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
May 9, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Australia’s plan to recruit from Papua New Guinea for its Defence Force raises “major ethical concerns”, according to the Australia Defence Association, while another expert thinks it is broadly a good idea. The two nations are set to begin negotiating a new defence treaty that is expected to see ... <a title="Experts split on Australia’s Papua New Guinea military recruitment plan" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/09/experts-split-on-australias-papua-new-guinea-military-recruitment-plan/" aria-label="Read more about Experts split on Australia’s Papua New Guinea military recruitment plan">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 2, 2024
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s Police Commissioner David Manning has commended the coordinated efforts between police and defence intelligence units in the lead up to and during the current sitting of Parliament. Commissioner Manning said claims made over the past five months, particularly on social media, had led to heightened public awareness of safety during ... <a title="PNG’s police and defence force close ranks to foil ‘opportunist crimes’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/02/pngs-police-and-defence-force-close-ranks-to-foil-opportunist-crimes/" aria-label="Read more about PNG’s police and defence force close ranks to foil ‘opportunist crimes’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 24, 2024
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Scores of people have died in a huge landslide which has struck a remote village in the Papua New Guinean highlands. The landslide reportedly hit Yambali village in Enga Province, about 600 km north-west of Port Moresby. The landslip has buried homes and food gardens, leaving what locals ... <a title="Hundreds feared dead after huge landslide in Papua New Guinea" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/05/24/hundreds-feared-dead-after-huge-landslide-in-papua-new-guinea/" aria-label="Read more about Hundreds feared dead after huge landslide in Papua New Guinea">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 26, 2024
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s Defence Minister and minister responsible for the National Disaster Centre Dr Billy Joseph confirmed today that the government — with coordinated support from all stakeholder agencies and development partners — was responding appropriately to the natural disasters that has hit many parts of the country. The ... <a title="Disaster minister Joseph briefs PNG on quake and crises hitting nation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/26/disaster-minister-joseph-briefs-png-on-quake-and-crises-hitting-nation/" aria-label="Read more about Disaster minister Joseph briefs PNG on quake and crises hitting nation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 22, 2024
By Jeffrey Elapa in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph attended the second Japan Pacific Islands Defence Dialogue (JPIDD) in Tokyo, Japan, this week on his first overseas engagement. The JPIDD is one of the pillars of the regional security architecture initiated by Japan and contributes to regional peace and security ... <a title="‘Help us help ourselves’ PNG plea over free and open Indo-Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/22/help-us-help-ourselves-png-plea-over-free-and-open-indo-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Help us help ourselves’ PNG plea over free and open Indo-Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 2, 2024
Warning: This story contains details that may be distressing to some readers. By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist, and Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent As women and children seek hope of a future without tribal fighting, the cycle of killing continues in Papua New Guinea’s remote Highlands. Tribal warfare dating back generations is being ... <a title="‘Chopped boy with a bush knife’: A PNG massacre killer says revenge is ‘only way’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/02/chopped-boy-with-a-bush-knife-a-png-massacre-killer-says-revenge-is-only-way/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Chopped boy with a bush knife’: A PNG massacre killer says revenge is ‘only way’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2024
PNG Post-Courier A kidnapped Australian pilot of a Hevilift helicopter and two Papua New Guinean subcontractors have been released in without harm following a rapid deployment of security forces. Security forces were mobilised and deployed in the Mt Sisa, a remote area near the border of Hela and Southern Highlands, in large numbers this afternoon ... <a title="Kidnapped Australian helicopter pilot, subcontractors set free in PNG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/27/kidnapped-australian-helicopter-pilot-subcontractors-set-free-in-png/" aria-label="Read more about Kidnapped Australian helicopter pilot, subcontractors set free in PNG">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2024
By Gorethy Kenneth and Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Rogue police officers have been alleged to be part of last Wednesday’s uprising of opportunists leading to looting and ransacking of more than 20 shops and loss of businesses in the capital of Port Moresby. Prime Minister James Marape said last week’s “Black Wednesday” unrest had ... <a title="Marape accuses ‘rogue police’ of being part of Port Moresby’s riots" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/15/marape-accuses-rogue-police-of-being-part-of-port-moresbys-riots/" aria-label="Read more about Marape accuses ‘rogue police’ of being part of Port Moresby’s riots">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2024
By Finau Fonua, RNZ Pacific journalist A political crisis is starting to brew in Papua New Guinea as calls are made for Prime Minster James Marape to step down in the wake of deadly riots in parts of the country. Violence broke out with shops and businesses being set alight late yesterday, after public servants, ... <a title="PNG’s Marape under pressure to resign as 6 MPs quit after Moresby riots" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/12/pngs-marape-under-pressure-to-resign-as-6-mps-quit-after-moresby-riots/" aria-label="Read more about PNG’s Marape under pressure to resign as 6 MPs quit after Moresby riots">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 6, 2023
COMMENTARY: A special correspondent in Port Moresby As an officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Papua New Guinea government, I have to write anonymously to secure my safety. I am writing to reveal interference by the United States in PNG’s internal affairs which is undermining the bilateral relationship between Australia and PNG. ... <a title="How Washington teamed up with PNG to pip Canberra for ‘control’ of region" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/06/how-washington-teamed-up-with-png-to-pip-canberra-for-control-of-region/" aria-label="Read more about How Washington teamed up with PNG to pip Canberra for ‘control’ of region">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Miriam Zarriga at Wapenamanda, Papua New Guinea Standing in the middle of the countryside, the sound of heavy gunfire is loud and the shouts of the people in rural Wapenamanda in Papua New Guinea’s Enga province are fearful. Police and the PNG Defence Force officers are crouched hidden on the hillside, safeties ... <a title="‘We’re outgunned,’ says local PNG police chief – ‘give us firepower’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/15/were-outgunned-says-local-png-police-chief-give-us-firepower/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We’re outgunned,’ says local PNG police chief – ‘give us firepower’">Read more</a>
