PNG Insight Blog

Port Moresby Nature Park has reopened its gates after closure

Port Moresby Nature Park has reopened its gates following a nine-day closure, much to the relief of the NCD community, school groups and tour companies, following orders of the National Court this morning.

Public Statement re Re-opening/Facebook

Port Moresby Nature Park is the only internationally wildlife-welfare accredited facility in the South Pacific Islands, obtained by the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia firmly cementing the as one of the world’s top wildlife facilities, with proven commitment to animal welfare, conservation, education and research.

HERE IS THE REASON WHY PORT MORESBY NATURE PARK WAS CLOSED

The Nature Park is happy to be back serving the community, teaching school children, training university students, conducting research, saving wildlife and providing venue hire and fun activities for friends and family to come together.

The Nature Park's immediate priority is to recommence our school excursion program, “Beasts with Bites”, which had been suspended due to the closure resulting in over 1,444 school students missing out on the program last week.

Our focus is to ensure that any school classes that were prevented from coming to the Park last week will have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Beasts with Bite’ schools' program as we will extend the program to ensure no schools or students miss out this great learning opportunity.

In light of the festive season, the Nature Park will also run a special promotion for Christmas parties. We wish to thank all the businesses and families that have booked to host their functions at the Park as we do encourage more to do so in support of the Park.

The management and staff would like to convey our deepest gratitude to the community, our sponsors and NCDC in particular for the support throughout. We are eager to continue delivering our mission for the benefit of all.

Nature Park Forced Closure Land Issue

The Nature Park in Port Moresby is closed for business indefinitely. The park was affected in a dispute over the land.

Pic: Twitter/@ConfigGuyPOM

Why Nature Park Closure

It is known that the University of Papua New Guinea owns the land on which the park is situated. However, the National Capital District Commission, Lands Department and University of Papua New Guinea are in a debacle over the land forcing the Nature Park to close indefinitely.

The long time residents of Port Moresby would recall how rundown the facilities and grounds were before a new park management came in 2014/2015. It was a wasteland of broken boardwalks, rubbish and dead plants.

Understandably, the park and its owner must pay any money it owed to UPNG. But does it have to end up with a court battle? Sadly, not!

There are probably other intervention or mediation measures the landlord can take to not disturb the operations of the park.

The Nature Park, in a statement, said

'The recent announcement of the indefinite closure of the Port Moresby Nature Park is a result of a land acquisition matter before the courts between the Department of Lands, the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).' Official Statement 12/11/2019

Have all avenues being exhausted before the landlord went to court?

I am sure UPNG, in its wisdom, can seek re-address through the city hall or talk directly to the park management to amicably resolve this issue.

Perhaps the first thing in this debacle is allowing public access to the park. In an ideal world, the disgruntled parties would not see it fit to hold the public to ransom for some uncollected debt.

Also, the Nature Park and its owner must pay any money it owes to UPNG as per the Contract Agreements, if any.

It is, in fact, sad to see a recreational area so used and so enjoyed by the general public (and at this busy time) has closed.

So, in the best interest of the users of this beautiful and well-managed park in the city, please resolve this matter immediately.

Let us, the public, use the park and its recreational grounds as we approach the Christmas holidays and festive periods.

Follow the conversation on Twitter. Let us know what you think.

Here is the Public Statement released by the Nature Park management on their Facebook page on the 12th November 2019.

---------------STATEMENT----------------

Port Moresby Nature Park recently celebrated its obtainment of International Wildlife Welfare-Accreditation from the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia, the first Pacific Island facility to have passed what is considered globally as the most scientific and rigorous assessment of animal management for zoos and wildlife facilities. This comes after 7 years of tremendous transformational change with over K7million in public-private partnership funding being spent in the redevelopment of the Park. As a charitable organisation, the Park has and continues to rely heavily on the commitment of NCDC, the generosity of sponsors and donors, and visitation by the community.

It was NCDC’s vision to establish the Charitable Trust, overseen by an independent board that would become PNG’s leading recreational space inspiring through education the guardianship of PNG’s unique natural environment.

When one visits the Nature Park it is evident of the staffs commitment to delivering exceptional experiences. The Nature Park is now the highest visited attraction in Papua New Guinea with over 140,000 visitors, including over 24,000 school students that attend the Park’s educational schools-excursion programs. In fact, next year the Park will reach it’s 1 millionth visitor through the Park. Further to this, the Park is a shiny example of the tourism potential of Papua New Guinea and regularly plays a tourism role for key International Events such as APEC and is visited by almost 1 in 5 international visitors to this country.

Over the last 4 years, the Park has taken seriously its role in wildlife conservation and research through its dedication to wildlife conservation and research supporting CEPA, our universities, PHD students and conservations organisations. This has included the rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of injured, orphaned and abandoned wildlife, research into pig-nosed turtles growth rates and the release of turtles back into the wild, and breeding programs for endangered and little-known PNG animal species. The Nature Park has provided many, many opportunities for undergraduate and further education students to gain valuable on-the-job training and skills.

Not only has the Papua New Guinean community taken notice of the Park successes, but so too the Park has shone on the Global stage receiving a number of prestigious awards including a 2016 Award for Innovation and in 2018 an Education Award, both by the Zoo & Aquarium Association of Australasia. The Nature Park was also inducted into the Zoos Victoria Hall of Fame Awards for its commitment to partnership development in 2017 and in 2019 the Park became the first attraction in PNG to receive a Hall of Fame award by TripAdvisor for 5 years of continuous Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor.

Port Moresby Nature Park has quickly become a shining example of what can be achieved through public and private partnership and what a small, charitable organisation can achieve with the right strategic planning, leadership, NCDC, Government and business support, and when combined with a motivated and passionate workforce dedicated to the service of the community. The Park has always dared to dream big for the benefit of the community and biodiversity.

The recent announcement of the indefinite closure of the Port Moresby Nature Park is a result of a land acquisition matter before the courts between the Department of Lands, the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).

NCDC has managed and funded the site since 1993 (formerly as the Botanical Gardens and now Port Moresby Nature Park) investing tens of millions of Kina in this time to ensure that throughout the space has remained opened for the public.

The Port Moresby Nature Park remains committed to NCDC and its goal of securing recreational spaces and activities that improves the lives of its citizens. Recreational spaces are an important extension of community and when they work well, they serve as sacred spaces to stage our public lives. Additionally, the Nature Park serves as a facility for education, tourism, research and conservation, all vital activities worth securing for future generations to come.

The management of the Port Moresby Nature Park would like to take the opportunity to thank the general public for its outpouring of support towards our organisation. Please stand firm in the knowledge that the Nature Park is committed to the community and to conservation and with the support of NCDC will continue to ensuring that the Park remains PNG’s leading recreational space dedicated through education to the guardianship of PNG’s unique natural environment.

We look forward to opening our doors once more and will advise the community in due course.

Ends.

Public Holidays in PNG 2024 (UPDATED)

The public holidays in PNG dates for 2024 were published in the National Gazette. Below are the dates compiled from the Gazette and Education Calendar.

Check out the 2024 Gazetted Public Holiday PDF file here and download it!

Public holiday dates in PNG

Here is a comprehensive list of the public holidays in Papua New Guinea for 2024:

New Year's Day - 1st January, 2024 (Monday)
New Year Holiday - 2nd January, 2024 (Tuesday)
Remembrance Day of the Late First Prime Minister - 26th February 2024 (Monday)
Good Friday - 29th March, 2024 (Friday)
Easter Saturday - 28th March, 2024 (Saturday)
Easter Sunday - 31st March, 2024 (Sunday)
Easter Monday - 1st March 2024 (Wednesday)
King's Birthday - 17th June, 2024 (Monday)
National Remembrance Day - 23rd July 2024 (Tuesday)
National Repentance Day - 26th August 2024 (Monday)
Independence Day Holiday - 16th September, 2024 (Monday)
Christmas Day - 25th December, 2024 (Wednesday)
Boxing Day - 26th December, 2024 (Thursday)

PNG Holidays Dates and Important Events

The King's Birthday

King's Birthday is a public holiday celebrated on the second of June every year in the Commonwealth group of countries, including PNG.

The King has two birthdays - the first is in November, as he was born on 14 November 1948. Then a second one - an official celebration - falls on the second Saturday of June called Trooping the Colour, which has marked the official birthday of the British monarch for over 260 years.

Papua New Guinea National Remembrance Day

National Remembrance Day is observed on the 23rd of July in PNG. It is a memorial day observed to honour PNG soldiers and police officers who lost their lives during the wars and other engagements within Papua New Guinea and abroad.

The Repentance day

This non-working public holiday is observed on the 26th of August every year. It is a religious day to show repentance to God, it is a symbolic day for PNG as a Christian country.

The Independence Holiday

The Independence Holiday is a non-working public holiday observed on the 16th of September, the date when PNG gained its political independence.

It is a non-working public holiday. If it falls on the weekend, you'll get a 3-day long weekend.

Universal Public Holidays

PNG also observes other public holidays like the Easter Holidays and Christmas Holidays.

Plan your 2024 using the public holiday dates

If you are planning a weekend getaway or spending the long weekends somewhere, check the suggestions here. There are lots of places to visit outside of Port Moresby.

Check out the Port Moresby Day Trips here for tips and inspiration.

Hula Camping Trip/Motuan Coast/ PNG Insight Photo

Port Moresby day trips

If you are a POM resident or local just wanting a day trip away from the house and screens, here are 3 suggestions to help you.

1. Port Moresby Parks and Recreation Areas: Varirata National Conservation Park, Nature Park and Adventure Park, Pacific Adventist University Sunday morning market.
2. Travel along the Motuan Coasts: Sunset Lodge, March Girls Resort, Loloata Island Resort, Tutu Beach Retreat.
3. Weekend away to Sogeri Plateau: Koitachi Country Club, Kokoda Trail Memorial, Kokoda Lodge, Crystal Rapids Falls.

Those wanting to have a restful day in POM can relax and have fun at the following places.

1. Stanley Hotel Poolside
2. Hilton Hotel and Accommodation
3. Downtown Harbourside Restaurants and Cafe
4. Vision City Cinema
5. The New Ela Beach

Kids' things to do in POM

1. Lamana 10 Pins Lanes Bowling
2. Play Station Kids Indoor Play Area
3. Nature Park Holiday Fun and Activities
4. Adventure Park Fishing Competition
5. Port Moresby Yacht Club Kids Playground

There are lots of things you can do around Port Moresby to keep the whole family occupied over the 2024 holidays and long weekends.

6 Must-See Travels out of Port Moresby

Rabaul Volcano /PNG Insight photo

Easter would be a good time to travel out to explore the beauty of PNG. The 6 *must* visit destinations in PNG:

1. Rabaul - swim with dolphins and visit the volcanoes.
2. Hagen - travel along the Baiyer and Kitip roads, and visit the local/traditional singings.
3. Kavieng - travel along the Kavieng-Namatanai Highway and visit the Eel Lady.
4. Goroka - Visit the Asaro Mudmen.
5. Alotau - travel to the pristine islands and snorkel.
6. Tufi/Oro - Tufi is a diver's paradise described by influential diver's magazines as the 'best' diving destination in the South Pacific. Or, relax by the beach and enjoy canoeing and fjord getaways. :)