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.
Abstract
Since his appointment as ‘Strategic Manager’ for the DFAT-Kokoda Initiative in 2011 Mark Nizette has crafted a powerful ‘web of influence’ due to his fluency in Tok Pisin; the status of his authority as a ‘Strategic Management 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 PNG Ministerial Kokoda Initiative Committee (KIC) which usurped the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) Board of Directors.
Background
Mark Nizette MBE was a former Assistant Secretary for International Heritage at the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPC) in Canberra – he was assigned as a ‘Management Advisor’ to the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation in August 2011 and embedded within the Conservation Environment Protection Authority (CEPA).
Nizette was well suited for his role as an environment bureaucrat. He was born in Lae and is fluent in Tok Pisin. He had previously studied pre-history and anthropology at the Australian National University – his Linkedin profile indicates he was a candidate for a Doctorate in this area. His local knowledge and language skills seem to have placed him in a position of considerable influence with his superiors and associates in PNG and Canberra.
At the time of his assignment DFAT operated a ‘Kokoda Development Program’ from the offices of the Australian High Commission while DSEWPC funded the ‘Kokoda Initiative’ within CEPA. It is a matter of record that the two Australian funded programs were not in sync which created confusion and duplication amongst those they were supposed to serve.
Soon after Nizette was embedded in CEPA the Hon John Pundari MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation, assumed control of all things to do with Kokoda by establishing a ‘Kokoda Initiative Ministerial Committee’ (KIMC). His Secretariat was based in CEPA and Nizette’s title was upgraded to ‘Strategic Management Advisor’.
Minister Pundari’s political influence in the O’Neill Government effectively meant that responsibility for Kokoda tourism was informally transferred from the PNG Kokoda Track (Special Purpose) Authority (KTA), which is responsible to the Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government, to CEPA.
The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture was sidelined despite the fact he is responsible for any policy associated with the Kokoda Trail which has emerged as PNGs most popular tourism destination. He was relegated to a position on Minister Pundari’s Kokoda Initiative Committee (KIC).
Mark Nizette – Minister John Pundari MP
Pundari himself, was a busy man. In addition to overseeing the six Acts of Parliament relating to the environment he was also responsible for a new Climate Change and Development Authority established in 2015. This position involved extensive overseas travel since then as it is ‘PNG’s Designated National Authority (DNA) for the purposes of the Paris Agreement and any such other or subsequent arrangements or agreements made under the Paris Agreement’.
Pundari is also a successful business entrepreneur – according to PNG Investigations he either owned or jointly owned 25 companies.
It is not known if Mark Nizette saw any conflict in the fact his Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change also owned a security company which employed almost 2,000 people and provided security for the Malaysian logging giant, Rimbunan Hijau.
Mark Nizeete’s relationship with his Minister and his modus operandi can be viewed on this link:
Mark Nizette – James Enage, Kokoda Track Authority CEO
James Enage was a ‘captain’s pick’ as ‘CEO designate’ by former Australian CEO Rod Hillman in 2009 as part of the requirement for him to obtain a valid Work Permit in PNG.
It was an appointment of convenience for Hillman as Enage was not qualified for the job – he had no experience or qualifications in business management, tourism or military heritage. He was patronised with trips to Australia and put on a pedestal, however, he eventually ‘went rogue‘ when he realised it was a token appointment after DFAT Kokoda Initiative consultants ignored him and the landowners he represented in the drafting of their ‘Kokoda Initiative Master Plan’.
In 2014 Enage was summoned to a meeting with the Australian High Commissioner, Deborah Stokes, over a management/accounting discrepancy. Stokes had been appointed by the new Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, as part of her gender equality strategy in DFAT. Unfortunately, Stokes knew little about the Melanesian Way which eventually led to her premature reassignment back to Australia after just two years in the job – reportedly at the request of Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.
Mark Nizette was present at the meeting where Ms Stokes gave Enage a dressing down. This is the most humiliating experience a PNG man can have under their patriarchal system. Enage expected Nizette to defend him but he remained silent.
It is assumed Nizette may have facilitated this meeting to enhance his authority over Enage as Ms. Stokes would have had other more pressing priorities to deal with.
Whatever the reason, it backfired! Enage then declared Nizette person non-grata in his KTA office. He later leaked the DFAT Kokoda Initiative Master Plan to demonstrate what he had to endure as CEO.
He advised that neither he nor landowners across the Trail had not been consulted in their villages and did not accept the findings in the review.
Enage was correct in this regard – all the meetings for the Kokoda Initiative Master Plan had been conducted in Port Moresby and could therefore only be regarded as ‘desk-top studies’, but that was all Nizette needed to justify his expanding web of influence.
On 13 December 2016 James Enage sent the following email to the CEO of Conservation Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), Mr Gunther Joku, via his secretary, regarding his concerns with the accuracy of a meeting of a Kokoda Initiative Ministerial Commitee Technical Working Groups Meeting on 20 July 2016:
‘Hi Agnes,
‘Thank you for sending us the meeting minutes.
‘Also , I would like to thank everyone who have attended the meeting that generated this meeting minutes which Agnes has circulated to us all. That meeting was a great meeting.
‘However, I would like to state that point number 2 of the meeting minutes is not true, incorrect and should be corrected. Hence, I stopped at point 2 and did not read the rest of the minutes simply because I do not accepted the meeting minutes.. To be exactly correct , it should be stated, something like this:
“ Gunther Joku said that Kokoda Initiatives operates under three (3) Pillars which is Track Management , People and Environment. Due to the fact that there is limited funding , and with K1.5 Million Kokoda Initiative PIP Funding available for future use, Gunther said the KI team will prioritise on how to use these available KI PIP funds. To move forward , Gunther said he makes the decision to give priority and all the available KI funding to Track Management and Livelihoods and he will be sourcing out funding for KI Environment Programs within the CEPA and other available avenues. He further stated that because of the Kokoda Track 75ᵗʰ Anniversary, all the available PIP Funding should instead be given to Track Management”.
‘For everyone that attend this meeting, you will agree with what I am saying above. The question is, what is my point.
‘Well my point is that section of the meeting minutes are incorrect and whoever that wrote the meeting minutes has decided to disregard correct statements of the meeting minutes and applied their incorrect views about the meeting minutes , thus, accommodating their personnel views which do not reflect the correct records of the meeting minutes.
‘The above is a clear example of what has transpired over the years in terms of KI Reports which has come out and has reflected major negative perception issues on KTA as an organisation by someone in CEPA who cleverly manipulates words to try to influence the Consultation Report outcomes, portraying negative views about KTA within the Kokoda Initiative Program.
‘I say CEPA simply because KI Consultation Reports and Meetings Minutes are generated out of CEPA.
‘KTA has suffered a perception issues in the past and at present times because this continued attitude is not corrected within CEPA. Classical examples are the outcomes of Kokoda Initiative Mid Term Review Report of 2014 and Kokoda Initiative Draft Master Plan which definitely did not correctly reflect what was communicated by KTA Management to consultants who were involved in writing up of these documents. To this date, KTA Management do not accept what is written in KI draft Master Plan, because what is written there do not reflect the true essence of KTA status and aspirations communicated to the KI engaged consultants involved in developing the KI Master Plan.
‘Gunther, the above attitude in distorting words and not reflecting the true words used in consultation and KI takeholders meeting especially on matters relating to KTA and Track Management and Livelihoods of the Kokoda Track people is definitely hurting our relationship because the correct words and un true statements just continues to misrepresents the truth and disappoints me.
Pease whoever in CEPA, that is distorting words from meeting Minutes and Consultation reports better stop this attitude to give true records of meetings minutes and consultation reports.
‘Otherwise, Gunther, please just remove whoever that is doing this and relocate them to other sections of CEPA to protect our working relationship.
‘Please correct the meetings minutes section referred to by me for me to progress with the reading of it.For future KI meetings, I recommend that 2 or 3 minute takers be appointed for KI Meeting Minutes taking purpose to eventually compare notes and arrive with the final outcome of correct meeting minutes records. Also use Dictaphones to assist with keeping verbal records of the meeting minutes
in future to refer to them when writing meeting minutes.‘
The Secretary of the meeting Enage was referring to was Mark Nizette!
Dubious engagement of Australia’s National Military Heritage for PNG
The DFAT recruiting process, which led to the employment of an American anthropologist without any military heritage credentials, as Australia’s ‘National Military Heritage Advisor’ in PNG raises serious questions regarding proper governance.
This is because the tender was kept secret from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Department of Defence, the Australian War Memorial (AWM), and accredited Australian military historians with expert knowledge of the Kokoda campaign.
According to Mr Tom Battams, Third Secretary (Kokoda) at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby:
‘The position was advertised on the Abt Associates (Australia) website and LinkedIn page from Abt Associates which is the Australian Government’s lead contractor engaged in the delivery of KI. The advertisement was shared proactively with universities, the Army Museum of WA[ii], Darwin Military Museum[iii], Army Museum of NSW[iv], Army Museum of South Australia[v], and through local and international networks by NMAG, KTA, CEPA and Kokoda Initiative staff.’
One would assume the role of an overseas High Commission is to refer agencies to appropriate government departments for action. In this case it would have been Defence, Veterans Affairs and the Australian War Memorial which is the custodian of Australia’s military heritage.
The statement by Mr Battams is indicative of a carefully crafted strategy to bypass these three agencies!
The PNG National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) is responsible to the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture. It is a cultural museum which has no expertise in military heritage. It has been subject to allegations of corruption in recent years. The former CEO, Dr Andrew Moutu, is an anthropologist.
Neither the KTA nor CEPA have any expertise in military heritage.
Mark Nizette MBE was assigned to the Kokoda Initiative as a ‘Strategict Advisor’ in 2011 – his position was later upgraded to ‘Strategic Management Advisor’. Nizette was aware that many treks across the Trail were led by Australian military historians who were expert in the Kokoda campaign. He was born in Lae, is fluent in Tok Pisin, and had previously studied pre-history and anthropology at the Australian National University. His LinkedIn profile indicates he is a candidate for a Doctorate in this area. He is a close associate of Dr Moutu and Dr. Connolly.
Mr Battams also advised:
‘The Australian Government is strongly encouraging NMAG to quickly establish an advisory body of military heritage experts and tour operators to ensure the views and interests of operators are reflected in the final Military Heritage Strategy. We urge trekking operators to contribute constructively to this body to give it every chance to succeed.’
This statement is misleading.
The Abt document was dated 15 July 2016, however the advertisement for the position was inexplicably delayed until the peak of the Christmas holiday season between 19 December 2016 to 8 January 2017!
The military museums mentioned were closed during this period and none of the Kokoda tour operators listed on the KTA website were advised of the position.
The successful candidate was an American anthropologist, Dr Andrew Connelly, whose thesis for his master’s degree in Anthropology was ‘Counting Coconuts: Patrol Reports from the Trobriand Islands. Part 1: 1907-1934’.
His thesis for his doctorate was,‘Amvivalent Empire” Indigenous and Colonial Historicities in the Trobriand Islands, 1832-1941’.
Dr Connelly, who does not have any qualifications relating to military heritage[vi], is an associate of Dr Andrew Moutu and Mark Nizette.
Former Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tracey would certainly have applied for the position if he had been notified of it.
Colonel Tracey is without peer as a military historian of the Kokoda campaign. He was a Sword of Honour recipient from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He served with the PNG Defence Force during his army career and is fluent in Tok Pisin. He first trekked across the Trail 40 years ago and many times since then. He is the author of the official history of the 2nd Australian Infantry Division and was previously invited to address an international conference on the Kokoda campaign at the Australian War Memorial. He is Australia’s foremost historical expert on the Kokoda campaign.
Mark Nizette MBE was fully aware of his credentials but did not take any action to advise him of the position.
The process involving the engagement of an American anthropologist as Australia’s National Military Heritage Advisor in PNG should be the subject of a formal investigation to allay any concerns of possible collusion or breaches of good governance.
The Terms of Reference should include:
- Who established the need for a National Military Heritage Advisor for PNG?
- What was the justification for the proposal?
- Why did the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby strongly encourage NMAG ‘to quickly establish an advisory body of military heritage experts and tour operators to ensure the views and interests of operators are reflected in the final Military Heritage Strategy’?
- Why were the advertisements for the position delayed from the time it was first proposed by Abt Associates on 15 July 2016 until the peak holiday period almost six months later in 2016-17?
- Why were DVA, AWM, and the ADF excluded from the list of tenders?
- Why was Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tracey not invited to apply for the position given that he was known to the DFAT Strategic Management Advisor, Mark Nizette, and is an acknowledged military expert on the Kokoda campaign because of his 40 years’ experience on the trail; his previous assignment with the PNG Defence Force; and his fluency in Tok Pisin?
- Why was the tender kept secret from former army officers who had been leading treks across the Kokoda Trail over the previous 24 years?
DFAT Fraud declined by request to investigate the issue in 2022 – it is unlikely such a process would escape the attention of corruption watchdogs in Australia.
Nizette Strategy for the engagement of a PNG Proxy as KTA CEO
In 2018 Mark Nizette worked with Australian High Commision staff to orchestrate the transfer of James Engage from the KTA to another Government agency.
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 revealed in the following timeline:
8 April 2018: Email from Charlie Lynn to Mark Nizette re KTA Update
‘Thank you for your advice regarding James’s resignation as CEO of the KTA.
‘I feel a sense of sorrow for James because he was always going to be the ultimate scapegoat from the Rod Hillman era of mismanagement.
‘James inherited a dysfunctional organizational structure without a single management protocol put in place by Hillman. He was not qualified for the job and did not receive any training to prepare for the role. He would have been wellsuited to begin the process of setting up Incorporated Landowner Groups and facilitating workshops along the trail to identify community needs – hopefully the need for this role will be identified as part of the KTA Review.‘
15 Apr 2018
Charlie Lynn advised Mark Nizette by email that Glenn Armstrong, former Manager of Post Courier, EMTV, and Marketing Manager of Air Niugini was both interested and available for the vacant CEO position – a copy of Armstrong’s impressive CV was attached to the email.
17 April 2018: Email from Australian High Commission re KTA review and management
On 11 April, the Australian High Commission attended a meeting of the Kokoda Initiative Committee, which is the governing body for the Kokoda Initiative (KI) partnership in PNG. The meeting was chaired by Environment Minister Pundari in his capacity as lead minister for the KI. It was also attended by Governor Agarobe from Central Province, Member for Kairuku-Hiri Peter Isoaimo and Member for Sohe Henry Amuli, as well as senior bureaucrats, advisors, officials and landowners.
James Enage was also present.You will recall that the KTA Board had met on 4 April and accepted James Enage’s resignation as CEO. One of the purposes of the KIC meeting was for the PNG Government to affirm publicly, and in view of all the assembled stakeholders, that James Enage had in fact resigned from the position of CEO, and to thank him for his service and discuss an appropriate severance package for him. The latter issue was delegated to the KTA Board to consider, under the interim chairmanship of Tourism Promotion Authority CEO Jerry Agus. Agus was appointed interim KTA chair at the 4 April board meeting, and his appointment was also affirmed at the KIC meeting before the assembled delegates.
Minister Pundari urged the KTA Board to move quickly to appoint a temporary CEO to replace Enage, and suggested that a senior PNG official might be a suitable candidate. A permanent replacement would be recruited following the review into the KTA. The review, which is being led by the PNG Government, is proceeding according to schedule. A contractor has been appointed and is expected to deliver a draft report by the end of May. Consultations will take place with relevant stakeholders – including from the trekking industry – over the next month.
KTA Board disbands – power vacuum replaced by Minister Pundari’s ‘Ministerial Kokoda Initiative Committee’ (KIC) with his DFAT Strategic Advisor, Mark Nizette, as Secretary.
Mark Nizette now had his hands on all the levers relating to the Kokoda Trail due to:
- 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 ‘Ministerial Kokoda Initiative Committee’ in the Conservation Environment Promotion Authority (CEPA); and
- as the unofficial CEO of the KTA because there was nobody else in the office with management qualifications or experience.
27 Apr 2018: Email from Charlie Lynn to Mark Nizette:
‘I met with Glenn Armstrong last night and he advised that nobody had been in contact with him in regard to a possible appointment as interim CEO of the KTA.
‘I have just returned from my trek and there is no doubt that the trekking industry is at its lowest ebb; the environmental degradation of the trail continues despite the token efforts of Qld National Parks personnel; many sections of the trail are dangerously unsafe; guides and porters continue to be exploited; the Ranger system is non-existent; and the villagers along the trail have been reduced to spectator status.Our trekkers were advised to bring K700 to spend on local services and souvenirs – they spent around K50 each because there were no services provided and no appropriate souvenirs.
‘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’!
‘The only losers under the current arrangements are the guides and carriers engaged in the trekking industry because of their ongoing exploitation and the villagers along the trail who have never been taught how to provide the services or souvenirs required by trekkers.Any updates would be much appreciated.‘
4 May 2018: Enage: Kokoda Board wants me to stay on – Tne National Newspaper
‘A source that did not want to be identified told The National yesterday that Enage’s resignation was accepted by the KTA board bur he was not leaving the office.
“He maintained that the board that met and approved the resignation did not have the quorum required the source said.
“That’s why KTA is currently in limbo because of Enage’s conduct and the responsibities like the Secretary for the Department of Provincial and local level government, which is responsilde for special purposes authorities must intervene and address the issue.
The source quoted by the newpaper was most likely an Australian official!
4 July 2018: KTA Review report published
According to the instructions of the Minister for Conservation, Environment and Climate Change and Chairman of the Kokoda Initiative Committee, the Hon John Pundari MP, this should have triggered a search for a permanent CEO for the Kokoda Track Authority.
A Ministerial reshuffle saw Minister Pundari appointed as Speaker of the Parliament and so Nizette was able to ignore his advice.
5 Aug 2018: Extrect of an email from Mark Nizette to Glenn Armstorong:
‘It was fortunate that our paths crossed,and thanks for reconfirming your contact details. The process to review is ongoing and largely driven by the Kokoda Initiative Committee (Minister Pundari, Gov Juffa, MP Amuli, Minister Tammur, Gov Agarobe, MP Isoaimo and Minister Isifu). So who knows what lies ahead as they navigate some very political and sensitive waters?’
Nizette knew exactly ‘what lies ahead’ as he is the most influential member of the Kokoda Initiative Committee.
6 Aug 2018: Email from Glenn Armstrong to Mark Nizette confirming interest in the CEO position
‘I would like to manage the KTA and will make myself available to do so, provided we are all working together to move forward.’
Nizette responded:
Thanks Glenn, interest noted and appreciated. I’ll keep this in mind as things develop in the PNG Government system.
30 October 2018: Email from Australian High Commission confirming appointment of Julius Warigrai
On 30 October 2018 tour companies were advised of the following by Mr Tom Battams, Second Secretary of the Australian High Commission:
‘You would also be aware of recent developments regarding the interim leadership of the Kokoda Track Authority.
‘On 26 October, an extraordinary meeting of the KTA Board was convened in Port Moresby. Attendees included the heads of CEPA, TPA and DPLGA; representatives from Central and Oro provinces; representatives from Koiari and Kokoda LLGs; and landowner representatives from Central and Oro.
‘The meeting’s purpose was to identify a new interim CEO for the KTA. After a number of potential nominees were discussed, the board agreed to appoint Mr Julius Wagirai, Deputy Secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs, as the interim CEO.
‘Once his appointment has been confirmed by the PNG Government, the Australian High Commission will seek an early meeting with Mr Wagirai to discuss our shared ambitions for the track going forward.‘
the following points indicate that the selection process was a sham:
- Mr Battams neglect to advise details of the ‘potential’ nominees.
- Neither Glenn Armstrong nor Andy Abel were ‘potential nominees‘ – the CV of both were submitted to Mark Nizette.
- Both Armstrong and Abel were eminently qualified for the position.
- Nizette acknowledged Glenn Armstrong’s willingness to accept the position.
- Despite these facts, Nizette neglected to interview either Glenn Armstrong or Andy Abel.
- Julius Wargirai was not qualified for the postion.
Summary of Interim CEO recruitment process
- The Australian High Commission was involved in the process of engaging an interim CEO for a PNG government authority.
- Minister John Pundari MP agreed with an interim appontment but instructed that a ‘permanent replacement would be recruited following the review into the KTA.‘
- The KTA Review Minister Pundari referred to was completed and published on 4 July 2018.
- On 5 August 2018 Glenn Armstrong, former Marketing Manager for the Post Courier; General Manager of EMTV, Marketing Manager for Air Niutini and Marketing Manager for Kumul Consolidated Holding (KCH) confirmed to Mark Nizette he was avaialbe for the position.
- Nizette was also aware that Andy Abel ML, former Trustee of the National Museum and Art Gallery, former Board Member of the Tourism Promotion Authority, current Board Member of the National Aircraft Corporation and pioneer of PNG Surfing which now hosts international surfing events, was also available.
- Nizette neglected to interview either one for the position.
The process adopted byt the Australian High Commission would not escape the attention of watchdog agencies in Australia – but this is PNG where governance standards are lax, corruption is rife, and Government departments are unaccountable.
Soon after Wargirai’s appointment Mark Nizette relocated himself into the KTA office after having been banned from it for four years by the previous CEO, James Enage. It was evident that Wargirai, who was not qualified for the position of ‘Actiong CEO’, would be completely reliant on Nizette for advice and direction.
It was concluded that Nizette would not employ anybody he would not be able to influence regarding his socio-environment agenda at the expense of pilgrimage tourism across the Trail.
About Julius Wargirai
Wargirai is a Tolai from East New Britain Province. He has no cultural connections with the Koiari or Orokaiva villagers across the Kokoda Trail. He is a career bureaucrat from the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government. He has no qualifications or experience in commercial business management, tourism or military heritage.
Wargirai’s physical obesity limited his ability to trek across any sections of the Trail – he therefore has no understanidng of the physical nature of the terrain – norcould he join trek groups to get a feel for their impressions of the pilgrimage or understand the conditions under which village guides and porters operate.
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 his ongoing engagement is dependent on him toeing the DFAT Kokoda Initiative line.
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 his ongoing engagement 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!
24 January 2019: Wargari advises ‘Licensed KTA Tour Operators:
As most are aware the KTA Website has been under review over recent years. l would now like to finalise the website and fully implement the proposed ‘on line payment’ function, however prior to finalising I wait to hear from you on what you believe to be key attributes of a useful website. On hearing from you I will arrange a review to determine if all reasonable and practicable needs are being met and will inform you on the final proposed website. Please feel free to provide your thoughts directly to me by mid-February.
Result: As of 2025 nothing happened – the KTA website has not been upgraded since 2012 and no ‘online payment system’ has ever been implemented.
6 May 2019: Illegal transfer of KTA Trek Permit Fee income to an Australian NGO
One of the first actions of the Nizette-Wargirai duo was to look at the bank account and decide to donate PNGK 350,000 of the trek permit fees sitting in the accoutn to an Australian NGO who had no affiliation with pilgrimage tourism across the Kokoda Trail. The only link seemed to be a friendship between Nizette and the CEO of the Australian NGO, Dr Genevieve Nelson and the one of her Board Members, Dr Andrew Moutu.
Nizette was aware of tour companies desperate demands for hygienic toilets, improved campsites, a booking system, etc but ignored them.
He was also aware of the need to pay villagers to keep the Trail safe in their respective areas but he ignored the need.
The KTA Board could not have approved it as they had not had not met since the extraordinary meeting on 30 October to appoint Julius Wargirai as Acting CEO.
Accroding to Nizette the funds represented ‘undispursed income – but according to Wargirai the KTA did not have any money when he began work in the KTA office. An inquiry needs to be conducted to find out which one is telling the truth. A brief on the transfer of funds to the Auatralian NGO is provided in the following file together with a recommended Terms of Refernece for an investigation which needs to be initiated:
Link: Illegal transfer of Kokoda Track Authority trek permit fees to an Australian NGO
27 May 2019: National Executive Council Decision 123/2019 of 27 May 2019
Nizette’s strategy was furher exposed with the announcement of a directive from the 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:
‘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 proposal for Kokoda Track Management Authority
Mark Nizette advised one of DFAT’s significant AusAID recipients, Oro Provincial Governor Gary Juffa by 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.
After the proposed Bill was intercepted by the Deputy Chairman of the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Mr Andy Abel, Nizette attemtpted to deny he was the chief proponent. However
The process leading to the development of the proposed KTMA bill indicates he may have fused his role of ‘advisor’ with that of ‘influencer’ of PNG legislation. For example, according to metadata within the MS Word document properties of documents relating to the Bill reveals:
- The author of the ‘Kokoda Track Management Authority Bill 2021’ is ‘Mark Nizette’.
- The author of the ‘Issues Brief KTMA Draft Legislation’ signed by Mr. Julius Wargiral, is ‘Mark Nizette’.
- The author of the ‘KTMA Bill “Zero Draft” Discussion Paper February 2022’ is ‘Mark Nizette’.
- The author of the ‘KTMA Discussion Paper, March 2021’, is ‘Mark Nizette’.
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
Wargirai’s Management Shortcomings
Wargirai’s management shortcomings are evident in the following email trail extracts:
6 June 2022 – Acting CEO direction to adhere to rules for conducting business in PNG
Subject: Adhere To Procedures and Rules of Business Operation in Papua New Guinea
This notice is served to remind all international and local tour operators to please comply with legal procedures and rules of operating a business in PNG.
It is your primary responsibility to ensure that all requirements from IPA, IRC and Immigrations (for international operators) are met before applying for a KTA License. KTA has made a commitment to the two Governors to ensure only registered tour operators arc issued trekking permits before bringing in trekkers.
Any tour operator who fail to comply with these requirements will be referred to relevant authorities for formal investigation and there may be legal consequences.
Please note that the requirement to have a valid KTA tour operator licence and to pay your trekking permit fees is ultimately for the benefits of tbe local people.
The following link shows that the Acting CEOs direction was ignored by the majority of Kokoda tour operators – despite this Wargirai continued to issue trek permits to illegal operators:
15 April 2024: Extract of email from Charlie Lynn to Julius Wargirai:
According to the attached Facebook post from Kokoda Historical a group has arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby to begin a trek across the Kokoda Trail tomorrow i.e., Tuesday, 16 April.
According to the attached IPA certificate the registration of the Business Name, ‘Kokoda Historical’ lapsed on the 31st August 2023 and has not been renewed. They are therefore about to operate illegally in PNG which may void any Travel or Public Liability insurance claims for trekkers in their group – a grossly irresponsible dereliction of their ‘duty of care’.
If your Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) has issued trek permits for each of the Kokoda Historical trekkers you will have breached your own ‘Commercial Operations License Conditions 2012’, paragraph 3.6.c which states:
‘It is the tour operator’s responsibility to ensure the compulsory Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) Company registration is maintained. Any lapse in IPA registration will cause this license to be revoked.’
You will recall that this time last year you took immediate action to cancel our Adventure Kokoda tour operator’s licence when you mistakenly thought we had breached the conditions of the Koiari and Orokaiva Kokoda Track Local Level Government Trek Permit Law 2005. You will also recall the National Court found the cancellation of our licence was unlawful and ordered you to restore it.
The current breach of both the IPA Act and your own KTA Commercial Operators Licence Conditions 2012 by Kokoda Historical is evident of the contempt David Howell has for the laws that apply in PNG.
A review of IPA records reveals that Kokoda Historical was not registered as a ‘Foreign Enterprise’ or as an ‘Overseas Company’ from 2005 – 2019. As a result, he has been able to avoid his taxation obligations in PNG during this period.
Howell finally registered ‘Kokoda Historical’ as a Business Name on 12 August 2019 and as a Foreign Enterprise on 30 August 2022 – he has not filed an Annual Return for either one since then as he is required to do and has allowed his Business Name to lapse.
The address David Howell has provided for both his Business Name and Foreign Enterprise certification is the Grand Papua Hotel – this is incorrect as he operates out of the Hilton Hotel.The owner of Kokoda Historical, David Howell, is a former mobile phone salesman who has transformed himself into an expert on the Kokoda campaign – his modus-operandi has been exposed on this link. I therefore request you apply the same zeal against Kokoda Historical as you did against Adventure Kokoda last year and prevent the group from proceeding any further until David Howell has met the requirements for Foreign Certification and has renewed his registration of the Business Name, Kokoda Historical.
As he is not registered as an Overseas Company as required by the Act he should also provide the details of the registered PNG company he is using to provide the personnel and logistic support to his trek.
It would be a gross dereliction of your duty as Acting CEO if you allow the Kokoda Historical group to proceed in a fashion that would likely breach any Travel and Public Liability Insurance claims that might arise from any member of his group.
17 April 2024: Email response from Julius Wargirai to Charlie Lynn
‘I noted that the link you may have used in sourcing your information regarding Kokoda Historical is outdated, hence your claim that Kokoda Historical is operating illegally in PNG and Kokoda Track is misleading.
‘For your information, Kokoda Historical has satisfied all the necessary IPA requirements with proper Certification issued, hence permitting the Company to carry on Business in an activity in Papua New Guinea. IPA Certification of Kokoda Historical qualifies its Certification by KTA to undertake Trekking and other related activities along the full 96 kilometres Kokoda Track.
18 April 2024: Extract of email response to Julius Wargirai from Charlie Lynn:
‘The advice you have provided yesterday regarding the re-registration of the Kokoda Historical Business Name is misleading.
‘According to IPA records as of 15 April 2024 their registration lapsed eight months ago on 31 August 2023 – see Attachment 1.
‘David Howell, owner of the Business Name, had ignored the numerous reminders for companies to update their records as part of the recent upgrade of IPA records which we had all received.Kokoda Historical would have therefore been in breach of the IPA Act and your own KTA ‘Commercial Operations License Conditions 2012’ when your office issued trek permits for their current trek.
‘I assume you contacted David Howell after receiving my email on Monday the 15th as his Business Name was suddenly renewed the next day, on 16 April 2024, as you can see from Attachments 2 and 3.
‘In taking this action you have breached, paragraph 3.6.c of your ‘Commercial Operations License Conditions 2012’ which states: ‘It is the tour operator’s responsibility to ensure the compulsory Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) Company registration is maintained. Any lapse in IPA registration will cause this license to be revoked.
’According to this clause you did not have the discretion to bring a breach of the Act to the attention of the tour operator concerned as that is clearly his responsibility – your job was to revoke his license!
‘Your intervention is contrary to the action you took against Adventure Kokoda last year when you led the charge to have our licence revoked even though we had fully complied with the IPA Act and had not breached any of the conditions of your Commercial Operations License Conditions 2012.
‘This was verified by the National Court which found the advice you provided to your Minister was misleading and ruled that the action you took was invalid.‘According to David Howell’s Kokoda Historical website and Facebook Page he conducted two illegal treks across the Trail in September and October 2023, after his IPA registration had lapsed.
‘I assume your office issued trek permits to both groups without conducting any due diligence checks on his legal status which is a clear dereliction of your duty.
‘Your advice that Kokoda Historical ‘has satisfied all the necessary IPA requirements with proper Certification issued’ is also misleading.
‘According to IPA records Kokoda Historical was not registered as a Foreign Enterprise for the first 14 years of their operation from 2005 – 2019.
‘They would therefore have failed to pay any tax in PNG for the profit they generated during this period.‘There is no record of any penalty issued by the IPA for the time they operated illegally in breach of their Act.
‘After Kokoda Historical finally registered their Business Name on 12 August 2019 they continued to treat the IPA Act with contempt by failing to lodge any annual returns as required in 2020 and 2021. They then lodged three (3) returns in 2022 and then allowed it to lapse in 2023 – see Attachment 3.
‘There is no record of the IPA applying any fines for these breaches of their Act either.
‘There is a good case for the IPA to investigate the circumstances surrounding the approval of Foreign Enterprise certification for Kokoda Historical as it is unlikely they would have been able to comply with all the requirements of the Act due to their previous non-compliance over such a long period of time.
‘Paragraph 2.2 of your KTA Commercial Operations License Conditions 2012 requires a Foreign Enterprise to provide a ‘copy of Papua New Guinea company registration or contract engaging a Papua New Guinea registered company proving your adherence to Papua New Guinea legal requirements’.
‘There is no evidence of compliance with this provision by Kokoda Historical.
‘In the interests of transparency, I would like an explanation as to why you acted with such zeal to revoke our Adventure Kokoda license in 2023 even though the company had not breached any laws and why you did not apply the same standard to Kokoda Historical who have clearly breached the requirements of the IPA Act and your own KTA conditions.
‘I would also appreciate an assurance that neither you, nor any person acting on your behalf, did not intervene on David Howell’s behalf to re-register his Business Name with the IPA on 16 April 2024.
19 April 2024: Email response from Julius Wargirai to Charlie Lynn:
Charlie, the process I used in addressing the case for Kokoda Historical was basically in line with the Court Decision on the case between Kokoda Adventure and KTA.When the Application for Track Permit was submitted to KTA, I initially enquired with Kokoda Historical on the validity status of Kokoda Historical. I was advised by the Owner and further confirmed with the company’s PNG agent that all necessary renewal documents were already submitted to IPA, but the process was slow. An official advice from IPA was also presented to KTA. This is where Natural Justice applies in accordance with paragraph 76 of the court Ruling as per Kokoda Adventure case against KTA. The Court Decision applies across the board, NOT Kokoda Adventure only.
It’s easy to conclude that Julius 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.
Wargirai Rambling Speech on NBC News – 4 February 2025
Wargirai has been an unwitting victim of Mark Nizette’s hidden socio-environment agenda for the Kokoda Trail at the expense of miliary heritage as his rambling speech at Owers Corner on 4 February 2025 reveals:
Following is an extract of his speech announcing a DFAT ‘Kokoda Sanitation Project’ with our fact-based response to each point:
Wargirai: ‘The potential of developing various tourism products along the Kokoda Track still remains . . .
Response:
There is only one tourism product across the Kokoda Trail – and that relates to the military heritage of the Kokoda campaign!
Wargirai: ‘Currently, many tourists know that Kokoda track (sic) alone is the national flagship tourism product as it has World War II significance . . .
Response:
After six (6) years in the job one would have thought Wargirai 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 PNGs sovereign right to name their own geographic features in prefernce to using their politically correct term ‘Kokoda Track’.
Wargirai: ‘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 . . .
Response:
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
But thus far he has not introduced a single micro-finance or micro-business initiative anywhere across the Trail – and there is no evidence of him distributing any income from trek permit fee income to village communities.
Wargirai: “We still have to develop more products. At the moment, we only have the track, which is only one product . . .
Response:
He only has one job! Manage the Kokoda Trail as a tourism enterprise and his villagers will earn up to K2 million PER YEAR!
“Wargirai: 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 . . .
Response:
Trekkers can already observe birds during their treks with the help of their PNG guides; they don’t have time to fish; and if they ever find themselves ‘rafting‘ they’re in big trouble!
Wargirai: “If we can develop these products, I’m sure people from countries will flood in and generate revenue for the country,” Mr. Wargirai said . . .
Response:
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!
Wargirai’s failure to ensure Kokoda tour operators comply with the IPA act has resulted in most being easily able to avoid their taxation obligations in PNG so there has been virtually no ‘revenue generated’ for PNG’ under his watch.
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
‘Wargirai: 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 . . .
Response:
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?
Wargirai: “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 . . .
Response:
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!
Wargirai: ‘He highlighted the recent signing of the Kokoda Sanitation Project on Monday [yesterday] as the first step towards fully utilizing the track . . .
Response:
The ‘Kokoda Track Sanitation Report’ does absolutely nothing to put bums on seats!
Wargirai: ‘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 . . .
Response:
Pilgrimage tourism brings a ‘lot of revenue‘ into PNG in spite of the TPA – not because of them!
However nobody knows how many or how much as TPA does not maintain statistics or conduct surveys among trekkers.
‘Wargirai: “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.’
Response:
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:
Kokoda Trail Guesthaus Report
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 because 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 50th 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.
Seven (7) years on Minister Pundari’s advice to engage a permanent manager for the KTA has been ignored; both Andy Abel and Glenn Armstrong remain available to be considered for appointment as CEO; and Mark Nizette remains as the major influencer for the managment of PNG most popular tourism destination.
