 16 Pacific Island Parties that comprise the FFA’s membership.

“This is a positive and welcome development, and a clear demonstration of the US Government’s commitment to the EAA, the Treaty, and its cordial relationship with Pacific Island States,” said FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop.

Pakop expressed confidence that the initial payment would be a positive sign for the future of the agreement.

“We are confident that this initial payment will pave the way for the approval of the 2025 payment and future payments under the EAA,” he said.

The Treaty on Fisheries, which allows U.S. purse seine fishing vessels to operate within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the Pacific Island Parties, has been in effect for 37 years since it came into force in 1988.

Its terms and conditions have been periodically renegotiated, with the latest extension concluded in June 2024, extending the agreement for the next 10 years (2023-2033) with revised terms and a new financial package.

The 16 Pacific Island Parties involved are: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

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Cricket

Barramundis Claim First Win Commanding Six-Wicket Victory

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The Papua New Guinea Barramundis have recorded the first win of their tour, defeating Guernsey by six wickets in a Men’s T20I warm-up match.

The victory at the College Field was spearheaded by a blistering 85 from opener Sese Bau, who was named player of the match for his dominant performance.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, PNG’s disciplined bowling attack effectively restricted Guernsey to 165 for 6 from their 20 overs. The Barramundis’ bowlers maintained composure under pressure, with Alei Nao delivering a standout performance, claiming 2 for 21 from his four overs, including the crucial wickets of Lucas Barker and Josh Butler.

Important breakthroughs were also made by Kabua Vagi Morea (1 for 30) and John Kariko (1 for 33), while key run-outs from Sese Bau and Hiri Vare further stalled Guernsey’s innings.

Chasing a competitive total of 165, the Barramundis reached 168 for 4 in 19.2 overs, securing the victory with four balls to spare. PNG’s reply began steadily before Sese Bau launched a dominant innings, smashing 13 fours and two sixes in his 52-ball knock. He kept the scoreboard ticking and ensured the required run rate remained manageable. Bau shared a 99-run stand with Boio Ray, who contributed a fluent 46 off 35 balls, including four boundaries and two maximums.

Captain Assadollah Vala guided the chase home with an unbeaten 14 from 12 balls, supported by Hila George Vaieke Vare’s quickfire 9*. For Guernsey, Charlie Forshaw was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 29 from his four overs.

“Guernsey came hard at us, especially with the bat, but the PNG Barramundis stayed disciplined and trusted our batting,” said Barramundis Coach John Ovia.

The victory levels the team’s confidence and showcases their ability to adapt to foreign conditions and execute under pressure.

The Barramundis will look to carry this winning momentum into their next warm-up fixtures—two 50-over games against Guernsey on Saturday and Sunday; before heading to Jersey to begin the second round of the ICC Challenge League A. In the upcoming series, the Barras will face Denmark, Kuwait, Kenya, Jersey, and Qatar.

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