The 2016 Inaugural Karkar Island Bilum Festival

For the details of the event, please click the link below  for access
2016 Inaugural Karkar Island Bilum Festival a Success

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P&O’s Cruise Ship MV. Pacific Aria finally sails into Wewak with more than 2000 tourists

At the end of the deck edge were written the following words when it sailed into the ruffled seas of Wewak, ‘Like No Place On Earth’. So be it Wewak! I yelled out when I saw her anchored off Wewak hill towards the new National Fisheries Authority Jetty.

Wewak, unlike any other coastal townships in Papua New Guinea has a natural attraction of its own. The famous Wewak Hill or Point is the home to most of Japanese War Relics and now the home to most of the hotels and residence area for prominent Sepik People and public servants. Maintaining the Japanese memories and history is the New Wewak Hotel owned by Japanese man who was married to a local Sepik woman. The hotel is situation on the Wewak Hill lookout providing ideal place to dine on their Japanese restaurant or having few beers from their open air bar on the edge of the premises overlooking the open Bismarck Sea.

The picturesque hill overlooks the township towards the west and the Bismarck Sea over the east and was a strategic military based for Japanese during WWII.

At the foot of the hill is the National Fisheries Jetty just opposite the town is the one way street with shops on either side and market on the other end towards the bay. The Wewak beach extends from National Fisheries Jetty to Windjammer Hotel. A visitor could not gauge much of the beauty that Wewak has after just having to sit by the town beach front for cool breeze or snorkeling near the shoreline.

It might take years to build interest or to spend more time studying the beauty and history of Wewak with countless sites to visit with the highlighted sites like Wom village which has a unique and fine sandy beach with a access road that runs through the mangrove jungles passing through Wom Memorial Park funded by Japanese Government. The Mission hill has got its own history and Catholic Church had never vacated the area since WWII and the area holds a countless number of WWII stories.

Driving towards the South-East off Wewak township is very scenic and history will easily be recalled when passing through one of the oldest schools in the country ‘ Barandi High School’ now a secondary school which has produced some of the most prominent people in PNG including the founding Prime Minister Grand Chief, Sir. Michael Thomas Somare who has been a former student there. Not further from the school is the Maur village which played host to the MV. Pacific Aria passengers by hosting more than 300 tourists on the back to back half-day tour.

PNG Tourism Promotion under its 5year Cruise Tourism Development Plan, Wewak was identified as one of the cruise tourism spots and made negations with P&O (Carnival Corporation) to bring one of their cruise ships to Wewak and finally PNGTPA got a positive response from Carnival Corporation to have MV.Pacific Dawn on its maiden voyage to Wewak and scheduled for November 20th, 2015. PNGTPA officers worked tirelessly with the support of the Wewak government officers and stakeholders on the ground to prepare all the ground work to make the maiden into Wewak by P&O’s MV.Pacific Dawn a more successful and remarkable event. The cruise tourism awareness by PNGTPA and stakeholders on the ground served its purpose well and people from as far as Murik Lakes, Aitape, Lumi and Sepik Rivers all flocked to the Wewak Township with their arts and hand crafts to wait for MV.Pacific Dawn with estimated passenger and crew capacity of 2500 onboard to come ashore.

Unfortunately and due to unforeseen circumstances that were beyond control, the passengers did not disembark owing to the swells near the National Fisheries Jetty which could not allow the tenders from MV. Pacific Dawn with passengers to berth calmly. Fearing the safety of the elderly people onboard, MV. Pacific Dawn anchored off the seas near Wewak hill and waited for another 30 minutes for the sea to calm down but it did not eventuated. Regretfully, the ship made a decision to sail off to the next destination on the schedule leaving PNGTPA, the stakeholders and Wewak people in anguish. The excitement, anticipation and expectations were all changed into anger and confusion was all over Wewak town and it was the saddest day for everyone whom they left for their homes unsatisfied with their repacked carvings and handicrafts. The uncertain event coincided with the circumstances beyond the control of MV. Pacific Dawn, the ground handlers in Wewak, PNGTPA and the stakeholders. The regrettable event left the Sepik people of Wewak shattered and expectations shrink too low but PNGTPA and stakeholders assured to negotiate again and bring another ship into Wewak sooner.

It was not too long and through the persistent requests and negotiations between P&O (Carnival Corporations) and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, the P&O decided to send another sister cruise ship of MV.Pacific Dawn and this time was MV. Pacific Aria scheduled to sail into Wewak waters on Monday 22nd of February, 2015.

The stakeholders and tour operators in Wewak still with uncertainty and unsatisfied feeling from the last incident with MV. Pacific Dawn did prepared for MV.Pacific Area with less interest but in a more organised way and the Sepik Adventure tours under the guidance of Alois Mateos arranged and provided tours under three category; The Wewak Highlight Tour, Maur Cultural Village Experience and Wom Historical Tour. The tours ran back to back for half-day tours but most of the tourist who went to Maur village fallen in love with the village and did not wanted to return back until the second and last tour departs from the village.

Despite the first time to host such a big number of tourists in the village on tour, the villagers prepared well and organised for the tourists to have a good experiences and leave with fond memories. The cultural group leader of Maur village and tourism advocate Valentine Andisagu was overwhelmed with the feedback he received from the tourists with happily repeated words of satisfaction on the tour by tourist who could expressed themselves with words like ‘fantastic, excellent, perfect, awesome, tremendous, amazing, superb, lovely and all those words that have countless descriptions to describe a place that has got more than what the tourists have expected.

The villagers went on to showcased their tradition houses with artifacts and gift for sale, the traditional all girl dances were separated from the mixed men and female dance group. Kids ranging from young girls to young boys were all decorated in traditional attired to draw the attention of curious tourists who did not walk away without a photograph. The village was well prepared with many interesting products to showcase on their first time to host tourists and there were well constructed short tracks leading to the village gardens, sago making arena and to the nearby Barandi River bank where the tourists were served with ripe banana and coconut juice. The villages were so happy to be the hosts for the tourists and offered complimentary fruits and coconut juice to show appreciation towards the tourists for visiting their village. The tour to Maur village ended on a positive allure and the ratings onboard the ship must have been overwhelming if the tourists were given some review questionnaires or score cards to fill for Maur village after the tour.

There were so much potential tourist attractions in Maur village and also other sites in Wewak but PNGTPA officers on the ground have advised the resource owners to market and sell what is available and accessible to tourists while keeping the others as substitutes or keeping on standby for other market segments.

From the frequent expeditionary cruises from few of the Australian cruise operators to Wewak and Sepik River, the recent visit of the purposely built cruise lines like MV. Aria operating under well renowned cruise operators like P&O have set a milestone and paved a way forward for Wewak’s cruise tourism investment. PNG Tourism Promotion Authority is happy with the overall operation and the achievements in Wewak and looking forward to negotiate for more cruise ships to visit Wewak in the near future.


Words and Pictures by; Nathan LATI, PNGTPA – Tourism Product Development Officer

Picture 1: Welcome signage for MV. Pacific Aria passengers at Maur Village

Picture 2: MV. Pacific Aria anchoring off Wewak Hill

The Untold Sirinumu Story

Sirinumu Dam took over the entire livelihood we had when we were 16years old Tells Mabu Maruka and Orogo Oroni both 69 years old now

Maruka has been working as the administration driver for Honibrooks construction company whilst Oroni was working as a timber mill operator with an expatriate who owned sawmill and cattle ranch near the Sirinumu area.

 They both admitted that, at first they have no idea of what the meaning of Dam was about. They both saw the Australian Kiap (Government Officer) led by one expat named Mr.Marsh who was desperately carrying out intensive lands survey within the now Sirinnumu Dam area but they have no idea of what Mr. Marsh and his team were trying to do with their land.

 At first there was a mini hydro developed by Australian Government during the colonial days and was operating at the foot of the current Sirinumu Bridge supplying electricity to Port Moresby but after seeing the demand for electricity in the city and potential at Sirinumu area, the plan to acquire the current dam area have never been explained to the land owners properly.

 The duo further mentioned that our fathers were councilors and policeman during that time but they have no idea of what Mr. Marsh and his team were planning to do. Our fathers only following orders from the Kiap and did what they were told to do with the community. There was no objection and no questions asked about what was going on with the surveys and construction machinery arriving into the site and started working on the bridge and its structures for the dam.

 With the shattered mind and confusion running all over the minds of local Koiari people in Sirinumu area, they dwelled on with their usual daily life of hunting and gardening. It was through a local Koiari interpreter Kunia Warina who explained the meaning of dam and what was going on with the surveys and the plan of the dam and Sirinumu. The interpretation of the dam created sparks and hatred tensions developed between the local Koiari people of Sirinumu and the Australian government officials but it was cooled off when livelihood benefits and cash payments were promised to them during relocation.

 There was mixture of feelings conceived by the Koiari people after hearing the breaking news about the dam. Some were happy with the relocation and benefits whilst others where sad and did not know what to do and say because they feared going to jail if they objected and protest against the dam development. Among them was my mum who broke into tears and was insisting on any developments on Sirinumu Dam.

She continued to protest in every meeting but finally gave up because majorities were convinced by the promised benefits with relocation, Maruka said. He remembered watching her mum protesting in front of Australian Kiaps and officials but she was finally ruled out by majority of the landowners who were in favor of the Sirinumu Dam. The influence to convince the landowners (Koiari) came strongly from the colonial leaders who were following the orders from the Australian Kiaps and officials to develop the dam. There was no proper consultation done to account for the plants and animals that were affected by the water when the Sirinumu River was blocked off for the river to cover the land. The food crops were charged at one pound each which is now valued at K2.00 and other plants were charged at one ceiling or now K1.00 and paid to the local. There were a lot of confusions when most Koiari people have high expectations over relocation benefits promised whilst few like my mother was reluctant to give away her home and gardens to the water to takeover; Mr.Maruka added.

The people of Sirinumu knew that a treasure box (cash box) has been brought to the Sirinumu site for landownership payment but was taken back by the Australian Kiap and officials when they realized that the Koiari landowners could not demand for more because their highest expectations were on the relocation benefits. Coincidently, many landowners were not paid cash on their accounted food crops and land given off to the dam. They expected the relocation benefits to be sufficient and waited patiently under their bush material makeshifts and then lived on with few having only electricity access to their homes now.

 Mr. Marsh was so desperate to block the river and fill up the area with water to have the dam in operational as soon as possible and those landowners who opposed were interrogated and threatened to be jailed. The government officials burnt down the SDA and Jehovah Witness Churches that were within the area which the Koiari landowners were reluctant to remove them in respect of the Christianity and fearing of the Creator above.

Complains of compensation on plants, houses, village cemeteries and gardens were ignored and none of the Koiari people complain persistently because most of the people fear being jailed if they continue to protests against the Australian Kiaps and officials.

 I still remember this day very well; Said Mr. Maruka and gave the following accounts; it was in 1963 and beginning of the year, we (all the Koiari settlers) of the Sirinumu Plateau were asked to vacate the area and asked us to go build our makeshift shelters from bush materials and live near the hillside and mountains which were marked safe for us to settled knowing water level will not reach us.

One early morning at 10am, the manager of the dam (Mr.King) called everyone to witness lodging of the blockade into the river vent that was meant to fill up the land they vacated for the water. Most of us were told to go to Nainumu village which was safe to stay there and see the water filling up the land they been dwelling for lifetime. Most weep in their tears and could not take a rest to let the water fill up the land, instead they kept standing and watching day and night to see the water taking over their places.

We saw wild animals got stranded and cried out for help in the middle of the water, some of them we could help them sail off to nearby higher places in makeshift rafts made of bamboos whilst others could make their own way to safety or died in the water. The only animals we feared recuing and left out were snakes; otherwise we tried all our best to help the stranded wild animals on to higher grounds and nearby bushes. It was really a saddest day for me in my life and I remembered everything that unfolded that very day, you could hear those animals could really cry. We are mountain people and we have no skills to swim such a huge up surging water but young man of my age managed to do what we could to save our wild and domestic animals from drowning. We were let to a totally different world when the water took over our place, no skills to build canoes or have the courage and skills to swim. Villages were isolated by the water and we all were living further apart. Our tracks and roads to villages no longer exist since we moved to hillsides that have no roads or tracks. Fortunately we managed to curve out canoes after some help and connections from Tubuseria village along aroma coast and build new tracks from villages to villages and started to live a completely new life till today.

 We were promised good housing, hospitals, schools and better roads but there is nothing significant of those promised infrastructures actually happened in our lifetime. We all struggled to have access to the services in Sogeri station or Port Moresby city after bumpy and muddy ride on the 15 kilometer and unsealed road between Sirinumu and Sogeri daily. We have had many bad experiences from the dam and most of those experiences we keep within ourselves even we know that we are the landowners to a major impact project for the Government of PNG that serves one of the basic needs of people in Port Moresby.

 Our life without the dam was so nice and easy with many food crops and abundance of wildlife. Now they are all gone and our children now think that our life was like this before. Our children are happy of the new developments that are happening now but we older people still recalled our good old days life without the dam. Our memories of the past and what happened is somewhat traumatic but we have lived this far without any issues and adapted to this life, concluded Mr.Maruka. When asked about the recent ecotourism projects proposed within the Sirinumu Catchment area by PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Kokoda Track Authority, NCDC Tourism, Central Provincial Government; he express the following remarks; our children’s future now is reliant on the life of the dam and ours was before the dam.

The current ecotourism development project proposed by the joint partners of Sirinumu Ecotourism Cooperative, Kokoda Track Authority, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, NCDC Tourism and Central Provincial Government will have much impact on the lives of the Koiari people. I think we got the potential in tourism development and we are not too late to develop it now. I was in support of the feasibility study by clearing the tracks and prepared the ground work to have it done successfully and we are anticipating and supporting for the ecotourism developments.

Closer to the city of Port Moresby yet appears to be isolated society with villages scattered within the Sirinumu Catchment area are the villages belongs to the Koiari people. The place is beautiful with its natural landscape connected from the astrolabe ranges with tropical rainforests joined by savannah grasslands that leads to the dam with abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna. The area has potential for game fishing, kayaking, trekking, caving, camping, bird watching and many more still undiscovered. It’s a changing trend in life for the Koiari people of Siriumu when the tourism business activity starts. 

Things are gradually changing and the Sirinumu Market near the dam bridge has been opened to public and it is in operations for Saturdays and Sunday in which the local Koiari people sells the fresh garden produces with the signature fruit crop ‘Koiari Pineapple.’