CoveragePost
April 27, 2026
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor A Papua New Guinea National Court ruling to overturn a ban on Starlink has been widely welcomed, fresh off the back of a natural disaster which highlighted the need for low-orbit satellite services in the country. Last December, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) announced that ... <a title="Starlink set to return to PNG after court quashes ban, clearing path" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/27/starlink-set-to-return-to-png-after-court-quashes-ban-clearing-path/" aria-label="Read more about Starlink set to return to PNG after court quashes ban, clearing path">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 9, 2026
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor Papua New Guinea’s Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph has stepped aside to allow investigations into allegations he interfered with army recruitment. Prime Minister James Marape said he would assume the defence portfolio while an independent probe into PNG Defence Force recruitment irregularities proceeded. A media release from Marape ... <a title="PNG defence minister steps aside amid army recruitment controversy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/09/png-defence-minister-steps-aside-amid-army-recruitment-controversy/" aria-label="Read more about PNG defence minister steps aside amid army recruitment controversy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 7, 2026
SPECIAL REPORT: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea’s largest resource development has reached a milestone more than a decade in the making. The PNG Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project has fully retired its bank-financed project debt, closing one of the most complex financing arrangements in the country’s economic history. The debt, ... <a title="Papua New Guinea fully retires debt for Liquefied Natural Gas project" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/07/papua-new-guinea-fully-retires-debt-for-liquefied-natural-gas-project/" aria-label="Read more about Papua New Guinea fully retires debt for Liquefied Natural Gas project">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 27, 2025
By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea’s 2026 National Budget has drawn immediate opposition criticism from East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, who says the government continues to overspend, overestimate revenue, and deliver few tangible results for ordinary citizens. The K$30.9 billion (about NZ$12.8 billion) spending plan, unveiled earlier this week, has been ... <a title="East Sepik Governor Bird slams Marape’s ‘risky’ 2026 Budget overspend" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/27/east-sepik-governor-bird-slams-marapes-risky-2026-budget-overspend/" aria-label="Read more about East Sepik Governor Bird slams Marape’s ‘risky’ 2026 Budget overspend">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 21, 2025
Asia Pacific Report Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed “deep gratitude” for Papua New Guinea’s support to his country over many years and during the Middle East conflict. Prime Minister James Marape was given the message directly yesterday by Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel during a courtesy call at Melanesian House, Waigani. The ... <a title="Netanyahu praises Papua New Guinea with ‘deep gratitude’ for backing Israel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/21/netanyahu-praises-papua-new-guinea-with-deep-gratitude-for-backing-israel/" aria-label="Read more about Netanyahu praises Papua New Guinea with ‘deep gratitude’ for backing Israel">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 9, 2025
ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent The signing of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty — officially known as the Pukpuk Treaty — marks a defining moment in the modern Pacific order. Framed as a “historic milestone”, the pact re-casts security cooperation between Port Moresby and Canberra while stirring deeper debates about ... <a title="The Pukpuk Treaty and the future of Papua New Guinea-Australia relations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/09/the-pukpuk-treaty-and-the-future-of-papua-new-guinea-australia-relations/" aria-label="Read more about The Pukpuk Treaty and the future of Papua New Guinea-Australia relations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 3, 2025
RNZ Pacific The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will address Papua New Guinea’s national Parliament today. The UN chief is in Papua New Guinea on a four-day official state visit September 2-5. Prime Minister James Marape has held bilateral discussions with Guterres at his Melanesian House Office in Port Moresby yesterday. “We remain fully committed ... <a title="UN chief to address PNG parliament today during ‘historic’ visit" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/09/03/un-chief-to-address-png-parliament-today-during-historic-visit/" aria-label="Read more about UN chief to address PNG parliament today during ‘historic’ visit">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 7, 2025
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News political reporter The prime minister has announced a new High Commission building in Papua New Guinea and an economic support package, as his trip to the country concludes on Wednesday. Christopher Luxon arrived on Monday for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and flew out of Port Moresby yesterday afternoon. ... <a title="NZ announces support package, new High Commission building in PNG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/07/nz-announces-support-package-new-high-commission-building-in-png/" aria-label="Read more about NZ announces support package, new High Commission building in PNG">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 28, 2025
RNZ Pacific The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have signed a deal that may bring the autonomous region’s quest for independence closer. Called “Melanesian Agreement”, the deal was developed earlier this month in 10 days of discussion at the New Zealand army base at Burnham, near Christchurch. Both governments have agreed that the ... <a title="Talks result in PNG and Bougainville signing ‘Melanesian Agreement’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/28/talks-result-in-png-and-bougainville-signing-melanesian-agreement/" aria-label="Read more about Talks result in PNG and Bougainville signing ‘Melanesian Agreement’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2025
ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent The recent series of high-level agreements between Papua New Guinea and France marks a significant development in PNG’s geopolitical relationships, driven by what appears to be a convergence of national interests. The “deepening relationship” is less about a single personality and more about a calculated alignment of ... <a title="Decoding PNG leader Marape’s talks with French President Macron" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/17/decoding-png-leader-marapes-talks-with-french-president-macron/" aria-label="Read more about Decoding PNG leader Marape’s talks with French President Macron">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 5, 2025
By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Three staffers from Papua New Guinea’s peak anti-corruption body are embroiled in a standoff that has brought into question the integrity of the organisation. Police Commissioner David Manning has confirmed that he received a formal complaint. Commissioner Manning said that initial inquiries were underway to inform the “sensitive ... <a title="Internal tensions throw PNG anti-corruption body into crisis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/05/internal-tensions-throw-png-anti-corruption-body-into-crisis/" aria-label="Read more about Internal tensions throw PNG anti-corruption body into crisis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2025
The Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) has called on Prime Minister James Marape to stop Telikom PNG silencing and suppressing media personnel. Telikom PNG, which is 100 percent government-owned, has two key outlets: FM100 radio and EMTV. Recently, it sacked FM100 talkback host Culligan Tanda after he featured opposition East Sepik Governor Allan ... <a title="Media Council makes ‘stop Telikom PNG silencing journalists’ plea to PM Marape" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/16/media-council-makes-stop-telikom-png-silencing-journalists-plea-to-pm-marape/" aria-label="Read more about Media Council makes ‘stop Telikom PNG silencing journalists’ plea to PM Marape">Read more</a>
