ABC celebrates Papua New Guinea’s 50 years of independence

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is programming a rich slate of commemorative content across its screen, audio and news channels for Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) 50 years of independence on 16 September.

ABC teams have worked for more than 18 months, to produce the range of content which explores Australia’s colonial legacy in PNG, and PNG’s first 50 years as a unified, independent nation.

Content highlights of the ABC’s coverage in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific include;

• A 60-minute screen and audio documentary Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years, examines the history, spirit and diverse traditions of PNG’s people, deeply connected to their roots and confidently looking to the future. The film was produced by ABC International Services in conjunction with PNG’s National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and supported under the DFAT-funded Media Development Initiative, with ABC Backroads’ Kathy McLeish as Executive Producer and NBC’s Maureen Orea hosting.
• A 60-minute screen documentary PNG: Road to Independence tells the gripping story of the PNG-born leaders who united culturally and linguistically diverse tribes in a peaceful transition from Australian colonial rule to give birth to their new nation. The film is an ABC co-production from WildBear Entertainment, written and directed by PNG-born journalist, filmmaker and former ABCNEWS Director Max Uechtritz.
• An 11-part series of audio and screen mini-documentaries titled Pasin Wantok, produced in collaboration with NBC, explores first-hand PNG’s diverse cultures and traditions, which remain strong in a rapidly modernising nation.
• A 30-minute special edition of ABC Australia’s The Pacific, reflects on 50 years of nationhood — the successes and the challenges — and what’s next for PNG.
• ABC Radio Australia’s flagship daily current affairs program Pacific Beat will broadcast live from PNG’s capital Port Moresby, covering the action all week from Monday 15 to Friday 19 September meanwhile weekday morning program Nesia Daily will also broadcast live from Brisbane’s popular PNG 50th Independence Celebration on Saturday 13 September.
• ABC Pacific’s homepage, Facebook and Instagram are carrying highlights from Pasin Wantok, Voices of Independence, Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years, PNG: Road to Independence as well as a curation of materials from the ABC Archives.
• ABC NEWS’ Port Moresby bureau will deliver in-country independence coverage for ABC NEWS channels alongside dedicated segments for flagship current affairs program, 7.30.
• ABC Education will release an educational “digibook” for Australian and PNG students to learn about the period, featuring key moments from PNG: Road to Independence with accompanying questions.
• 60-minute special edition of ABC Australia’s That Pacific Sports Show, filmed in Port Moresby, with host Sam Wykes and special guest co-hosts Nesia Daily’s Michael Chow and award-winning PNG-based sports journalist Jamie Haro. The episode explores how sport unites the people of PNG and celebrates PNG’s sporting prowess today and into the future.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks said: “The ABC stands with PNG in celebrating its rich history, culture and journey to independence. We are delighted to be offering a broad spectrum of content across our channels, underscoring the historic moment’s importance for Papua New Guinea and Australia.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “We are incredibly proud of the ABC’s commemorative content slate, much of it produced in collaboration with PNG’s public broadcaster, the NBC. It is creative, poignant and most importantly centres the voices of PNG in its storytelling.”

ABC’s PNG’s independence anniversary content and coverage will be available in Australia on ABCTV, ABC NEWS Channel, iview and ABC listen and internationally on ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia and ABC Pacific.

Australian audiences can access PNG 50 Years content here;

ABC TV

• PNG: Road to Independence – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Tuesday 16 September at 21:00 AEST
• Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Wednesday 17 September at 11:00 AEST
• 7.30: Journey to Sovereignty – 1 x package
  Tuesday 16 September at 19:30 AEST

iview

• PNG: Road to Independence – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Tuesday 16 September from 07:00 AEST
• Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Tuesday 16 September from 14:00 AEST
• That Pacific Sports Show: PNG Independence 50th Anniversary – 1 x 60-minute special
  Wednesday 17 September at 18:30 AEST
• The Pacific: PNG Anniversary Special – 1 x 30-minute episode
  Thursday 18 September at 18:30 AEST
• Pasin Wantok – 11 x mini-documentaries
  Sunday 14 September at 12:00 AEST
• Voices of Independence – 10 x short-form episodes
  Sunday 14 September at 12:00 AEST

ABC RADIO NATIONAL

• Late Night Live, Saturday Extra, Sunday Extra and Law Report will carry special coverage of PNG 50 Years of Independence commemorations on ABC RN.
• Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Monday 15 September from 14:00 AEST on History Showcase

ABC NEWS

• 7.30, The World, ABC News Breakfast and ABC NEWS Channel will carry special coverage of PNG’s 50 Years commemorations.

ABC PACIFIC

• For ongoing PNG 50 Years coverage and content, go to ABC Pacific’s homepage, Facebook and Instagram which will carry highlights from Pasin Wantok, Voices of Independence, Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years, PNG: Road to Independence and an ABC-NBC coproduced social media video, as well as material from the ABC Archives.

ABC EDUCATION

• PNG: Road to Independence “digibook” available here from Tuesday 16 September.

International audiences can access PNG 5o Years content here;

ABC AUSTRALIA

• Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Tuesday 16 September at 14:00 AEST and repeated at 20:00 AEST
• PNG: Road to Independence – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Monday 15 September at 14:00 AEST and repeated at 20:00 AEST
• Pasin Wantok – 11 x short-form videos
  From Tuesday 2 September
• Voices of Independence – 10 x short-form videos
  From Thursday 11 September
• That Pacific Sports Show: PNG Independence 50th Anniversary – 1 x 60-minute special
  Wednesday 17 September at 18:30 AEST
• The Pacific: PNG Anniversary Special – 1 x 30-minute episode
  Thursday 18 September at 18:30 AEST

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA

• Nesia Daily – Independence Day Special Live from PNG 50 Years of Independence Festival
  Saturday 13 September at 10:00 AEST
• Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years – 1 x 60-minute documentary
  Tuesday 16 September at 13:00 AEST and repeated at 18:00 AEST
• Pasin Wantok – 11 x 10-minute mini documentaries
  From Monday 1 to Tuesday 16 September, at 7.40am AEST
• Voices of Independence – 2 x 30-minute episodes
  Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 September at 16:00 AEST
• Pacific Beat: PNG Independence Coverage
  Monday 15 September to Friday 19 September from 06:00 AEST

ABC PACIFIC

• For ongoing PNG 50 Years coverage, go to ABC Pacific’s homepage, Facebook and Instagramwhich will carry highlights from Pasin Wantok, Voices of Independence, Wan Kantri: The Next 50 Years, PNG: Road to Independence and an ABC-NBC coproduced social media video, as well as material from the ABC Archives.