2026
Making Bougainville’s Criminal Justice System Independence-Ready | 18/05/2026
Bougainville’s criminal justice system is undergoing a staged transition from the national Papua New Guinea (PNG) framework towards an autonomous, localised system that emphasises restorative justice and community involvement. While traditionally part of the PNG correctional system, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is currently building its own infrastructure, including new courts and rehabilitation facilities, with financial and training support from Australia.
Economic Opportunities for Bougainvilleans Under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme | 21/04/2026
A promising avenue to economic advancement for Bougainvilleans is the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme that allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste where there are insufficient local workers available.
On Buka Island, AROB the economic benefits to individuals and communities from the PALM scheme is on full display at Koheno Village, where a solar lighting scheme providing light for several houses and a two-tonne truck were funded by remittances from villagers working at Skybury Tropical Plantation, Mareeba, far north Queensland.
Children Born of Conflict and Social Dislocation on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea | 20/04/2026
The social and personal cost to local women on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and their children born as a result of liaisons with West Papuan refugees in the 1970s and asylum-seekers in recent times is well documented. However, the fate of children born to local women during the deployment to Manus Island of almost one million American troops on their way to the Philippines and 3,000 Japanese troops during World War II is only the subject of unsubstantiated rumours.
2024
Gun Collection and Destruction in Bougainville after the Crisis | 12/02/2024
To officially mark UNOMB’s mandate over weapons disposal, a public gun destruction event was staged in Buka town on 23/12/2003. Several types of firearms, previously locked in storage containers by PMG staff, were destroyed by ex-combatants using an angle grinder and an oxy-acetylene torch.
2023
Medicinal Plants used in Bougainville, PNG | 23/10/2023
The number of plants used for medicinal purposes in Bougainville is unknown, but a World Health Organization (WHO) publication entitled, “Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea”, provides information on, and colour photographs of, 126 commonly used medicinal plants in PNG. This publication was prepared in collaboration with the University of Papua New Guinea.
European Refugee Doctors in TPNG | 28/06/2023
By employing refugee doctors from Europe, and by training expatriate and indigenous medical assistants, Dr John Gunther built up the staff. Permitting briefly trained staff to treat patients, and by by-passing other safeguards observed in advanced countries involved risks, but Gunther argued that overall the policies had saved thousands.
Buka Terminal Upgrade Failure Wastes Public Funds | 2/05/2023
Failure of government-funded infrastructure projects in Bougainville such as the Buka Airport Terminal Upgrade, and the subsequent waste of public money, will continue to occur while ABG oversight of contract awarding and implementation is lacking. A transparent and independent tender process is urgently needed to address this issue.
2022
Farewell “Dr Fish”, a Champion of Pacific Fisheries | 10/12/2022
On 23/09/2022, internationally recognised fisheries scientist, Dr Antony (Tony) David Lewis, affectionately known as “Dr Fish”, died at Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, Australia after a brief illness. At the time of his death, Tony was 74 years old. A celebration of Tony’s life was held at the Kurrawa Surf Club, Gold Coast, on 27/11/2022, attended by his family, friends and ex-colleagues. Tony is survived by his son, Arnaud.
“Bougainville Waters” – Stormy Seas Ahead for PNG’s Tuna Revenue. | 10/05/2022
In August 2019, Nelson Atip Nema, an economist based at the University of Papua New Guinea, estimated that at least 30 per cent of PNG’s annual tuna catch is taken in “Bougainville Waters” (maritime waters associated with Bougainville), that would value the catch at over USD333 million per year.
2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Resistance in the AROB | 10/11/2021
The 14-day lockdown that commenced on 7/11/021 provides a unique window of opportunity for Bougainvilleans to be vaccinated against COVID-19 while those people infected with the virus are less able to move within and between communities, spreading the infection. Unless Bougainville health authorities are able to counter the misinformation being spread by Facebook users, this invaluable opportunity will be lost, and COVID-19 case numbers and resulting deaths will spiral out of control.
Changing Attitudes to Family Planning in Bougainville | 30/07/2021
Fundamental to Bougainville’s future, whatever its eventual degree of autonomy, is its ability to sustain its rapidly growing population. With almost 50 per cent of its population under 20 years of age, this will continue to increase the burden on social services such as health and education, placing further strain on an already fragile economy.
Timor-Leste’s Reforestation: Lessons for PNG and Solomon Islands | 28/06/2021
Forests of Asia-Pacific islands have been degraded by some of the worst selective logging practices in the tropics. Illegal and unsustainable logging resulting in deforestation in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands has been occurring for several decades, despite the assurances of successive governments in both countries to effectively regulate these destructive practices.
Buka’s Herman Somuk – “The First Modern Artist of the Pacific” | 1/05/2021
Represented at an exhibition entitled, “The 9th Triennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art” (ATP9) held at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane, Australia from 24/11/2018 to 28/04/2019, were four artworks by Herman Somuk, considered by ethnologist Dr Nicolas Garnier to be, “The First Modern Artist of the Pacific”.Herman Somuk’s artworks displayed at ATP9 were entitled: “Guérian,the founder of Gagan, went to Sine after his death” (c.1930); “Man with Upe” (c.1930); “Imposed Labour” (c. 1942-43); and “Shooting Allies” (c.1942-1943).
The Dysfunctional National ID (NID) Project | 14/04/2021
The PNG NID Card Project, launched in November 2014 under a contract with the Chinese telecommunications company, Huawei Technologies, was promoted by the PNG Government as the vehicle to produce a universal ID card for all PNG citizens. At its inception it was a joint project between the PNG Electoral Commission, Civil Registry and National Statistical Office (NSO), designed to gather information on births, marriages and deaths. With PGK55 million allocated in the 2015 National Budget for the project’s roll-out, it was projected that the PNG NID cards would enable holders to open bank accounts, and access small business loans, subsidised health care and school fees. The project’s scope has since been extended so that a PNG NID card is now required when applying for a mobile phone SIM card, driver’s licence or passport.
Bank South Pacific’s Customer Service – From Bad to Worse? | 11/03/2021
Bank South Pacific (BSP) customers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) all have their personal stories attesting to the poor service delivery of PNG’s largest retail bank. My personal experiences, as a long-time BSP customer, include regularly waiting in line for over two hours to make a simple deposit, paying an exorbitant two per cent service fee for cheque, cash or EFTPOS withdrawals whose value is greater than PGK5,000 and paying an annual fee of PGK100 for the privilege of using a BSP Visa debit card account, when the physical card was never delivered to me from the central BSP branch in Port Moresby.
A Guide to Addressing Unlawful Detention in Papua New Guinea | 26/02/2021
Try to imagine that, as a Papua New Guinea (PNG) citizen, you or a family member are suddenly arrested, with or without an arrest warrant, by the Royal PNG Constabulary (police) and held without charge in the local police station cells for up to three months while the police gather evidence to support their actions. Though this example of unlawful arrest and detention may sound fanciful, it happens often enough for the PNG Constitution to contain a special reference, Section 42(5), to address this issue.
Bio-diesel to Generate PNG’s Power – Still a Hard Nut to Crack | 28/01/2021
While environmentally disastrous power generation options such as coal-fired power stations are currently being promoted for power generation in PNG cities and large towns, smaller towns such as Buka town remain reliant on ageing, inefficient diesel generators, running on costly, imported diesel fuel. Given the large areas of land in AROB planted with coconut trees, a case could be made for using bio-diesel made from virgin coconut oil as a cost-effective alternative to imported diesel fuel for power generation.
2020
China’s Proposed Fishing Project at Daru, PNG | 18/12/2020
On 12/12/2020, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News columnist Laura Tingle reported that in November this year, Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s Fujian Zhonghong Fishery Company to build a AUD200 million “comprehensive multi-functional fishery industrial park” on Daru Island, PNG. The announcement of the MOU’s signing was by China’s Ministry of Commerce, suggesting that deal was directly sponsored by the Chinese Government.
Bougainvillean Refugees in Solomon Islands During the Crisis| 2/12/2020
Much has been written about the deleterious effects on the people of Bougainville caused by the nine-year (1988-1997) conflict (“The Crisis”) between the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), on one side, and the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government and Bougainville Resistance Forces (BRF) on the other. In addition to the tragic death toll on both sides, of a population of 160,000, an estimated 60,000 Bougainvilleans were displaced, many of them fleeing to nearby Solomon Islands. By 1994 there were an estimated 2,000 Bougainvillean refugees in Solomon Islands.
Promoting Law and Justice in Bougainville | 28/10/2020
Following the success of the November, 2019 referendum on its political future, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces a multitude of political, financial, organisational and sociological challenges. However, disrupting the influence of ex-combatant groups on the Bougainville Police Service (BPS) and protecting the integrity of its Criminal Investigation Division (CID) must stand as two of its most pressing tasks if the rule of law is to be upheld and justice is to prevail for all Bougainvilleans.
Homebrew Alcohol in Papua New Guinea – Time for a Policy | 2/12/2020
Despite its illegality, village-scale production of alcohol for sale and consumption is widespread in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Known almost universally in PNG as “Homebrew”, there are also regional variants such as “Yawa” in East New Britain Province, named after the small, very sweet banana variety used in its production.
Six to Go – Rugby League Refereeing in PNG | 18/09/2020
While several Papua New Guinea (PNG) rugby league football players have achieved international prominence since the 1970s, only two PNG rugby league football referees, Ambassador Graham Ainui and Mr Paul Wani, have made an equivalent international impact. Graham Ainui’s international rugby league refereeing career comprised seven matches from 1986 to 1991, including major test matches in the 1985/88 and 1989/92 rugby league world cups.
Tok Pisin – Reconnecting Australia with its Pacific Neighbours | 28/08/2020
The Australian National University (ANU) has recently recognised that a solid grounding in one of PNG’s four official languages, Tok Pisin, is an excellent starting point in promoting Australians’ understanding of PNG. ANU’s School of Culture, History and Language now includes Tok Pisin as one of 14 regional languages offered in both short and degree-length courses. ANU’s overview of this undergraduate course in Tok Pisin, also known as “Pidgin” and “Neo-Melanesian”, states that, “….students will gain a deeper understanding of the deep cultures, histories and societies of the people of PNG and surrounding areas of the Pacific”.
The Remarkable Sir Alexis Holyweek Sarei| 5/08/2020
Recently released correspondence between Sir John Kerr, Australia’s Governor-General from 1974 to 1977 and the then private secretary of Queen Elizabeth II, Martin Charteris, includes a letter dated 4/9/1975 concerning issues relating to Bougainville. A paragraph of this letter describes a press conference held at Arawa, Bougainville on 31/8/1975 where Dr Alexis Sarei and Mr Leo Hannett, “….declared that there is a Republic of North Solomons with Dr Sarei as the leader of the Government. He is stated to be Chairman of the Republic”.
Nukumanu Atoll’s Links to Three Coastal Vessels in PNG | 4/07/2020
Nukumanu (lit. “Bird’s Beak”) Atoll is a ring of more than twenty islets on a reef surrounding a large lagoon situated north-east of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea (PNG), four degrees south of the equator. The nearest land is Ontong Java Atoll, 38km to the south in Solomon Islands, whose Polynesian inhabitants share many cultural affinities with those of Nukumanu Atoll. Takuu Atoll, another Polynesian outlier in PNG, is situated west of Nukumanu Atoll, 250km north-east of Kieta, Bougainville.
Bougainville’s Uneasy Relationship with Chinese Businesses | 15/06/2020
Prior to Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) independence in 1975, the trade stores in Buka town, Bougainville were almost exclusively owned and operated by businessmen of Chinese descent. Prominent among these businesses were Wong Yu & Company and Wong Kui & Company, operated by what academic James Chin terms the ‘old’ Chinese, essentially the descendants of the first mainland Chinese emigrants to PNG who lived through the process of colonization and who tend to share some common traits – they are almost all Christians and use English as their first language.
Marijuana’s Impact on Young Bougainvilleans’ Mental Health| 13/05/2020
Wikipedia defines psychosis as an abnormal condition of the mind that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not. Symptoms may include false beliefs (delusions) and seeing or hearing things that others don’t see or hear (hallucinations). Other symptoms may include incoherent speech and behaviour that is inappropriate for the situation. In Buka town, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) and in Buka’s villages, it’s common to encounter youths exhibiting such inappropriate behaviour, apparently unaware of those around them.
Possible Chinese Submarine Presence in PNG Waters | 24/04/2020
On 15 April, 2020, Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Post Courier newspaper reported that between 22 and 25 March, 2020, people on Takuu (Mortlock) Atoll, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), sighted a submarine on the sea surface approximately three kilometres from shore. Mortlock Community Leader David Marena reported that the submarine moved slowly on the surface for 10-15 minutes before submerging. No further sightings of the submarine were reported. Takuu Atoll is situated 250km north-east of Kieta, AROB.
Likely Effects of PNG Cutting Its Import Duty on Motor Vehicles | 16/03/2020
On 29/11/2019 the Treasurer of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, in tabling the 2020 national budget, announced that as from 1 January, 2020 buyers of imported new and reconditioned motor vehicles for personal use currently attracting 100 per cent duty or more (engine capacity more than 2.7 litres), will be charged 40 per cent duty. For imported motor vehicles for personal use currently attracting less than 100 per cent duty (engine capacity less than 2.7 litres), buyers will pay 20 per cent duty.
2019 – 2020
Bougainville’s Health Services – Past and Present| 24/02/2020
At the time of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) independence in 1975, health services in Bougainville were provided as part of the PNG National Health System, with very strong support from the mainstream churches. In my mother’s village on Buka Island, the local health centre was managed and staffed by church workers and lay volunteers. Public hospitals were based at the major centres of Arawa and Buka.
Bougainville’s Future Relationships with Regional Organisations | 7/02/2020
Bougainville would greatly benefit from becoming a member or observer of Pacific regional and international organisations and agencies. Prominent among these are the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and The Pacific Community (SPC). Summaries of the focus and activities of each of these organisations and agencies are presented as an annex to this article.
Non-Mining Revenue Sources for Bougainville | 1/02/2020
Most of the mainstream assessments of the economic future of a post-referendum Bougainville focus almost exclusively on the proposed restarting of the Panguna copper and gold mine that exploited non-renewable mineral resources. This is despite this mining project’s central role in precipitating the Bougainville Crisis and its ongoing divisive effect among Panguna land-owners. Alternative revenue sources, such as expertly managed tuna fisheries and cash-crop projects based on renewable resources, hardly rate a mention.
The “Free Money” Culture in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville | 2/06/2019
Following the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001, members of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and their Bougainvillean opponents, the Buka Liberation Front and the Bougainville Resistance Force (“The Resistance”) – collectively known as “Ex-Combatants” – claimed financial compensation from the Government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ABG) for their respective roles in “The Crisis”.
Reef Fish Marketing in Buka – Past and Present | 4/05/2019
Traditionally, fish was marketed in Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), using the barter system whereby fishermen from coastal and nearby island villages would exchange their smoked fish for inland villagers’ sweet potatoes, bananas, taro and yams. Up until the early 1980s there was an active market at Carola on Buka’s west coast where coastal fishermen and those from the nearby islands of Petats and Pororan would barter their fish for garden produce from inland villages.
The Mixed Legacy of the Hahalis Welfare Society, Buka Island| 17/02/2019
Hahalis Village on Buka Island, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) is a quiet place now, similar in appearance to the other villages located along the island’s east coast road. There is no outward sign that, from the late 1950s until the mid-1970s, it was the centre of a notorious organisation known as the Hahalis Welfare Society (HWS), regarded as a cult by the Port Moresby-based colonial administration. The HWS, a breakaway from the East Coast Buka Society, was established in 1957 by Catholic-educated John Teosin and his brother-in-law, Francis Hagai, on the principles of communal farming and self-help.
2018 – 2019
Environment and Conservation Deficiencies in Bougainville | 5/02/2019
With a multitude of issues facing the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) in the lead-up to the June, 2019 referendum on its future political arrangements, the issue of environment and conservation seems to have been almost completely overlooked. Noting that the ABG’s structure lacks an Environment and Conservation Division, and with only one public servant assigned to oversee this important sector, it’s clear that environment and conservation isn’t high on the ABG’s priority list.
The Road to Town – A Neglected Major Community Asset | 27/01/2019
Like many roads in Papua New Guinea (PNG) the main road to town from my mother’s village started its existence as a walking track, that eventually catered for bicycle riders as well as pedestrians. My mother recalls that in the late 1960s, amid huge excitement in the village, bulldozers and graders driven by men from other parts of PNG levelled and widened the track so that it could also be used by cars and trucks.
Betel Nut Chewing in Papua New Guinea – A Critical Public Health Issue | 17/01/2019
Betel (Areca) nut is the seed of Areca catechu, a palm tree grown in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia and parts of East Africa. It is one of the most widely consumed addictive substances in the world after nicotine, ethanol and caffeine, being consumed by approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population.
Ringing in the New Year in PNG , Village Style | 1/01/2019
My late grandmother was a traditionalist in many ways, including her chosen method of ringing in the New Year. Each New Year’s Eve she would prepare several pots and pans, together with a suitable stick with which to beat them at mid-night. While older people in the village still follow this practice, young people now drag pieces of roofing iron on the road or roll empty 200 litre steel drums to maximise the noise output.
Village Lighting in PNG – Where can I Buy a Kerosene Lamp? | 17/12/2018
Kerosene lamps have been a major source of light in Papua New Guinea (PNG) village houses for decades. The gentle, yellow glow of a kerosene lamp in our house at night is a comforting reminder of my childhood, lighting the dark corners of my bedroom where creepy-crawly things might otherwise hide.
Operating a PMV in Papua New Guinea | 29/12/2018
In 2009 my friend, an ex-teacher, used his retirement payout to buy a new three-tonne truck, after his eldest son told him that it could be profitably operated as a passenger motor vehicle (PMV).
2017 – 2018
Churches V Sects in PNG | 12/12/2018
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is nominally a Christian country, the “established” churches including members of the PNG Council of Churches that was established in 1965 – Anglican Church of PNG, Baptist Union, Catholic Church in PNG, Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG, Gutnius Lutheran Church, Salvation Army and the United Church in PNG.
Gambling on Buka Island | 5/12/2018
Gambling for money using playing cards is a well established practice in Papua New Guinea (PNG) villages. In the early part of the 20th century, indentured labourers on large-scale copra and cocoa plantations were avid gamblers, and they brought the practice home with them when they returned to their villages.
UFOs in Papua New Guinea | 26/11/2018
The sightings on 9 November, 2018 of fast-moving bright lights in the sky by commercial airline pilots flying passenger jets near Shannon Airport, Ireland, now being investigated by the Irish Aviation Authority, has revived international interest in the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). These recent sightings reminded me of a story told to me by my mother of a flying object she and her eldest sister observed in central Buka Island, Papua New Guinea on a still, moonlit night in mid-1967.
Parallel Belief Systems | 20/11/2018
Despite the establishment of Christian churches in Papua New Guinea (PNG) over a century ago, spiritualism is still flourishing, even in communities that are nominally Christian.
Dinau Nation, PNG | 1/07/2017
The Papua New Guinea Government’s reckless borrowing from international lending institutions and foreign governments in recent years is well documented. The result of these poor borrowing habits by the national government is an uncertain future for PNG, now faced with massive accumulated debts that are unlikely ever to be repaid. What is less well known is the possible origin of the national leaders’ borrowing habits – dinau.