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PNG people in New
Zealand celebrate their day
By JOHN MATTHEWS
Papua New Guineans
living in New Zealand celebrated Independence day with a
colourful display of traditional dances.
The celebrations were hosted by the Papua New Guinea High
Commission in Wellington and the Papua New Guinea Wellington
community.
The PNG High Commission hosted a reception on Friday September
14, attended by New Zealand government representative Paul
Swain, Chief of Protocol Warren Searell, and senior officials
from Government departments and organizations, members of the
diplomatic corp, PNG citizens and friends in New Zealand.
Acting High Commissioner to New Zealand Andrew Tumbu officiated
on behalf of the High Commissioner Bernard Narokobi who was in
PNG on bereavement leave.
Mr Tumbu emphasised the importance of intense working
relationships between the two countries on bilateral issues and
closer cooperation at international level.
At the international front, he said neighbouring countries of
Australia and New Zealand as well as the international
community, have contributed a lot and continue to play an
important part in the institutional support and manpower
capacity building of PNG.
Mr Tumbu said at the political level, PNG has and continues to
enjoy excellent working relations with the Government and people
of New Zealand since diplomatic relations was established in
1975.
He expressed PNG's gratefulness to New Zealand for a variety of
development assistance programmes, including funding for
professional training schemes, scholarships for postgraduate and
further studies.
Many PNG Defence Force personnel have benefited from military
related training programmes and activities in New Zealand under
the country's Military Assistance Programme.
Mr Tumbu also acknowledged the important and vital role that New
Zealand played in helping to resolve the Bougainville Crisis,
particularly for initiating peace talks leading to Burnham
Declaration and Lincoln Agreement which greatly assisted with
the restoration of normalcy on Bougainville.
He said there was an increase in economic cooperation between
the two governments, and a greater potential exists for a
further booming trade ties and linkages between them.
Celebrations which were held on Saturday September 15 began at
9.00am with a Powhiri (Maori welcome) to accept the Wellington
PNG community into the Marae (a meeting place that connect
people by ancestry) to began preparations for the main event to
begin at 4.00pm.
The main event began with another Powhiri at the Marae entrance,
where the independence celebrants were welcomed by the
Takapuwhahia Marae occupants with a traditional haka performance
and words of welcome.
An Engan quartet comprising Jack Poko Kepakali, Paul Yapari,
Larsen Samai and Lucas K. Minimbi responded to the welcome with
an Engan Moka to accept the invitation before the celebrants
entered the Marae to begin celebrations.
High Commissioner Bernard Narokobi had returned from PNG in time
to witness the Powhiri and be part of the Saturday celebrations.
President of the PNG community in Wellington Hickson Lome
welcomed Mr Narokobi and the celebrants and gave a speech on
relationships between New Zealand and PNG.
He stressed on the traditional relationship between the
indigenous Maori of New Zealand and other Pacific Island
nations.
A big feast followed with lots food and festive activities
throughout the evening such as dances, jokes, drama and
performances.
PNG's Melanesian neighbours Vanuatu and Solomon Islands also
performed dances and string band items for guests.
The Solomon Islanders got the crowd singing along with them when
they sang an old but beautiful song by Solomon Island
singer/comedian Fred Maidola tiled 'Walkabout igo long
Chinatown'.
The Vanuatu group's string band and a traditional got the crowds
into the dancing mood.
Top performances of the evening were the traditional dances from
the Siassi area of Morobe province blended with some Oro and
Highlands flavour by the Palmerston North PNG Community that was
choreographed and led by Nigel Kiyaka from Siassi Island.
The other group that stole the show were the children from
Wellington with their Manus dance led by Ancey Wamiri.
Roslyn Andersen in full Hagen traditional regalia entertained
the guests with a solo performance of songs from the Hagen and
Simbu regions.
The crowd took to the dancing floor when Jack Poko Kepakali and
the Wellington Mens' band sang a famous Engan song titled 'Iim
Banja Pele'.
Special thanks must go to PNG Wellington Community for their
efforts with weekly meetings, preparations and rehearsals which
resulted in the successful 32nd Independence celebration in
Wellington, New Zealand.
Ka pai (Maori for very good or congratulations) - PNG Wellington
Community.
*The writer of this article is a Papua New Guinean
Lecturer with the School of Information and Social Sciences at
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand in Wellington, NZ.
 
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