The PNG flag is flying high at our Mt Albert campus in acknowledgment of the Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week, which is being celebrated across Aotearoa from 7-13 September 2025.

Kaimahi and ākonga joined with members from the PNG Wantoks of Auckland for a flag raising ceremony in front of B111 on Monday.

The Wantoks are a community group made up of expat Papua New Guineans either studying or working in Tāmaki Makaurau.

They are a driving force behind this year’s PNG Pidgin Language Week bringing together people with connections to PNG living in Auckland and Northland.

The theme is Lukautim, strongim na kirapim tokples na pasin blo tubuna - Preserve, revitalise and promote our language and culture'.

Members of our senior leadership team joined kaimahi from the Pacific Centre and MAIA Marae Team at the flag raising ceremony to support this kaupapa.

Following a karakia blessing by Pae Arahi Hare Paniora, Executive Director, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga spoke of New Zealand’s strong ties with Papua New Guinea and Unitec’s commitment to embracing cultural diversity.

Former Student Council Vice President, Emmanuel Simon gave the keynote address thanking Unitec for its support and the opportunity to celebrate his language and culture.

“Education is not only the key but also the power to unite different races and ethnicities under one roof,” Emmanuel says.

The third-year engineering student is also an active member of the PNG Wantoks and he was instrumental in bringing them to Unitec.

Taharangi / Director – Māori Success, Vivienne Merito is one of several kaimahi who have spent time in PNG. Viv lived in the PNG highlands for nearly three years in her youth.

Award-winning Kiwi filmmaker, Kerry Warkia is a Unitec alumni - born and raised in Papua New Guinea.

Following the flag raising ceremony, our guests were invited back to the Events Kitchen, in Te Puna for lunch hosted by the Pacific Centre.

Before departing, the Wantoks said Tenkyu (Thank you) to Unitec for hosting them.

 

Meet PNG ākonga Emmanuel Simon

Bachelor of Engineering student Emmanuel Simon hails from the Highland region of Chimbu province in Timbu.

He served as the Vice President of the Unitec Student Council in 2024.

Mr Simon arrived at Unitec in 2022 as a Manaaki Scholar, a programme funded by the New Zealand Government to train citizens from developing countries to work in key industries.

Prior to moving to NZ, Emmanuel worked as a Power Plant Operator for PNG Power, the country’s top electricity supplier and as a Communication Technician for Octagon Communications.

He graduated with a National Certificate II, Electrotechnology from Port Moresby Technical College in 2015.

Mr Simon is set to finish his degree next Semester and can’t wait to start using the skills he’s acquired with us to make a difference in his home country.

“I want to go back and help the 75% of Papua New Guineans who live in the villages and rural areas get connected to the energy and electricity grid in our country,” Emmanuel explains.
“Unitec has equipped me with the skills and knowledge so that I can go back and use it to benefit my country. I found Unitec’s practical approach and Industry-related courses has prepared me to face the challenges in my country.”

Mr Simon believes his three years at Unitec have also made him a more complete person.

“One of the values I’ve learned and taken onboard is manaakitanga, the care and the love for the people. This has added value to my life and informs my approach to relationships with others now.”

Studying while raising his family in New Zealand has been challenging but rewarding.

“I came here with my daughter and my partner and then, well, God blessed us with another child here and we named him Zelen after New Zealand.”

Mr Simon says he’s proud of being a Papua New Guinean because despite being such a diverse nation of different cultures, languages and traditions, the people are strong and unified.

“I think one thing that unites us is the spirit of resilience that holds us together since our forefathers got our independence in 1975, and that is still alive and active today.”

Qucik facts about PNG

• There are 1,290 Papua New Guineans living in New Zealand (Stats NZ, 2023).
• The Independent State of Papua New Guinea comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, located north of Australia.
• Papua New Guinea became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1975 after previously being administered by Australia.
• PNG’s total population is estimated at 10.7 million (July 2025).
• PNG is known for its highly mountainous geography which makes collecting reliable census data difficult.
• The population is highly rural, with only 14% living in urban centres (in 2023).
• There are 840 known spoken languages, making it the most linguistically diverse country in the world. English and Tok Pisin (pidgin) serve as common languages.
• Christianity of various denominations is the most popular religion.
• Papua New Guinea is a developing economy where nearly 40% of the population are subsistence farmers living relatively independently of the cash economy.
• In March 2025 in Wellington, NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signed a partnership agreement with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, marking 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries. This agreement focused on bilateral cooperation in education, trade, security, agriculture and fisheries.
• Trade between both NZ and PNG totaled NZ$257 million dollars.
• NZ's main exports to Papua New Guinea include: electrical machinery and equipment, meat products, dairy produce and animal products.
• Papua New Guinea's main exports to NZ include: petroleum oils, coffee, and plywood or veneered panels.
• Papua New Guinea is NZ's second largest goods export market in the Pacific (after Fiji).