Adventure Kokoda Blog

A post by Robyn Kruk, Secretary of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts:

Dear Charlie,

As a trekker who walked the Kokoda Track with you in 2007, and now as the Head of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts I would like to respond to the concerns you have recently raised publicly in relation to Australia’s efforts to assist PNG to protect the Kokoda Track. I note that some of these points have already been outlined in other correspondence to you from this department. (more…)

Scope

The Kokoda Trail Social Mapping Study will be seek to identify all clans between Owers Corner and Kokoda and the relationships between the varios clans. The study will also seek to identify landowners of each battlesite, significant feature, campsite, creek crossing, swamp area, lookout, waterfall, hunting track and mountain range.

The results of the study will be provided at no cost to the Australian Government. It will be conducted by trek operators with up to 18 years experience on the Kokoda Trail.  A number of the trek leaders involved in the study have lived in PNG for long periods, are fluent in Tok Pisin, have a deep appreciation of the military significance of the Kokoda campaign and are familiar with the Kokoda Trail and the Koiari and Orokaiva villagers who live along it. 

Paid consultants not familiar with the Kokoda Trail, Melanesian culture and language or military history will not be involved in this study.