The recent opening of Luluai (Gerehu) Limited not only marks a change to the business landscape in Gerehu, but it also marks the opportunity for employment for the young people of the notorious Port Moresby suburb.Luluai Gerehu Limited Assistant General Manager Ms. Delmae Haru said the new establishment is bigger than their other establishment and as such, would require a good number of people to staff the various departments. Speaking to PNG HAUSBUNG, she said to fill in this demand, most of the stuff recruited were from the Gerehu suburb. “We need about over a hundred employees in all departments like gaming, restaurant, kitchen, the bar, and security. So, we thought that opening here, we give priority to people around here. So, all our staff working here are living in Gerehu from stage one to seven.” This she added that it also ensures that the residents here take ownership of this new establishment. “Generally, we have good people here and they go all the way out to town to look for social activity or night life, so, that’s why we decided we might as well put one here,” she said. “It’s something for them to be proud of because yes, we are running a business, but it’s for the people of Gerehu.” The new Luluai Gerehu branch opened its doors to the public on Thursday 20th November 2025, much to the excitement of the residents.

The 2026 National Budget stands at K30.9 billion with a Capital Investment Budget of K10.8 billion, the overall budget an increase of over 9% from the 2025 budget total. The Treasurer, Ian Ling Stucky in his budget speech said the budget focuses on security and economic growth as per its theme, "Security with Growth".Key take always from the budget include the continuation of the GST exemption that run to the end of 2026 instead of mid 2026 as initially projected. Also some key areas getting a big allocation for 2026 to be funded by the Capital Investment Budget include the health sector investments with K858.1 million, education sector investments with K609.5 million and law and justice sector investments with K463.0 million. The 2026 National Budget will now be presented on the floor of parliament by the Treasurer this afternoon for responses and comments before it can be passed. 

Residents of Gerehu in Port Moresby now have access to a modern dining, entertainment and gaming venue following the recent opening of Luluai Gerehu Limited. The new branch opened its doors on Thursday, 20 November 2025. Speaking to PNG HAUSBUNG, Assistant General Manager Ms. Delmae Haru said the opening had been delayed for more than three months, so the team was excited to finally welcome the public. Ms. Haru explained that Luluai Gerehu is an expansion of the company’s original concept at Dream Inn, which later grew to a branch in Gordons. She said many of their regular customers actually come from Gerehu, so opening a facility closer to them made sense. Another key reason for establishing Luluai at Gerehu was to help improve the area’s image, especially after the “Black Wednesday” riots of January 10 last year, which saw several shops damaged or burnt. “Generally, we have good people here, but they have to travel far for social activities or nightlife. So, we thought we might as well put one here,” Ms. Haru said. She added that the company already owned the land and wanted to develop it. “We could have opened a service station, but Luluai Gordons was doing well for us, so we thought we should introduce the same here in Gerehu.” Although Luluai Gerehu is now open, only the restaurant and bar are operating for the moment. The gaming section will open once they receive a licence from the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Most of the staff hired for the restaurant, kitchen, bar, gaming floor and security are Gerehu residents. Ms. Haru said this was intentional to ensure the community feels ownership of the facility, which provides both services and job opportunities.

The story of Steamships, the company that started its operation in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the early years of the 20th century, is one of commitment and trust in investing in a land and its people long before it became a country.The Steamships Trading Company Limited, steamed into the pacific and set up shop in Port Moresby as World War One was ending in 1918. Starting with just one vessel, the company grow to one of the biggest employers and investor in Papua New Guinea 107 years on. This is a snapshot of the history of the Steamships company that was displayed recently in Port Moresby city when premiering its documentary film- "Steamships and Papua New Guinea, Our Story", on the Friday 14th November. The documentary film, with the skillful use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce it, showed the story of Steamships’ past, the present and the outlook of a company that has been part and parcel of many Papua New Guineans. Steamships Managing Director Mr. Chris Daniels in his opening address said the 30-minute documentary film is part of a yearlong series of activities by Steamships to commemorate PNG’s 50th anniversary of independence. “As PNG celebrates this great milestone, Steamships too marks 107 years of continued partnership and service to the people of this great nation,” he said. “From the humble beginning in 1918 as a single vessel trading operation to today, as one of the largest private employers in the country.” “Our company philosophy is to offer best service to all our customers, provide service and rewarding careers for our staff, and always maintaining the highest business ethics. These principles have guided us for more than a century. Meanwhile, the Minister for Fisheries Jelta Wong who represented the prime minister at the premiering night, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the century long service Steamships has provided to the people of Papua New Guinea from shipping to residence and hotels. “This is about collaboration, commitment, dedication. A company 107 years old,” Minister Wong expressed. He further expressed that the connection made throughout PNG was done through Steamships linking the various ports and bringing the people together, way before independence came around. “This is commitment and dedication. You don’t get that these days,” said the minister.

Three people are dead and one in a very critical condition following a fatal road accident along the Poreporena Freeway at Konedobu this afternoon in Port Moresby city.Police were quick to the scene of the accident within a minute because the accident occurred next to the Police Headquarters at Konedobu. Police confirm three deaths; one female and two males while one person, a male, is in a critical condition. He was assisted to the hospital. Meanwhile, images on social media showed bodies of the victims lay all over the place from the impact of the accident. One body was on the road while the others on the side. The fatal accident involved as five- door Toyota Landcruiser. The National Capital police will release further information on the accident once preliminary investigation is completed.

The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner for the country’s consumer watchdog, the Independent Consumer and Competitions Commission (ICCC), has said its time to do things efficiently and smarter going forward.The new CEO and Commissioner Mr. Roy Daggy said Papua New Guinea has now set on a journey for the next 50 years to come, which means it’s a time to start taking new directions, seek new ways of doing things to achieve the goals set for the country. He said it’s the same for the ICCC and if the Commission is to fully execute its mandate to protect the people from unfair trading practices that could impact their livelihoods, it must up its game. This statement indicates his intention to take the ICCC to new heights. “We’re looking at the next 50 years, we’re looking at something that is more innovative, be transformative and do it much smarter,” said Commissioner Daggy. “There is a lot of things that we can do in this space because our focus must be on the consumers, which is our people. That is priority one and we must create a level playing field and we must ensure that the enforcement part of the mandate that the ICCC must be effective and strengthen and also consumer protection must be our priority.” Commissioner Daggy also has faith in the Board that it will support the cause by providing the leadership for the ICCC to move forward in the years to come.

The Independent Consumer and Competitions Commission (ICCC) now has a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner taking charge of the consumer watchdog to protect Papua New Guineans from unfair trading practices.The Minister for Rural Economic Development Joseph Lelang on Monday 3rd November, announced at the ICCC head office in Port Moresby city that Mr. Roy Daggy is now in charge of the Commission. “I am very happy to officially announce the new Commissioner and CEO of the ICCC,” declared the minister. “The appointment has been officially published under the national gazette number G11051 dated 30th October 2025 by His Excellency Sir Gibs Selika (Chief Justice), who was the acting Governor General.” The acting Governor General made the appointment following by the ICCC independent appointment Committee’s approval as required under section 8 and 9 f the ICCC Act 2002. Minister Lelang also took the opportunity to extend his appreciation to Mr. Paulus Ain, the outgoing commissioner for his outstanding service and leadership during his tenure. “On behalf of the government, I want to sincerely thank Mr. Paulus Ain for his years of dedicated services and contribution to the ICCC and to the people of Papua New Guinea.” “His commitment to ensuring fair competition and consumer protection has set a solid foundation for the incoming leadership to build on,” said Lelang. Mr. Daggy is not new to the ICCC and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in economic finance, energy and regulation and public policy.

The recent announcement of the country’s latest census result was well received especially for its successful completion given the challenges faced, but what it revealed showed a scary situation that Papua New Guinea (PNG) is currently in. Prime Minister (PM) James Marape took the podium at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby city on the evening of Thursday 30th October, where in front of staff and management of the National Statistical Office, partners and stakeholders, plainly stated that PNG needs to decisively control its population growth for the sake of better service delivery to the people. The 2024 National Census result revealed PNG’s human population at 10,185,363. “I think it is about time we converse on population control; birth control,” said Prime Mister Marape. “To parents, it is a very expensive exercise to raise children. One child, two children may be enough, but with three, you're pushing the limit.” Marape then urged the young people that if they plan to have a family, couples must consider the economy and make decisions on having children, especially when the economy is not in its best form fueled by issues in the world economy. “So, I want to propose a conversation on birth control and population control. Limiting the children to maybe two or three (to a family),” said Marape, stating that such conversations must be held in parliament, churches, in communities and at the family unit. The prime minister’s concern stems from the fact that the country’s population is obviously growing faster and higher than the economy, which could lead to drastic implications for the country going forward. According to the World Bank’s midyear Economic Update, Papua New Guinea’s economy is set to grow by 4.7 percent in 2025, well above its historical average, driven by rising gold and copper production and a strong recovery in agriculture. However, the prime minister says otherwise. “A population anywhere above 10 million with an economy this size, is unsustainable for our country. At present size of the economy, we can’t afford to have a population boom.” Nevertheless, the government continues to focus on growing the economy, but the population needs to be controlled as well. A sustainable country must have the population below the growth rate; hence, the prime minister proposes to have population control policies in place in the near future to manage this issue.

Crime being committed along the Highlands Highway on a constant basis is alarming and prompting calls for the authorities to do something decisive to fully address this nonsense of killings and attacks along a national highway that is the lifeline for many people living in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG).Just recently, there was a shooting along the Eastern Highlands province portion of the highway where a transporter was shot and killed by an armed criminal. This matter was raised in parliament this morning during question time when Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa shot the question at the Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Junior on what he is doing to address this serious matter. Responding to the good governor’s question, the good Police Minister said something is being done about it, stating that the implementation of a police post after every 60km will be the way forward. Minister Tsiamalili explained that this is the standard on a national way, where after every 60km, there will be a police highway patrol base. This is to ensure that police will respond swiftly to any emergency situation within their area of operation. He added that every province along the Highlands Highway must work with the national government and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNC) to have such police bases set up along their portion of the national highway. Nevertheless, Minister Tsiamalili said this is now happening. “This is capture in the Police Partnership Assistance,” said the minister, further stating that this standard of 60km police base is captured under this partnership assistance. Governor Rapa wants urgency put into this because the Highlands Highway is vital to service and development and it must be a safe place for people to move around freely to do business or just leisure.

Hosting a free, fair and safe election is the focus of the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) to ensure this current election yields the expected results by the end of its scheduled time. It is not only that, but to also ensure the elections are conducted accordingly with the candidates elected through the democratic process, with no corruption or violence involved. The PNGEC’s stand is strongly supported by Prime Minister James Marape who appealed to all candidates and voters across PNG to uphold peace, discipline and respect during the election period. “The Electoral Commission, with the support of local-level administrators, is doing its absolute best to ensure a free, fair and safe election,” the Prime Minister said. “I urge all candidates and voters not to cause stress or disruption to their communities or to the country. Elections are serious national exercises, and they must be conducted with dignity, peace and respect.” Meanwhile, the commencement of the polling this week did not go as planned for one province. In Southern Highlands province, polling had to be delayed due to concerns raised regarding the electoral roll. Fortunately, this was resolved and polling is expected to take place today (Tuesday) in some areas. Acting Provincial Administrator and Provincial Election Advisory Committee (PEAC) Chairman David Kelma yesterday (Monday) addressed concerns over inflated rolls at Mendi Police Station and it was agreed for the recently updated 2025 electoral rolls will be used. This issue had delayed distribution of ballot boxes and papers over the weekend, and distribution started late yesterday (Monday). However, it is understood that some LLGs in districts closer to Mendi, especially Mendi Central kick-started polling on Monday. Meantime, Prime Minister Marape reminded the nation that the LLG elections are taking place in the year of PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary, symbolizing the enduring strength of its democracy. “In our 50th anniversary year, voting freely and fairly is one of the most important expressions of our nationhood,” he said. “I encourage all Papua New Guineans to cast their votes correctly and peacefully, choosing leaders who will unite, serve, and strengthen our communities.” Meanwhile, polling will run for 14 days, ending on 8th November with counting to commence afterwards from the 9th of November and ending on 20th November, that is another 14 days. The return of writs will be on Friday 21st November. PNGEC is urging all to turn up to vote and to ensure a free, fair and safe LLG elections.

TISA Bank is proud to partner with the BNBM Hardware and Huawei in the development and access to reliable green energy solutions for households in Papua New Guinea (PNG).This was said by the TISA Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Sunil Pokharel at the launch of the bank’s new loan product- Sola Pawa Loan- in Port Moresby city on Tuesday 21st October. Mr. Pokharel, in highlighting the need for people to access reliable energy, said only 15% of the people have access to reliable electricity in PNG and just 13% are connected to the national grid. “This is not merely a statistic- it is a story of families who cannot study after sunset, of clinics that struggle to refrigerate vaccines, and of small businesses that must close early because of darkness,” said the CEO. “Yet, we are a nation blessed with abundant natural energy resources- the sun that shines across our highlands, coasts, and islands; the rivers that power our lands and the ingenuity of our people.” “This energy gap; therefore, is not a barrier- it is an invitation to act differently, to bring light where it is most needed,” he said. Reflecting on this, he said TISA Bank believes that real progress happens when finance becomes a force for inclusion, which is the basis for them to proudly launched the Sola Pawa Loan- a green financing product designed to make clean and reliable energy affordable for every Papua New Guinean. “Through this initiative, our customers can now purchase solar- powered kits manufactured by Huawei and distributed by BNBM, enabling households, schools, and small businesses- even in remote areas- to enjoy sustainable light and power.” He said "Sola Pawa" is not just about energy, it is about empowering people through the use of reliable energy. “This is Banking on Change in action.” “This is TISA Bank bringing light, hope and opportunity to every corner of Papua New Guinea,” said Mr. Pokharel.

The new TISA Bank has teamed up with Huawei and the BNBM Hardware to deliver an innovative loan product that is targeted at encouraging the use of green energy to enable reliable power in Papua New Guinea (PNG).This new loan product, “TISA Sola Pawa Loan,” was launched last night in Port Moresby city witnessed by the bank’s clients, staff and management of Huawei, BNBM and a delegate from the Central bank- Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG). TISA Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Sunil Pokharel said this initiative enables finances to access reliable electricity, especially in the rural parts of the country. “Through this initiative, our customers can now purchase solar power manufacture by Huawei and distributed by BNBM, enabling households, schools and small businesses- even in remote areas- to enjoy sustainable light and power,” said the TISA Bank CEO. “This is more than a loan. It is a bridge between darkness and opportunity, between aspiration and achievement.” “For the bank like TISA, it represents innovation, enjoying new markets like the renewable energy and sustainable housing,” he said. This innovative sola power product is FusionSolar. It’s a Huawei Power- M small hybrid power solution. It integrates grid, solar DG and battery. It is widely used in off- grid and unreliable grid areas and provides reliable and stable backup power for homes and buildings. The launching of the loan product is the first of such initiatives in PNG where all three parties have come together and decided to do something different. Mr. Pokharel said the initiative started with Huawei to engage with a distributor and a bank to create a financial product that would finance the purchase of its innovative product that is reliable and is powering homes in most parts of the world.