Latest news with #Bougainvillean
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Could Tourism Help Lead Bougainville Into The Future?
Article – RNZ A former rebel who fought in the bloody Bougainville Civil War in the 1990s is now running a tour business and sees tourism as a bright light to rejuvenate the economy., RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist Bougainville has gone through many turbulent periods over the past 100 years, not least the Civil War of the 1990s, which claimed as many as 20,000 lives. The government is now looking to develop the economy and has its eye on mining as an immediate solution as it strives for independence. However, for at least one Bougainvillean, tourism in the region is more than just a promise. Zhon Bosco Miriona has been running his business Bougainville Experience Tours for years, and he spoke to RNZ Pacific about the sector now and its prospects. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity). Zhon Bosco Miriona: I started the company in 2010. But in 2002 the Bougainville government had sent me as a youth to represent Bouganville at the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Fiji, so that is where got interested in tourism. I was one of the people that had joined the rebels to fight against the system in the Bougainville War. So after that, I went down there [Fiji], and that way I got interested in the tourism after the mining had an issue with our people in Bougainville. So that is why I saw that tourism can help Bougainville better than mining. Don Wiseman: What sort of tourism? ZBM: At the moment we are running tourism for people that are coming for culture, history, World War Two and the Bougainville War, trekking, bird watching, and even people just want to come to take pictures on photography tours, and fish, game fishing. And also, we are looking after super yachts and small expedition vessels, like the New Zealand owned, Heritage Adventure, which comes once a year, but I think it's going to be coming here twice a year. DW: Now when you when you see photos and film at Bougainville – it's a spectacular place, isn't it?. You can see the appeal for tourists. But the problem, I guess, is getting people there. It's difficult, isn't it? ZBM: The main problem for people, especially Papua New Giuneans that want to come to Bougainville – and the biggest killer in the tourism industry – is the air fares. You will spend a big amount of money that you can do around the world, from maybe Australia [and] New Zealand, to travel around the world and back to your country. That is the amount of money that we spend from Port Moresby to reach Bougainville. Around 5000 kina (about NZ$2000) – too much. But we have a airport that is coming up – our Kieta Airport, which is under construction now – maybe by end of 2026 it will open. We will have flights coming in from the Solomon Islands so that will be a big bonus for our tourism industry in Bougainville. We will have clients coming to especially Fiji or Australia, come up to Honira or Munda, and it is like 30 minutes or 25 minutes flight from Munda to Kieta. DW: How many of the tourists you get are from overseas? ZBM: At the moment, we used to have, like, previously used to have, like, one or two every quarter, just after we started. But now we are getting, like, every month tourists coming in. Like, not really big numbers, but in a small way, but it's increasing like five to 10 a month. DW: And there's enough accommodation as numbers increase? ZBM: No, that is one issue. But people are building more. We have a new hotel that's this coming up in Arawa, built by a local company. It is good that they are going to have a four storey accommodation in Arawa, and we need to build some more in Buka, because at the moment, accommodation is going to be the problem, along the years that we will be getting more people in. Also we are trying to look to encourage our guest houses, or the lodges, to put more rooms into their accommodation. DW: Now Bougainville, of course, has had a turbulent history going back a long way, but I guess, most particularly the recent Civil War. ZBM: A lot of people that are coming in are interested about the history of Bougainville from the colonial era, or before the colonists came. There were people that came up looking for gold and stuff like that. And lot of people are coming here for the history, about the war, about even why Bougainville went into war and how we stopped the war. But I would like to thank the government and the people of New Zealand for your assistance from the troops and peace monitoring and all these things. We also have New Zealand police still around here in Bougainville. So thank you very much the people of New Zealand for being with us after we went through this conflict. DW: Bougainville is on the verge of independence, at least as far as your government's concerned. We don't quite know what the people in Port Moresby are thinking at this stage, do we? But how is that going to impact your business? ZBM: I think the Bougainville people – we have had enough of the war and all this. We are peace loving people so we do not want to have any war again. But the thing, especially for our independence, that is up to the politicians. We already voted for the referendum, we told the world that we want to go and have our own country. It is now between our government and the Papua New Giunea government to give us what we have wanted. People might say, 'Oh, I think if the referendum failed, people will go back to war'. No, we do not want to go back to war. We want just the world to recognise us, and then we can have our own county. But we will be with PNG, working together, like what Papua New Guinea is doing with Australia, after Australia gave them the independence. It is just a political thing, but the relationship will be always be there.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Could Tourism Help Lead Bougainville Into The Future?
, RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist Bougainville has gone through many turbulent periods over the past 100 years, not least the Civil War of the 1990s, which claimed as many as 20,000 lives. The government is now looking to develop the economy and has its eye on mining as an immediate solution as it strives for independence. However, for at least one Bougainvillean, tourism in the region is more than just a promise. Zhon Bosco Miriona has been running his business Bougainville Experience Tours for years, and he spoke to RNZ Pacific about the sector now and its prospects. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity). Zhon Bosco Miriona: I started the company in 2010. But in 2002 the Bougainville government had sent me as a youth to represent Bouganville at the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Fiji, so that is where got interested in tourism. I was one of the people that had joined the rebels to fight against the system in the Bougainville War. So after that, I went down there [Fiji], and that way I got interested in the tourism after the mining had an issue with our people in Bougainville. So that is why I saw that tourism can help Bougainville better than mining. Don Wiseman: What sort of tourism? ZBM: At the moment we are running tourism for people that are coming for culture, history, World War Two and the Bougainville War, trekking, bird watching, and even people just want to come to take pictures on photography tours, and fish, game fishing. And also, we are looking after super yachts and small expedition vessels, like the New Zealand owned, Heritage Adventure, which comes once a year, but I think it's going to be coming here twice a year. DW: Now when you when you see photos and film at Bougainville - it's a spectacular place, isn't it?. You can see the appeal for tourists. But the problem, I guess, is getting people there. It's difficult, isn't it? ZBM: The main problem for people, especially Papua New Giuneans that want to come to Bougainville - and the biggest killer in the tourism industry - is the air fares. You will spend a big amount of money that you can do around the world, from maybe Australia [and] New Zealand, to travel around the world and back to your country. That is the amount of money that we spend from Port Moresby to reach Bougainville. Around 5000 kina (about NZ$2000) - too much. But we have a airport that is coming up - our Kieta Airport, which is under construction now - maybe by end of 2026 it will open. We will have flights coming in from the Solomon Islands so that will be a big bonus for our tourism industry in Bougainville. We will have clients coming to especially Fiji or Australia, come up to Honira or Munda, and it is like 30 minutes or 25 minutes flight from Munda to Kieta. DW: How many of the tourists you get are from overseas? ZBM: At the moment, we used to have, like, previously used to have, like, one or two every quarter, just after we started. But now we are getting, like, every month tourists coming in. Like, not really big numbers, but in a small way, but it's increasing like five to 10 a month. DW: And there's enough accommodation as numbers increase? ZBM: No, that is one issue. But people are building more. We have a new hotel that's this coming up in Arawa, built by a local company. It is good that they are going to have a four storey accommodation in Arawa, and we need to build some more in Buka, because at the moment, accommodation is going to be the problem, along the years that we will be getting more people in. Also we are trying to look to encourage our guest houses, or the lodges, to put more rooms into their accommodation. DW: Now Bougainville, of course, has had a turbulent history going back a long way, but I guess, most particularly the recent Civil War. ZBM: A lot of people that are coming in are interested about the history of Bougainville from the colonial era, or before the colonists came. There were people that came up looking for gold and stuff like that. And lot of people are coming here for the history, about the war, about even why Bougainville went into war and how we stopped the war. But I would like to thank the government and the people of New Zealand for your assistance from the troops and peace monitoring and all these things. We also have New Zealand police still around here in Bougainville. So thank you very much the people of New Zealand for being with us after we went through this conflict. DW: Bougainville is on the verge of independence, at least as far as your government's concerned. We don't quite know what the people in Port Moresby are thinking at this stage, do we? But how is that going to impact your business? ZBM: I think the Bougainville people - we have had enough of the war and all this. We are peace loving people so we do not want to have any war again. But the thing, especially for our independence, that is up to the politicians. We already voted for the referendum, we told the world that we want to go and have our own country. It is now between our government and the Papua New Giunea government to give us what we have wanted. People might say, 'Oh, I think if the referendum failed, people will go back to war'. No, we do not want to go back to war. We want just the world to recognise us, and then we can have our own county. But we will be with PNG, working together, like what Papua New Guinea is doing with Australia, after Australia gave them the independence. It is just a political thing, but the relationship will be always be there.
RNZ News
02-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Bougainville carver seeks closer links with New Zealand
Joe Dutaona at Ngakau Carving Symposium. Photo: Supplied Bougainville wood carver Joe Dutuona spent April in New Zealand, learning a little about the country and introducing local artists to Bougainvillean culture. He was brought to New Zealand as a guest of Volunteer Service Abroad, with the featured event being a symposium on indigenous art in Thames. Dutona spoke with RNZ Pacific about art, the Bougainville efforts to make money, and the ongoing quest for independence . He began by talking about staying with friends in Rotorua whom he had hosted in Bougainville. (The transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) Turtles carved by Joe Dutuona at Ngakau Symposium. Photo: Supplied Joe Dutuona: And I went and stayed with some of the people there. They used to stay in Bougainville. I always looked after them, and then they wanted me to go and stay with them. Then I was going around visiting the sites for the Māori history things before the exhibition. I just visiting the sites. I went and visited some of the artists in different places. It was really interesting to get some ideas, because it is all about our culture. Don Wiseman: What sort of artists? JD: I think they carve, like wood and then stone. Back home, we carve only a wood. DW: So at the carving symposium itself, how was that? JD: Before I left Bougainville, I got just a few chisels with me. I think five of them. I could not bring everything because I do not have money to buy access [weight], so I have five to make it lighter. I just worked with these five chisels at the symposium. They helped me with grinders. They asked me, 'just when you need something because you do not have anything. So you can borrow things from us'. So, I just borrowed a grinder. DW: What's it like working in New Zealand wood? JD: Oh, the wood. They call it totara. It is really heavy, and it is tough, strong, and it is really hard to lift it up by yourself. So you need somebody to carry the wood. Joe Dutuona with Ngakau Carving Symposium attendees. Photo: Supplied DW: And you visited other artists. What have you learned? JD: I just go and visit. We got the same thing, like they got this marae, then back home, we got the same buildin, but we call it karakeni. It is sort of the same building. They made the carving. They carved the poles and everything. I got the idea from here now. So if I go back home, I can tell the local people or the clan because we always go with a clan. Our culture is based on our clans. And then we have to do these things again because it starts to die out. We must start and build this thing again. DW: You're from a part of bougaville that's been at the centre of the upheavals of the last 40 or so years. How's it been for you? JD: Because we are going through this crisis from the mining so we got a hard time there. We just try to build something again and just coming up very slowly, not really fast, but we are coming. I think we are going to come up sometime. DW: Well, I know there's still opposition to a reopening of the Panguna mine, but the government itself is very determined to reopen it, and sees it as the solution to the economic issues facing Bougainville. How do you feel about that? JD: It is true about economy. But we got something - like it is not only mining. We [have] got everything on our land that we can make money with it. Why talk [only] about mining every day? We got agriculture there. We got everything. We can run tourism [industry]. It is not all about mining, because [by] mining we are going to destroy our land; we have cultural people, and then we are living with our environment. Money is not mining. Money is everything. We can just rebuild the plantation. Back, before the crisis, plantations were working really good. But now, nobody is looking at it and they are talking about mining. We have to plant these things back to try and build our economy. Stingray carved b Joe Dutuona at Ngakau Symposium. Photo: Supplied DW: The classic example, of course, right at the moment is cocoa and how the price of cocoa shot through the roof last year. And we heard stories of people having so much money they almost couldn't believe it. JD: Yeah, cocoa farmers, I think now they are making lot of money now because of cocoa. You can see lot of people buying Land Cruisers and all this. DW: What about the political situation? Bougainville is planning independence, and it wants its independence in a little over two years time. How important is that to you? JD: It is all right. Independence, it is all about money, how we can make money, and that is why they were talking about mining. And then I said, it is not all about mining. It is agriculture and tourism. They are really important things. It is on the ground. Save our environment. I think politically, independence, it is alright. But we have to find a way to make money, like we got so many things, such as like war relics and then beautiful beaches, and we need sites to advertise it, and then people see and come, like [for] tours. DW: In your time in New Zealand. Will that change how you look at art now, when you go back? JD: Back home now young kids they just staying doing nothing back home. I have to go and maybe I start down South and then come to Central, and then then down to North Bougainville, because young people now, they do not know what to do. The young generation, they grew up in a crisis, because they do not know what law and order looks like or feels like. They do not know what to do, drinking and smoking drugs, or we call it, jay jay [jungle juice] drinking, and then somebody should go and teach them what to do, make them busy, instead of just staying there and then drinking jay jay. Joe Dutuona with Wati Ngamane Ngati Mari chairperson. Photo: Supplied DW: How do you make them busy? JD: Just give them something to do, tell them what to do, and then you stay with them, make sure they earn money, and then they will see that. This is the thing where I can [help] when I get married or something, I can look after my family. DW: When you were in Thames you were exposed to all these other artists, and they were all indigenous artists. So to what extent did you intermingle with them? Did you relate to them? JD: When I arrived there, I think they already knew me, who I am, and then they saw me because I am black. I [was] surprised to see the ladies who also welcome me, the artists, because we never really see the ladies carve something. And then during the session, while we are doing this carving thing, the ladies were carving the stone, where some of us were carving the wood. We were talking about our culture, my culture, and their culture, because we are multicultural people. We were sharing these ideas, how they carve, and then what I do. And I said, because I am from a clan, from the Hornbill [Kokomo] Clan. And I tell them I always carve Hornbill. I also carve Eagle. Eagle is another clan. And then cockatoo. We carved the birds. They carved the stone And they told me that this one is this, and this one is that, and then how we go to the heaven, or when we die, or all these sort of things. And then they will l go, I wake up the animals, because of our clan, I carved the totem pole, I think one totem pole in Buka Courthouse, and it is still there. It is about the clan, it is all of the birds. And then while we were there, I carve one eagle, and then three turtles, and one [indistinct] and then, and then a stingray. And then I was bending them. And then they come and saw me while I'm doing this, and they talk, 'oh, it's another idea. Again, you're showing us the you know, we never do this thing.' People are using the blow torch to bend the wood, and then they said, 'oh, you're teaching us the new thing.' It is okay. It is good because you already told me something too. So you give me idea. I'll give you ideas. So that is all about it. Joe Dutuona at RNZ studio in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone DW: Can you envisage that it would be beneficial to have more of this sort of contact? JD: I think that I want our government, like New Zealand government or Bougainville government, make us artists, all artists, we can share. If we have an exhibition in Bougainville, we can get some [artists] from New Zealand to go down and we can carve there, because we never carve the stones, they can carve the stones. We [have] got so many stones there. We got so many scrap metals from the mining, because some of [New Zealand artists are] doing scrap sculptures.
Scoop
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Two Decades On, New Zealand Police Continue As Advisors In Bougainville
There is certainly a will amongst local Bougainvillean people to have New Zealand police here for as long as possible, says police team leader Wayne Maurirere., RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist New Zealand Police have been providing assistance to the Bougainville community policing initiative for 20 years. This work has seen a small team – changed every year or so – liaising with community constables and advising them when appropriate. These days the team is integrated into the Bougainville Police Service but the New Zealand officers continue to play a role as team leader Wayne Maurirere told RNZ Pacific. (The transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) Wayne Maurirere: New Zealand police handed over full control. I think it was done by end of 2021 [and] part of 2022. Don Wiseman: The police partnership team is remaining there. What is the nature of the work now? Is it any different? WM: It is very similar to what it has been. We certainly have a strong focus on supporting the community police strategy, of which the auxiliary police an integral part of together with the Bougainville Police Service. DW: The people you have worked with, do they operate in a different way within the Bougainville police force? Or do they operate as a typical Papua New Guinea police person. WM: Oh, no. They certainly offer a bit different to mainland Papua New Guinea police. Definitely, a community focus in Bougainville. Going back to the Peace Agreement, it was the desire of the Bougainvilleans to have a police service, as opposed to a police force, because they wanted to maintain focus on community relationships, and that is still the case today. DW: I have been talking with a researcher, Dennis Kuiai. I imagine you know Dennis? WM: I have met him once. DW: Well, he has mentioned to me about how important the community policing team is to Bougainville because Bougainville has this issue – and lots of parts of Papua New Guinea do – where the crimes committed, they are a symptom of far deeper issues within Bougainvillean society, much of it going back to trauma from the Civil War. Do you see that? WM: It is certainly discussed amongst the wider community that they are still dealing with the impacts of the conflicts, and that is why they are so heavily focused on healing the community and Community Auxiliary Police being part of that healing process. DW: With the people that you are working with. Do you actively recruit them yourselves? WM: No, certainly not currently, and this has been the case since the inception of the Auxiliary Police. They are from the community, selected by leaders within the community, and their names are put forward to the Bougainville Police Service as a preferred candidate to represent that particular community. DW: What is the nature of the involvement right now? As you say, it has not changed. But what do you do? How do you work alongside Bougainville police? WM: We are here to advise them in a capability capacity. So if they have issues, currently one of the issues is abuse of alcohol and drugs. If they start to put together a response to that, they seek our advice and guidance, and we are happy to provide just from our experience in New Zealand. This has worked in New Zealand. It may or may not work here, but it is something you may want to look at. And they design the response and they implement it. And if it works, it works. If it does not, then back to the drawing table, see how they can tweak that response, and then go back up to try and deal with the issues. DW: When you look at an issue that police from New Zealand would not have any experience with, like the sorcery accusations that seem to have become rife right across Papua New Guinea, and I understand that they have suddenly got quite bad in Bougainville. What advice are you able to give there? WM: That is an interesting question because [sorcery] is a firmly held belief. It is not for us to convince them to do away with sorcery. Good heavens no, the violence associated with sorcery that is a new phenomena, and that is recently emerged. Where we are helpful in that space is providing advice and guidance around how to deal with violence, which has become a part of that sorcery belief. DW: How much longer do you think the New Zealand team will be based in Bougainville? WM: I do not know this. There is certainly a will amongst local Bougainvillean people to have New Zealand police here for as long as possible. And that decision rests with people way above my pay grade at the mfad level in New Zealand police executive level. DW: How many people have you got there? WM: Myself and five advisors. I am in Buka with one other. I have two advisors in Arawa, the central part of Bougainville and two advisors in Buin, the southern part.
Scoop
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Two Decades On, New Zealand Police Continue As Advisors In Bougainville
Article – RNZ There is certainly a will amongst local Bougainvillean people to have New Zealand police here for as long as possible, says police team leader Wayne Maurirere., RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist New Zealand Police have been providing assistance to the Bougainville community policing initiative for 20 years. This work has seen a small team – changed every year or so – liaising with community constables and advising them when appropriate. These days the team is integrated into the Bougainville Police Service but the New Zealand officers continue to play a role as team leader Wayne Maurirere told RNZ Pacific. (The transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) Wayne Maurirere: New Zealand police handed over full control. I think it was done by end of 2021 [and] part of 2022. Don Wiseman: The police partnership team is remaining there. What is the nature of the work now? Is it any different? WM: It is very similar to what it has been. We certainly have a strong focus on supporting the community police strategy, of which the auxiliary police an integral part of together with the Bougainville Police Service. DW: The people you have worked with, do they operate in a different way within the Bougainville police force? Or do they operate as a typical Papua New Guinea police person. WM: Oh, no. They certainly offer a bit different to mainland Papua New Guinea police. Definitely, a community focus in Bougainville. Going back to the Peace Agreement, it was the desire of the Bougainvilleans to have a police service, as opposed to a police force, because they wanted to maintain focus on community relationships, and that is still the case today. DW: I have been talking with a researcher, Dennis Kuiai. I imagine you know Dennis? WM: I have met him once. DW: Well, he has mentioned to me about how important the community policing team is to Bougainville because Bougainville has this issue – and lots of parts of Papua New Guinea do – where the crimes committed, they are a symptom of far deeper issues within Bougainvillean society, much of it going back to trauma from the Civil War. Do you see that? WM: It is certainly discussed amongst the wider community that they are still dealing with the impacts of the conflicts, and that is why they are so heavily focused on healing the community and Community Auxiliary Police being part of that healing process. DW: With the people that you are working with. Do you actively recruit them yourselves? WM: No, certainly not currently, and this has been the case since the inception of the Auxiliary Police. They are from the community, selected by leaders within the community, and their names are put forward to the Bougainville Police Service as a preferred candidate to represent that particular community. DW: What is the nature of the involvement right now? As you say, it has not changed. But what do you do? How do you work alongside Bougainville police? WM: We are here to advise them in a capability capacity. So if they have issues, currently one of the issues is abuse of alcohol and drugs. If they start to put together a response to that, they seek our advice and guidance, and we are happy to provide just from our experience in New Zealand. This has worked in New Zealand. It may or may not work here, but it is something you may want to look at. And they design the response and they implement it. And if it works, it works. If it does not, then back to the drawing table, see how they can tweak that response, and then go back up to try and deal with the issues. DW: When you look at an issue that police from New Zealand would not have any experience with, like the sorcery accusations that seem to have become rife right across Papua New Guinea, and I understand that they have suddenly got quite bad in Bougainville. What advice are you able to give there? WM: That is an interesting question because [sorcery] is a firmly held belief. It is not for us to convince them to do away with sorcery. Good heavens no, the violence associated with sorcery that is a new phenomena, and that is recently emerged. Where we are helpful in that space is providing advice and guidance around how to deal with violence, which has become a part of that sorcery belief. DW: How much longer do you think the New Zealand team will be based in Bougainville? WM: I do not know this. There is certainly a will amongst local Bougainvillean people to have New Zealand police here for as long as possible. And that decision rests with people way above my pay grade at the mfad level in New Zealand police executive level. DW: How many people have you got there? WM: Myself and five advisors. I am in Buka with one other. I have two advisors in Arawa, the central part of Bougainville and two advisors in Buin, the southern part.
