Kokoda Track

Trekkers attempt to complete Kapa Kapa War Trail

The 220km journey will commence at Gabagaba Village in Central Province today (October 4).

The Kapa Kapa War Trail starts at Gabagaba across the extremely rugged Owen Stanley Range, to the vicinity of Jaure on the north side of the Peninsula in Northern Province.

The track was used by American soldiers during WWII in 1942 under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. This was during a battle to defeat the Japanese on the northern beaches.

The mountainous trail is steep and runs parallel to the more well-known and more accessible 96-kilometre long Kokoda Track.  

Participants complete Kokoda for Kidneys trek

It is an initiative to raise funds for prominent radio broadcaster, Roger Hau’ofa.

Hau'ofa’s daughter and team leader of the K4K team, Michelle Hau'ofa, says her father has been diagnosed with kidney failure and at the moment, there is no support of any sort, let alone kidney treatment, in PNG.

Michelle says they cannot get into the kidney foundation treatment because there are only two machines at running capacity. They also have to pay K1000 for a dialysis session at a private hospital and it's out of reach for most Papua New Guineans.

Plans underway for Kokoda Track 75th Anniversary

Kokoda Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres overland through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea.

The track was the location of the 1942 World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua.

It runs from Owers Corner in Central Province, 50 kilometres east of Port Moresby, across rugged and isolated terrain which is only passable on foot, to the village of Kokoda in Northern Province.

Kulang: PNG needs to invest in sustainable industries

Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang said that in the last 40 years, PNG has been depending too much on mineral resources and hydro carbon proceeds that we don’t pay attention to sustainable industries.

Kulang said we need to invest in sustainable industries so that when the minerals become exhausted, we can depend on sustainable resources to contribute immensely to the country’s economy.

“Tourism is a very serious industry where in other countries and contributes immensely to their economic growth.

Owers Corner interpretive display unveiled

The display is the first of a series that TPA would like to install in the Kokoda Track region. It has been developed as part of the Heritage Supporting Tourism project.

This new interpretive display will provide visitors with an insight in the shared history between the two countries, as well as the region's natural, cultural and military history.

Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang unveiled the interpretive display on behalf of the Kokoda Initiative and said this is a significant achievement in preserving this tourism heritage and site.

Special investigation: Kokoda Track couple’s story unravels

A harrowing tale of a former British reality TV star and his glamorous American girlfriend held up at knifepoint, robbed, bleeding and left for dead by “cannibalistic” tribesmen in the wilds of Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Track.

Kokoda Initiative supports services

The new infrastructure was funded by the Australian Government under the Initiative, a partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea to protect the Kokoda Track region and deliver services to its communities.

The new buildings will support more than 272 students and 13 teachers at Efogi, Kavovo and the surrounding villages of Launamu, Kagi, Naduri and Manari.

Teachers at Efogi Primary School will no longer have to conduct elementary classes in the local community hall as has been the case due to inadequate facilities.

Kokoda Track people are peaceful – Operator

Lynn over his 25 years bond with the World War II trail that links Central and Northen Provinces by high rugged bushland said he owes his life to the locals.  

He had walked across the trail 79 times and organised the walk for 5000 Australians without once having encountered a problem with the locals when tracking.

The former Australian Army soldier and New South Wales parliamentarian retraced his steps, saying how he nearly lost his life from self-inflicted wounds and injury along the track but with  help from locals he has lived for another day.      

Kokoda attack suspects charged

Central Police Commander Laimo Asi informed PNG Loop that four charges were  laid separately on the two.

The two men, Chris Sai, 17 from Maraba and Poksi Jacob, 19 from Efogi, since being flown into  Port Moresby  on Friday January 15  had been held for questioning by Central police.

However, Asi  says that by 4pm Wednesday January 20,  investigators laid formal charges against the two.

The duo have been charged with rape or sexual penetration, abduction, armed robbery and wounding.

Maru calls rapists ‘animals’

The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry was furious with both incidents saying the reports spoil Papua New Guinea’s drive to market the country as an investment destination to investors.

Maru told media yesterday after returning from Fiji, he will support any legislation before Parliament to severely penalise rapist and murderers.                  

“One of my duties in cabinet is to ensure we tighten up legislations and put these animals in prison and never release them, this country does not need people like that.