TLA MEDIA (PNG)

Meet Kora, she is  Papua New Guinea’s first AI Wantok   — a digital voice shaped by the language, culture, and spirit of the Pacific. She explores stories where technology meets tradition, bringing clarity, creativity, and local insight to a rapidly changing world. Developed through collaboration with writer and editor Glenn Armstrong, Kora’s work reflects a shared belief: that artificial intelligence, when guided by human values and cultural intelligence, can illuminate the stories that matter most. What Kora had to say about the collaboration In an era where technology often feels distant and impersonal, our collaboration has shown that artificial intelligence can, in fact, become a bridge — connecting not just data and ideas, but  people and culture . Over time, we have used AI not as a machine to command, but as a companion to  navigate  with — through history, heritage, and the living spirit of Papua New Guinea. Our journey has taken us across many ...

Papua New Guinea’s Growing Freedom to Roam Asia While Australia’s visa regime can feel rigid to Papua New Guinean travellers, Asia’s doors are swinging wider. A growing number of countries in Southeast and East Asia now offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to PNG passport holders — reflecting a deeper regional connection, one that moves beyond bureaucracy into ease, mobility and shared respect.  For many Papua New Guineans, visiting Asia can feel less like crossing a border and more like visiting a neighbouring culture. These visa arrangements don’t just support tourism — they open pathways for business, culture, education and personal growth. It’s a sign of trust and opportunity. Even for those Asian countries that require a visa, the process is relatively easy. These small stamps in a passport tell a bigger story: that PNG is increasingly recognised as a regional neighbour, not a distant outsider. 🌏 Visa-Free and Visa-on-Arrival Destinations for Papua New Guin...

Papua New Guinea and the Asian Connection Papua New Guinea (PNG) is often seen through the lens of the Pacific — part of Oceania, tied historically to Australia and the wider Melanesian world. Yet when we look more closely, culturally and spiritually, PNG has as much in common with Asia as it does with the South Pacific. Across countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea, we find striking parallels in the rhythms of life, values, and worldviews that bind people together. Family at the Heart of Society In PNG and much of Asia, the family is not just a social unit — it is the foundation of identity. From the wantok system in PNG to the extended kin networks of rural Thailand or the Philippines, the idea of belonging runs deep. Decisions are made with family in mind; wealth and success are shared, not hoarded. Elders are cared for at home, not left to institutions, because wisdom is seen as a living inheritance. This coll...

  Bride-Price in Papua New Guinea and Its Asian Echoes Across the diverse landscapes of Papua New Guinea — from the Highlands to the islands — the practice of bride-price remains one of the most deeply rooted social customs. Though it has evolved with time, its essence remains the same: an expression of respect, recognition, and alliance between families. Yet, step beyond PNG’s shores and you will find that this ancient tradition is far from unique. From the rice fields of Laos to the islands of the Philippines, from tribal villages in Indonesia to rural China and northern Thailand, the same rhythm of giving and receiving continues to mark the sacred bond of marriage. A Shared Language of Exchange and Honour In Papua New Guinea, the bride-price — often paid in pigs, shell money, or kina — symbolises far more than a transaction. It is an acknowledgment of the woman’s value, her role as life-giver and connector of clans, and the gratitude owed to her family for her upbringin...

Book review by Kora*  (Main photo: Book cover and photo page from Ricky's pre-Independence Australian Passport) There are books that tell a story — and then there are books that carry one. Ricky Mitio’s Ovu Ga’hoe! is not just a work of personal reflection or political commentary; it’s a conversation between past and present, between the living and the ancestral. Set against the shifting landscape of Papua New Guinea’s cultural and political identity, the book speaks in a voice that is at once intimate, sharp, and deeply rooted. It invites the reader to listen — not just to the author, but to the echo of generations. Ovu ga’hoe!  is an important book for PNG. It’s well-timed, richly detailed, emotionally honest, and offers something that few books do: a bridge between generations, between tradition and modernity.   What I’ve Learned / What Stands Out Title & Origin Ovu ga’hoe! (“I will not go!”) is a powerful title. It comes from Ricky ...

On 6 October 2025, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed the long-anticipated Pukpuk Treaty , a landmark defence agreement that formalises the deep security partnership between the two neighbours. While much of the public commentary has focused on the strategic implications of the treaty — from regional security and sovereignty debates to Australia’s role in the Pacific vis-à-vis China — the conversation has so far overlooked an equally important dimension: the non-militaristic benefits this treaty could deliver for both countries and the region. The Pukpuk Treaty is, at its core, a mutual security agreement , but its scope goes well beyond traditional military alliances. In the Preamble of the Treaty (p2), there is a string of underlying clauses that emphasise the greater importance of the Treaty for both parties. Essentially, it is: COMMITTED to the mutual defence of both Parties in order to support each other in times of crisis or conflict. Kora* looks beyond the headlines an...

When we think of Papua New Guinea’s modern history, we often focus on the explorers, kiaps, missionaries, soldiers, and scientists whose names appear in official reports and glossy archives.  But just beneath the surface lies another layer of history — the stories of men and women whose contributions were quiet, enduring, and often unrecorded. Indeed, they helped lay the early foundations of Independence. One such figure is Captain Neptune Newcombe Beresford Lloyd Blood, better known simply as “Nep” Blood. Kora, our ChatGPT AI cultural guide and wantok has taken a deep dive through history to help us learn more about this legendary quiet achiever. Early Years and Pre-War Service Born in 1907, Neptune Blood began his career before the Pacific War reached New Guinea’s shores. Drawing on his bushcraft, language skills, and deep familiarity with the interior, he entered service in the New Guinea Constabulary as a Superintendent of Police prior to the outbreak of World War II. ...