Mark Nizette - Kokoda Trail Ringmaster?

The former DFAT Strategic Advisor for the Kokoda Initiative, Mark Nizette MBE, appears to be the chief ringmaster in having the Kokoda Trail managed as an ‘environment park’ for the long-term benefit of foreign aid-funded officials rather than as a commercial tourism enterprise for the economic benefit of traditional landowner communities.

Since his appointment as ‘Strategic Manager’ for the DFAT-Kokoda Initiative in 2011 Nizette has crafted a powerful ‘web of influence’ due to his fluency in Tok Pisin; the status of his authority as a Strategic Advisor to the DFAT Kokoda Initiative, the Australian High Commission, and the PNG Minister for Conservation, Environment and Climate Change; and his appointment as Secretary to a Ministerial Kokoda Initiative Committee (KIC) which usurped the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) Board of Directors.

He also took control of the KTA Office by working with the Australian High Commision to orchestrate the removal of former CEO, James Engage, and relocating himself back into the office which Enage had previously banned him from four years earlier. Enage was a ‘captain’s pick’ for the job by former Australian CEO Rod Hillman in 2009. He was patronised with trips to Australian and put up on a pedestal. However, he eventually ‘went rogue’ when he realised he was being used after DFAT Kokoda Initiative consultants ignored him and the landowners he represented in the drafting of their ‘Kokoda Initiative Master Plan’.

It then became obvious that neither the Australian High Commission nor Mark Nizette were going to risk employing anybody likely to question their agenda again after they facilitated Enage’s departure as CEO.

Nizette Strategy for the engagement of a PNG Proxy as KTA CEO

Nizette’s strategy to engage a compliant PNG proxy who would unwittingly support his agenda to have responsibility for the Kokoda Trail transferred from ‘tourism’ to ‘environment’ is exposed in the following timeline:

18 Sep 2017:
Email to Oro Governor Gary Juffa from Charlie Lynn forewarning him of plans to replace James Enage as CEO of the KTA – Lynn warned him that Enage has been set up to fail by the former Australian CEO who did not introduce any management systems to support him.

Nov 2017:
In a chance meeting at Boroko Foodworld Mark Nizette ‘sounded out’ Andy Abel ML to see if he would be interested in assisting to manage the KTA.

11 Nov 2017:
Email to Mark Nizette from Charlie Lynn advising him to catchup with Andy Abel ML to discuss options for managing Kokoda tourism due to his with surf tourism over a 30-year period.

4 Apr 2018:

Nizete assists in orchestrates a KTA Board Meeting to seek a resignation from KTA CEO, James Enage – soon after he relocates himself back into the KTA office after having been banned from it by Enage over the previous four years.

KTA Board disbands – power vacuum replaced by CEPAs ‘Kokoda Initiative Committee’ with Mark Nizette as Secretary.

Nizette now has his hands on all the levers associated with the Kokoda Trail given:

his position as ‘Strategic Advisor’ for the DFAT-Kokoda Initiative and his influence over the distribution of aid-funded projects;
Secretary to Minister John Pundari’s ‘Kokoda Initiative Committee’ in CEPA; and
as the unofficial CEO of the KTA because there was nobody else in the office with management qualifications or experience.

15 Apr 2018
Nizette advised that Glenn Armstrong, former Manager of Post Courier, EMTV, and Marketing Manager of Air Niugini would be interested in the applying for vacant CEO position.

20 Apr 2018:
James Enage resignation accepted – Minister Pundari instructs that ‘a permanent replacement be recruited following the KTA Review‘ which had been ordered by Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.

27 Apr 2018:
Email to Mark Nizette from Charlie Lynn:

Can you please advise if a suitably qualified interim CEO will be appointed during the KTA review process or whether we will have to continue to operate according to the ‘laws of the jungle’!

In a separate email Lynn advised Nizette that Glenn Armstrong had not yet been contacted for an interview.

4 Jul 2018:
KTA Review report published.

6 Aug 2018:
Glenn Armstrong confirms his interest of applying for the role of CEO KTA by email to Mark Nizette.

30 Oct 2018:
Australia High Commission announces surprise appointment of Julius Wargirai as ‘interim CEO’ of KTA – Wargirai, a career bureaucrat, had no previous qualifications in commercial business management, marketing, pilgrimage, tourism or trekking and no cultural ties to Koiari or Orokaiva landowner communities.

Glenn Armstrong, with a proven success record in executive management in PNG over a long period, and who was available to commence work immediately, was never contacted for an interview.

It was concluded that Nizette would not employ either Glenn Armstrong or Andy Abel ML because he was aware he would not be able to influence either one towards his socio-environment agenda at the expense of pilgrimage tourism across the Trail.

27 May 2019:
National Executive Council (NEC Decision 123/2019 of 27 May 2019) endorsed the appointment of Julius Wargirai to:

‘oversee the transition to the new Kokoda Track Management Authority, and the development of the Kokoda Track Tourism Master Plan’.

The NEC Decision also advised that:

‘the acting Chief Executive Officer of KTA will report to the Minister for Inter-Government Relations, pending the establishment of the proposed legislation, and the abolishment of the existing Proclamations’.

The NEC submission could not have been made by the KTA Board because it had not met since October 2018 – it would not therefore have been endorsed by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The Minister for Inter-Government Relations does not have the expertise within his department to ‘transition to the new Kokoda Track Management Authority’ or develop a ‘Kokoda Track Master Plan’ as directed by NEC.

It is therefore assumed the NEC submission was made by, or on behalf of, the Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change who Mark Nizette worked directly for as his ‘Strategic Management Advisor’ within CEPA.

1 April 2021:

Mark Nizette advises Governor Gary Juffa by email that he is working on a a Bill from Canberra (during the Covid pandemic) to establish a ‘Kokoda Track Management Authority’ which would formally transfer responsibility for the Kokoda Trail from TPA-DPLLGA to CEPA; exclude landowners from the Board, and have the Kokoda Trail permanently managed as an environment park rather than as a tourism enterprise. An analysis of the proposed Bill which he prepared in secret and without consultation can be read on this link:

• Environment Bill for Kokoda-A Suicide Note for Pilgrimage Tourism

About Julius Wargirai

Julius Wargirai was employed as ‘Acting CEO’ of the PNG Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) in a process orchestrated by DFAT PNG – it was a process that would not escape the attention of watchdog agencies in Australia – but this is PNG where governance standards are more lax – and they know it!

His engagement as ‘interim CEO’ prevented more qualified, but independently minded executives, from being engaged to manage the Kokoda Trail for PNGs economic benefit.

Wargarai, an amiable career bureaucrat had no previous qualifications or experience in commercial business management, pilgrimage, tourism, or trekking. He was engaged in an ‘interim capacity’.

Nizette conveniently ignored the direction of Minister Pundari to ensure a ‘permanent replacement would be recruited following the review into the KTA’. Wargirai is now in his 7th year as ‘Acting CEO’. His appointment has been deemed to be ‘invalid’ by the State Solicitor and is in breach of the Public Service Management Act. This indicates the DFAT Kokoda Initiative is either immune from PNG law – or treats it with contempt!

The year after Wargirai’s ‘interim‘ engagement his responsibilities were covertly re-directed from managing the KTA to supporting a DFAT strategy to have responsibility for the Kokoda Trail transferred from tourism to environment.

Wargirai had no option but to support DFATs strategy because he is now an economic hostage to their agenda.

His management shortcomings culminated in an illegal blockade which shut down trekking; cost subsistence landowner communities millions of Kina in lost income; and jeopardised PNGs international reputation as a reliable tourism destination.

It’s easy to conclude that Wargirai has been engaged as a scapegoat by DFAT as cover for their subversive strategy to have the Kokoda Trail managed as an environment park for the aid-funded career benefit of foreign officials rather than as a tourism enterprise for the economic benefit of traditional landowner communities.

Julius Wargirai has been an unwitting victim of this ploy as his rambling speech, reported on NBC news at Owers Corner on February 4 demonstrates: – Kokoda Tracl’s potential not fully utilized – NBC News PNG

Following is an extract of his speech by Julius Wargiral announcing a DFAT ‘Kokoda Sanitation Project’ with a response to each point:

‘The potential of developing various tourism products along the Kokoda Track still remains . . .

There is only one tourism product across the Kokoda Trail – and that relates to the military heritage of the Kokoda campaign!

‘Currently, many tourists know that Kokoda track (sic) alone is the national flagship tourism product as it has World War II significance . . .

After six (6) hears in the job one would have thought he would have learned that the official name gazetted by his PNG Government is ‘Kokoda Trail’, and the name of the Battle Honour awarded to the Papuan Infantry Battalion is “Kokoda Trail’ – he should be prepared to stand up to his white mastas in the DFAT-Kokoda Initiative and respect PNG sovereign right to name their own geographic features in prefernce to using their politically correct term ‘Kokoda Track’.

‘The Chief Executive Officer of Kokoda Track Authority [KTA], Julius Wargirai, said that apart from trekking, they are possible tourism products that can be developed for tour explore while trekking . . .

If he did his job and managed the Kokoda Trail as a tourism enterprise his local village communities could earn an extra K2 million per year in additional income. All he has to do is read this link:
A Blueprint for pilgrimage tourism across the Kokoda Trail

“We still have to develop more products. At the moment, we only have the track, which is only one product . . .

He only has one job! Manage the Kokoda Trail as a tourism enterprise and his villagers will earn up to K2 million PER YEAR!

“There are other products like bird watching, scenery, fishing, and rafting.These are the products we did not explore, and it all comes back to all our stakeholders working together to utilize the trek . . .

Trekkers can already see birds, they don’t have time to fish, and if they ever find themselves ‘rafting’ they’re in big trouble!

“If we can develop these products, I’m sure people from countries will flood in a generate revenue for the country,” Mr. Wargirai said . . .

The market for pilgrimage tourism across the Kokoda Trail is Australia, as attested by the 65,000 who have trekked it over the past 20 years It is not known what part of this fact the Acting CEO doesn’t get!

He might be better informed if he read this paper I submitted to him FIVE (5) years ago – it was no surprise that we never received an response: Marketing Strategy for Kokoda Pilgrimage Tourism

‘He added that in policy aspects, the KTA management, Tourism Promotion Authority, and Australian Government funded project-Kokoda Track Initiative can develop proper policy guide to fully utilize the track . . .

These agencies have been in charge of the Kokoda Trail for 15 years since Australia signed a Joint Agreement with PNG, in 2009 – so one is entitled to ask ‘WTF have they all been doing‘ since then?

“We need to work together and develop a master plan for Kokoda. This can only be achieved through collaborative effort from all stakeholders,” he added . . .

Six years in the job and he doesn’t know It’s already been done!

The DFAT Kokoda initiative published a Master Plan almost 10 years ago, in 2015 – it can be viewed on this link: Kokoda Initiative Master Plan.

In addition to this the following reviews to DFAT funded reports have been gathering dust on his shelves since he was employed in an Acting capacity in November 2018 – he would be far better informed if he had at least glanced at them:

2005: Review of the Kokoda Track Authority
2014: Response to the Mid-Term Review of the Kokoda Initiative 2nd Joint Understanding|
2014: Review of the Oxford Policy Management Kokoda initiative Mid-Term Review of the 2nd Joint Understanding
2015: Review of the Kokoda Initiative Master Plan
2018: Response tto the 2018 KTA Review of the KTA by Tourism Recreation Conservation Consultants
2020: Review of the Oxford Policy Management Kokoda initiative 2017-2020 Review

It beggars beliefe that tha Acting CEO, who is now in his 7th year in the job, is obviously not aware of any of these reports and reviews!

‘He highlighted the recent signing of the Kokoda Sanitation Project on Monday [yesterday] as the first step towards fully utilizing the track . . .

The ‘Kokoda Track Sanitation Report’ does absolutely nothing to put bums on seats!

‘The TPA CEO Eric Mossman acknowledged that Kokoda Track brings a lot of revenue into the country, and TPA is looking forward to working with the stakeholders to ensure specific areas if improvement will be addressed as time goes by . . .

Pilgrimage tourism brings a ‘lot of revenue‘ into PNG in spite of the TPA – not because of them!

‘Meanwhile, the owners of 95 campsites along the track have regrouped themselves and formed two associations in 2018, and they are ready to work with partners to make the track want-to-go tourism destination for all.’

According to Ecosustainablity Consultants a campsite is defined as ‘an area for camping, porters hut, dining hut, rubbish pit and toilets at minimum’.

In the interests of transparency and good governance Julius Wargirai should provide the locations of each of the 95 campsites; the name of the onwer of each site; the IPA registration details of the two ‘campsite associations; and the details of the members of each one.

Kokoda Track Foundation Strategic Plan for the Kokoda Trail

Julius Wargari is obviously unaware that a strategy for the development of pilgrimage tourism was developed over a 3-year period between 2003-2006 by the Kokoda Track Foundation and presented to his Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare MP at the Airways Hotel on 30 June 2006 – 12 years before he was appointed as Acting CEO to the KTA. As part of the process of developing the strategy the Foundation also developed a template for the conduct of village-based workshops:

Ecosustainablity Consultant Reports

Thirteen (13) years ago, in 2012, Ecosustainability Consultants were contracted by the DFAT Kokoda Initiative to do a ‘campsite survey’ across the Kokoda Trail. They reported:

‘There are at least 87 campsites and guesthouses along the Kokoda Track. Based on estimated there are about 900 “beds” in trekker huts and guesthouses and about 1100 “beds” as tent spaces in campsites . . . the trekking season is nine months; there are 540,000 available bed nights, with a demand for 40,000 bed nights; and the occupancy rate overall is about 7 percent.’

In June 2012, the Kokoda Track Authority reported: ‘A total of 57 guesthouse owners participated in gursthouse certification training’ – there are no other reports of the other 30 unknown campsites participating. There is certainly no evidence of any futher action being taken on this issue over the intervening 12 years since then.

According to KTA records there were 3,597 trekkers in 2012 but this fell to 3,308 in 2023 – however, according to the CEOs of the KTA and TPA, the number of campsites has increased from 87 to 95 which further increases the level of supply over demand!

Any management system that allows campsite numbers to increase while trekker numbers decrease will lead to the creation of false expectations by traditional landowners which, in turn, increases their frustration with deskbound bureaucrats linked to their computer screens in distant offices.

“Overuse and overcrowding of campsites remains as a concern with several of the larger trekking companies relying on using a small number of pre-determined campsites.”

The location and frequency of use of some campsites along the Kokoda Track raises the question as to how sustainable some of these actually are.

‘Some campsites either have a very small number of trekkers using them in any given trekking season which others have had no trekkers stay for the entire length of the 2012 trekking season and may indeed have no paying guests in 2013 either. As the majority of trekking companies and tour operators have their preferential campsites it may be the case that some of these other less frequented properties are just simply not a sustainable business prospect. The certification committee may be able to look at this issue and consider any recommendations they can make or to even consider a KTA policy on location and use of particular sites.”

The CEOs of both the KTA and TPA seem to be blissfully unaware of the following ‘Kokoda Track Guesthouse Audit Report’ published in 2013 which reflects poorly on them both:

I appreciate that neither CEO nor any of their key staff have ever trekked across the Kokoda Trail to better understand the situation however there is no doubt that the campsite management situation has deteriorated further since the Ecosustainablily Consultants reports which have been gathering dusts on their shelves for more than a decade. It follows that if they proceed with their plan to build two toilets at each of 95 unknown locations across the Trail as reported many will never be used because tour companies no longer camp at many of these places which are now derelict.

If they had bothered to consult with tour companies before dressing up for their photo-shoot at Owers Corner on February 6 they would have been made aware of the reality of campsite usage across the Trail – a far more reliable source than shared ‘thought-bubbles’ on computer screens!

Nobody builds toilets before they build houses or hotels – the same should apply to campsites along PNGs most popular tourism destination!

Their first priority should therefore be the development of a campsite plan which includes provision for kitchens, dining huts, drying huts, and toilets for both trekkers and their PNG support crews at the major locations used by tour companies – they should be able to provide this data from their trek permit records.

Last week’s announcement smacks of a continuing neo-colonial approach to aid-funded projects across their most popular tourism destination becuase it is being driven by the Australian environment officials embedded in the DFAT-Kokoda Initiative within the offices of the Conservation Environment Promotion Authoritry (CEPA).

The 50^th anniversary of Independence offers a timely opportunity for them to break the shackles from their Kokoda Initiative ‘white mastas’ contracted by the United States global conglomorate, Abt Global, and reclaim ownership of their Kokoda Trail for PNG; acknowledge its potential as a world class pilgrimage tourism destination; and its ability to provide a sustainable economic future for their traditional landowner communities – a good start would be to advise the aid-funded Kokoda Initiative to flush their thought-bubble regarding toilets and to assist the KTA to develop a plan to meet the needs of their paying customers to enhance the income earning opportunities for traditional landowner communities.