Growth and expansion are signs of investment, says Sir Michael

Boardroom at the new L & A complex

Warehouse of the new complex

All dolled up for grand opening today

Façade of the new complex

Entrance to the showroom today

Top of the range furniture at the L & A showroom

Lush sofa at L & A showroom

Everything for your home

L & A dinner set with chairs

Another quality dinner table and chairs

L & A specialises in the best tiles you can find in PNG

Tiled headstones provide a niche market for L & A

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says growth and expansion are obvious indicators of a conduicive environment for investment.

He was speaking at the grand opening of the K15 million L & A Group of Companies’ head office, showroom and warehouse at Six-Mile in Port Moresby today.

It was the culmination of 40 years of hard work by businessman Luciano Cragnolini and wife Ni.

Sir Michael said it was indeed a pleasure to be invited time and time again by private sector organisations to celebrate with them, their achievements in Papua New Guinea.

“I thank you – Luciano and Ni Cragnolini of L & A Construction for that pleasure today,” he told a fullhouse crowd at the opening.

“Such growth and expansion in the private sector are obvious indicators of a conduicive environment for investment.

“PNG is a nation that critics like to boldly profess would collapse into a heap at any moment.

“I have always believed that we can do it: that one day the world will see and the focus will be upon us, a nation of united indigenous peoples with an amazing future ahead of us.

“We have done it.

“From here, we must show our capacity to handle change by welcoming all other races to live and work together; to grow our industries; provide employment to our people and add value to our future.”

Sir Michael said when the Cragnolinis arrived on PNG shores many years ago, they neither expected to be here for this length of time, nor invest further in this economy.

“While it is a celebration for L & A Construction on the opening of their head office, showroom and warehouse, it is also a celebration for PNG,” he said.

“Slowly, but surely, we will witness in the course of the year other ventures not only opening up but also expanding their operations.

“As head of government, I support all legitimate businesses in Papua New Guinea.

“I encourage the cooperation of all government agencies to play a complementary role in fostering further development and growth.

“But as we grow, we must be mindful of the country’s rules and regulations.

“There must be compliance to rules and standards; they must not be dropped.

“This is not only for the building and construction industry but for other industries as well.

“As developments accelerate in this country, our authorities must also step up their work in monitoring the quality of developments that are taking place.

“We must be proud of ourselves and not accept sub-standard goods and services provided by our industries.”

Sir Michael said government had recently launched its Vision 2050 to accommodate the rapid growth in the economy, population and keep pace with global changes and meeting the requirements of the Millenium Development Goals.

“In order to implement this vision, the public service machinery must also improve its performance,” he said.

“I will be personally making sure that changes are made so that the public and businesses get better services out of our governmentdepartments.

“I can assure developers like L & A Construction that government will play its part to provide the enabling environment for further growth and development.”

Westpac piggy banks raise funds for the community

Westpac Bank PNG have kicked off their 100 year celebrations with ‘Save and Share’, a piggy bank promotion to support charity and community groups across Papau New Guinea.

“Since Westpac brought banking to Papua New Guinea on 10 May 1910, we have been more than just a bank - we’ve been part of the community,” said Mr Ross Hammond, Managing Director.

“As you know pigs play an important role in Papua New Guinea  - they are a symbol of wealth, prosperity and celebration. As such it is fitting that we begin Westpac PNG’s 100 year celebrations with ‘Share and Save’, a promotion which directly benefits the community,” he added. 

Thanks to ‘Save and Share’, Westpac branded piggy banks will be sold at branches for K15 to raise funds for charities and community groups across Papua New Guinea. K5 from the sale of each piggy bank sold will be donated to the branch’s chosen charity.

Charities or community groups that branches have chosen to support include Callan Services Special School for the Disabled Persons at Alotau, Cheshire Homes, Mount Sion Centre for the Blind, Mount Hagen Dental Clinic, the Red Cross, TB Ward at Kimbe General Hospital, Anglicare Elementary School at Kokopo, Angau Memorial Hospital at Lae, Madang’s Country Women’s  Association, Misima Hospital, Hohola Orphanage, Tabubil Service Centre, Prison Ministry, Vanimo Correctional Institution, Port Moresby City Mission and Oxfam at Wewak.

Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase your own limited edtion Westpac Bank piggy bank. Drop into a branch today!

The delicate balance - turtles

Story and pictures by DAVID NALU

With all the hype and focus on environmental conservation and global climate change summits, the western world  are only now touching on what the ethnic peoples of the world have always had - a deep understanding of the delicate balance between man and nature.

Sadly this knowledge base was classified as primitive, misunderstood, overlooked and not tapped into, much to the detriment of the world we live in, now faced with the imminent change of global warming, melting ice caps and rising sea levels.

“You only harpoon the giant yellow fin tuna on its way out of the serene mangrove lined inlets after it has laid its eggs, (spawn) and only take what you truly need” whispers an echo from the past when an old man of the sea, once spoke to his grandson as they paddled their canoe over the same serene waters in the evening sunset.

These words were reflective of the profound understanding of the delicate balance of nature which permeated ancient fishing practices and determined when and how it should happen upon the signal of the seasons, tides, wind, moon, birds and even the flowering of certain plants. 

Whilst accompanying fishermen to the bustling Kapari/Viriolo market in Cape Rodney, Central Province in mid January of this year, we came across quite a sight.

As our dinghy pulled in alongside a large double hull, catamaran style boat with shelter built in the middle, I noticed on the deck, the yellowish brown of turtles turned belly up.

A closer look revealed that, sprawled across the entire deck of the double hull canoe, allegedly from down Mailu way, was not 1 or 2 but up to 30 or so, quite large turtles.

The cargo awaited road transport into Port Moresby, had been apparently caught with commercial nets.

Wholesale sale to smaller resellers in Port Moresby  can easily fetch up to K300 to K400, which obviously was a timely and lucrative catch early in the year especially with children returning to school.

 “These people have no respect for the sea, turtles are supposed to be harpooned one at a time not in caught in nets” said Vanua, a subsistence fisherman from Viriolo showing his obvious disgust at the blatant disregard of this ancient practice.

Sales profits to cover basic cost and the ever increasing demand for seafood in urban centres has contributed to overfishing often using  unscrupulous, fishing methods such as commercial nets and dynamite.

Unchecked, this trend stands to destroy a way of life and needs be addressed and stringently policed at community level.

We’d all do well to remind ourselves of the basic message that marine life conservationist purvey – do not overfish and always use sustainable fishing practices.

This is nothing new from the ancient wisdom passed through in the words of my maternal grandfather to me, “take only what you truly need”.

Only then will we still be able to enjoy a true delicacy - an occasional treat of turtle meat with its green fat, spiced and cooked with cherry tomatoes, bought from the local fish market on a Sunday afternoon for many more years to come.

And if all the conservation thing goes really well, I might even be able to one day suck the gooey white and yolk out of soft shelled, boiled turtle eggs pushed down with cold taro and black sweet tea, nostalgic of my childhood, and of a era gone by when the collection of turtle eggs was not yet deemed illegal.

What a con!

From PAUL OATES 

So called 'Developed' countries could well note a report in PNG's The National. The PNG Environment and Conservation Secretary, Dr Wari Iamoan says PNG will reduce it's carbon emissions by 60% in 10 years and by 100% in 40 years. The methodology to achieve this reduction must surely be revolutionary. Exactly who is in charge of measuring PNG's carbon emissions and how this would be done was not detailed however.

Elsewhere, it was reported that 'Carbon Cowboys' have now created a scam and tricked German Carbon Creditors into releasing their confidential data base details and diverted some of the millions on offer into false bank accounts.

The process of buying carbon credits appears to some to be a simple equation. Electricity producers can continue to produce electricity from coal but buy carbon credits from those selling them to 'offset' the carbon dioxide so produced and being releasing into the atmosphere. Exactly how this will reduce the overall carbon emissions is unclear and the cost of 'buying' carbon credits will just be passed onto the consumer as a simple, new impost.

Those 'selling' carbon credits don't seem to have any guaranteed methodology of ensuring that the 'credits' they are selling can either be verified or audited. Those nations who still have rainforests were very quick to reject any external auditing of their forest resources proposed at Copenhagen.

So can someone explain how carbon credits and emmissions trading schemes will effectively guarantee any reduction in carbon dioxide emissions or future greenhouse pollution? The whole process seems to be a sham of the greatest proportions. With electronic bank transfers and offshore bank accounts, those operating these carbon credit schemes seem to have an open door to manipulate the consumers and those with forests and play both sides off against each other while making millions in the process. What a con!
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PNG ready to submit carbon targets to UN
Source:
By PATRICK TALU
PAPUA New Guinea has formalised its emission reduction targets (ERT) to comply with the Copenhagen Accord in reducing carbon emissions by 60% come 2020 and 100% by 2050.
Environment and Conservation Secretary, Dr Wari Iamo, said PNG was ready to submit its ERT to the UN together with its emission mitigation action plans.
Dr Iamo told The National yesterday by phone that PNG was focusing on the reduced emission on deforestation and degradation (REDD) initiative.
"To facilitate the REDD initiative, the Annex One nations (industrialised nations) have already committed K3 billion - K5 billion to the coalition of rainforest nations, including PNG.
"These funds are going to be used to create awareness, establishment of institutional capacities financing and technology transfer, pilot projects, laws and policy framework for REDD initiative and other necessary works," Dr Iamo said.
Meanwhile, the EU last month formalised its support for the Copenhagen Accord on climate change and presented its commitments for ERT to the UN.
In a statement released from the EU country office in Port Moresby on Monday, a joint letter signed by the Spanish presidency of the council and the European commission has formally notified the EU's willingness to be associated with the Accord and submitted  information on EU's established greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2020.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso said: "The EU is determined to move ahead rapidly with implementing the Copenhagen Accord to make progress towards the agreement that we need to hold global warming below 2°C.
"The accord provides a basis on which to build the future agreement and I therefore urge all countries to associate themselves with it and notify ambitious emission targets or actions for inclusion as we are doing."
The accord was the main outcome of the UN climate change conference held in Copenhagen from Dec 7 - 19.
The accord was negotiated by 28 developed and developing countries and the EC which account for 80% of the GHG emission.

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Hackers Steal Millions in Carbon Credits

* By Kim Zetter Email Author
* February 3, 2010 |

Credit card numbers are so passe. Today's hackers know the real powerhouse data to steal is emission certificates.

That's exactly what hackers went after last week when they obtained unauthorized access to online accounts where companies maintain their carbon credits, according to the German newspaper Der Spiegel.

The hackers launched a targeted phishing attack against employees of numerous companies in Europe, New Zealand and Japan, which appeared to come from the German Emissions Trading Authority. The workers were told that their companies needed to re-register their accounts with the Authority, where carbon credits and transactions are recorded.

When workers entered their credentials into a bogus web page linked in the e-mail, the hackers were able to hi-jack the credentials to access the companies' Trading Authority accounts and transfer their carbon credits to two other accounts controlled by the hackers.

Under environmental cap-and-trade laws, there's a limit to the greenhouse gases companies can emit. Companies that exceed this limit can purchase so-called carbon credits from entities that produce fewer greenhouse emissions than the limit provides them.

The scheme has produced a robust market for the trade of credits. More than 8 million tons of CO2 emissions worth $130 billion were traded in Europe last year.

According to the BBC, it's estimated the hackers stole 250,000 carbon credit permits from six companies worth more than $4 million. At least seven out of 2,000 German firms that were targeted in the phishing scam fell for it. One of these unidentified firms reportedly lost $2.1 million in credits in the fraud.

The credits were resold for an undisclosed sum. The buyers, who likely believed the transactions were legitimate, haven't been named.

The German Emissions Trading Authority has suspended access to its databases for a week while an investigation is underway.

The fraud is the latest example of hacks aimed at gaming environment controls. A year ago, hackers penetrated the Brazilian government's quota data for Brazilian rain forest products - allowing the illegal poaching of more than 1.7 million cubic feet of timber.

Papua New Guinea art takes New Zealand by storm

L to R, Geneva Gibson (Aesthete Gallery), Gickmai Kundun (sculptor), Pierre Peeters (Aesthete Gallery)

Family’, metal sculpture 2009, Gickmai Kundun, ‘Women and Poverty’, acrylic on canvas 2007, Philip Yobale

‘Unexpected Land I’, acrylic on canvas 2008, Alexander Mebri

Opening Night, Liklik Luk Save

Opening Night, Liklik Luk Save

‘Lo Moro’, acrylic on canvas 2006, Ratoos Haoapa Gary; ‘Unexpected Land I’, acrylic on canvas 2008, Alexander Mebri

For three weeks last year, Auckland hosted the first Liklik Luk Save Art Show at the Aesthete Gallery.

A smaller version of the national art show Luk Save, held every September at the Royal Papua Yacht Club, Liklik Luk Save brought seven PNG artists’ work, on invitation, to the heart of New Zealand’s fine art trade with a very genuine and warm welcome.

Pierre Peeters, owner of Aesthete Gallery, has built a reputation over many years for identifying and promoting New Zealand’s up and coming contemporary artists.

He is renowned for embracing challenging and vibrant work and connecting artists with key private collectors and the general public.

His invitation to Papua New Guinea’s finest was in keeping with his bold and determined approach to take the best of contemporary art to a wider audience.

This was Peeters first event showcasing this market and said: “For a country that has had limited exposure to the art world, they have a lot to offer and it is worthy of being exhibited in high-end international art centers.

“I am pleased to see New Zealand’s private individual collectors embrace the art from our Pacific Rim cousins.”

Gickmai Kundun’s stunning sculpture work that graces our capital city was represented with artists Tom Deko, Martin Morubabuna, Alexander Mebri, Ratoos Haoapa Gary and Heso Kiwi being featured with two large canvasses from the late Philip Yobale collection.

The work and the event were very well received both critically and commercially.

Giles Peterson, curator and lecturer in Pacific Art and Design at the Whitecliffe College of Art & Design in Auckland, opened the show, saying: “As someone who is familiar with contemporary PNG art I am blown away by the quality of work here today.”

He went on to emphasise: “This exhibition has stood its ground on an international basis and it is very exciting and refreshing to see such an exhibition in New Zealand.”

The show experienced good attendance and strong sales.

The key piece in demand turned out to be a substantial canvas from Ratoos Haoapa Gary, ‘Lo Moro’ with Gickmai Kundun and Alexander Mebri also selling on opening night.

In total over half of the work presented was sold and, possibly most importantly, the work has gone to established private collectors from the New Zealand market.

This is particularly significant for our artists as it dramatically opens the international market for their work bringing much-needed financial support and recognition to their professionalism.

The Aesthete Gallery has consolidated their commitment to the PNG fine art community by inviting Liklik Luk Save back this year and is currently working with the PNG-based curator Amanda Adams of Luk Save to present a broader experience for 2011.

Waitangi Day and what's it's all about

Waitangi Day on Feb 6 is New Zealand's national day.

The date is an important marker in the country's history: the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on Feb 6, 1840.

In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand's founding document.

For some people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for many, and especially for Maori, it is the occasion for reflecting on the meaning of the Treaty.

Since the 1970s the style and mood of the commemorations on Waitangi Day have been influenced by debate surrounding the place of the Treaty in modern New Zealand. Recognition of the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi as the nation's founding document will continue to encourage leaders, communities and individuals to mark the day in new ways.

 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)

 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) takes its name from the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed.

 The Treaty is an agreement, in Maori and English, between the British Crown and about 540 Maori rangatira (chiefs).  

The Treaty is a broad statement of principles on which the British and Maori made a political compact to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand.

 The Treaty has three articles.

 In the English version, these are that Maori ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain; Maori gave the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wished to sell, and, in return, they were guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions; and that Maori would have the rights and privileges of British subjects.

Different understandings of the Treaty have long been the subject of debate.

 It is common now to refer to the intention, spirit or principles of the Treaty.

The Treaty of Waitangi is not considered part of New Zealand domestic law, except where its principles are referred to in several Acts of Parliament.

The exclusive right to determine the meaning of the Treaty rests with the Waitangi Tribunal, a commission of inquiry created in 1975 to investigate the Crown's alleged breaches of the Treaty.

 More than 1000 claims have been lodged with the tribunal, and a number have been settled.

 

The people of Aotearoa New Zealand

 

New Zealand's indigenous people, the Māori, arrived around 800 years ago in waka (canoes) from Polynesia in the South Pacific.

Māori define themselves as iwi (tribes), by descent from the crew of voyaging canoes or other illustrious ancestors. 

New Zealand was not known to Europeans until 1642.

Over 150 years later, settlers started to arrive from England, Scotland and Ireland.

 The journey was long and  arduous, but they came in the hope of a better life.

From the 20th century onwards, war, persecution and other troubles have led groups and individuals to migrate to New Zealand.

 Others have come by choice, seeking a change of lifestyle.

 Today's New Zealanders celebrate a wide and varied heritage – from the Pacific, Europe, Asia, Africa and America. 

 But whatever the origin of today's New Zealanders, for all of us the Treaty is not just a historical relic, but a living document that continues to help define us as a people.

More information about the history of Waitangi Day and Te Tiriti o Waitangi is available at: www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/waitangi-day and

www.treatyofwaitangi.govt.nz

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea political and defence links

Political relationship

Diplomatic links between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea were formally established soon after PNG achieved independence in 1975, building on official NZ representation in the country before that.

The relationship now includes regular political-level consultations, a large development assistance programme, defence co-operation activities and a network of commercial and business linkages.

Up to two and a half thousand New Zealanders are estimated to live and work in PNG.

New Zealand and PNG are close partners at both the regional and bilateral levels.

We share common views on a range of international issues and co-operate actively in the many multilateral and regional bodies in which we are both members.

New Zealand played a pivotal role in establishing the “Friends of PNG” group, which was instrumental in offering international support to the country during its financial crisis in mid-1999.

In trade, PNG is New Zealand’s second largest market in the Pacific region (behind Fiji, not including Australia).

 

High-level visits

There are regular high level visits between the two countries.

Amongst other contacts, in recent years Foreign Ministers from both countries have met regularly to discuss regional and international issues of interest, and to promote developments in the bilateral relationship.

New Zealand Prime Minister Hon John Key’s first bilateral engagement was with Rt Hon Sir Michael Somare en route to the 2008 APEC meeting in Lima.

There have been several bilateral engagements between Foreign Ministers Hon Samuel Abal and New Zealand’s Hon Murray McCully.

Prime Minister Key and Foreign Minister McCully also visited Port Moresby in January 2009.

New Zealand Governor-General Hon Sir Anand Satyanand visited PNG in October 2009 for five days – taking in Goroka and Rabaul as well as Port Moresby.

 PNG Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane visited New Zealand in February 2006, and PNG Trade Minister Hon Paul Tiensten visited in June 2006, both as guests of our government.

Dame Carol Kidu, Minister for Community Development visited as a partial guest of government in November 2008.

 

Defence relationship

Defence co-operation between the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is deep and enduring, and has developed over many decades since PNG’s independence.

Today defence co-operation is evident in the NZDF’s Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) which provides assistance to the PNGDF for individual training and its Commercial Support Program (CSP).

Currently under the MAP, up to 40 PNGDF personnel annually receive command, leadership, staff and other specialist training at various Camps and Bases in New Zealand or through attachments with the Officer Cadet School in Waiouru.

In May 2009 the NZDF conducted a four week company level, tropical jungle exercise at the Goldie River Training Area near Port Moresby.

 PNGDF and NZDF troops serve together as part of the Combined Task Force, in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Both nations maintain a Defence Adviser in each other’s capitals, Port Moresby and Wellington.

Since October 2009 New Zealand has seconded Gp Capt Athol Forrest to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff in the PNG Defence Force.

The NZDF also provides regular Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion Patrols to assist PNG monitor and control its maritime EEZ and from time to time both nations conduct combined military training, exercises and operations.

There exists today a mutual trust and respect between the two defence forces, and a close bond between many of each nation’s senior and middle ranked defence leaders and staff, which has built up over many years of shared military service, whether deployed together on postings, exercises, courses or operations.

In this sense the defence relationship is not only unique, but is one of the longest and strongest bonds between NZ and PNG.

 

Bougainville

New Zealand’s involvement in the Bougainville peace process and subsequent peace monitoring missions was a special chapter in NZ-PNG relations, and remains a key pillar in our bilateral relationship.

New Zealand became actively involved in ending the conflict from 1997, when we hosted and mediated the first of a series of meetings between parties.

The peace process concluded with the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in August 2001.

 This was given legal effect in PNG through the unanimous adoption of the 2002 Bougainville Peace Agreement Act, which provides for greater autonomy for the Bougainville within the PNG state and a referendum on independence in 2015.

New Zealand also led the initial truce-monitoring group that deployed to Bougainville in 1997 and was the second largest contributor (after Australia) to the later Peace Monitoring Group.

Over the past four years New Zealand has had a deployment of New Zealand Police in Buka and Arawa assisting in the training of the Bougainville Community Police.