AGP Executive Report

NRL Chiefs momentum: Matty Johns and Fox League crews are in Port Moresby to spotlight the PNG Chiefs push for the 2028 NRL, with club leaders saying the visit shows just how deep PNG’s rugby league passion runs. Local sport infrastructure: Prime Minister James Marape backs the PNG Chiefs Village plan, including a school and family-focused facilities, and says Port Moresby must be ready for the visitor surge. Kickboxing revival: Marape and New Ireland Governor Byron Chan pledge K50,000 to the PNG Kickboxing Federation during the NGCB Kumite “Last Man Standing” quarter-finals, while NGCB also funds the series with K300,000. Women’s football: Hekari FC’s late surge beats Fiji’s Ba 3-1 in the OFC Women’s Champions League, keeping semi-final hopes alive. AFL pathway boost: New Ireland Governor Chan commits K100,000 to AFL PNG, with K50,000 for development programmes in New Ireland. Community through sport: PNG University of Technology players clean up Madang Town after the Intervarsity Soccer Tournament, thanking locals for hosting. Fitness culture: The death of Les Mills, the New Zealand Olympian who built the global gym brand, is noted as a reminder of how group fitness can spread worldwide.

New Ireland Budget Boost: New Ireland has unveiled a revised K499.57m budget, with K268.3m earmarked for infrastructure—road sealing, the Lanzarote Highway and more—aimed at growth and stronger provincial autonomy. OFC Women’s Football: Hekari FC staged a late comeback to beat Fiji’s Ba 3-1, keeping their semi-final hopes alive in the OFC Women’s Champions League. Kickboxing Youth Push: Prime Minister Marape praised the PNG Kickboxing Federation for youth development, as the NGCB backs the “Last Man Standing” series with K300,000 and more political support follows. AFL in PNG Gets a Lift: New Ireland Governor Byron Chan pledged K100,000 to AFL PNG, including K50,000 for New Ireland development programmes and support for games and clinics. NRL Chiefs—Local Talent & Community: The PNG Chiefs Village plans include a school and family facilities, while reports say three homegrown prospects are set for development contracts—sparking debate over opportunities. Women’s Rugby League Meets Fashion: Lavagirl and Power Meri launched a limited-edition fabric to support grassroots women’s rugby league, education grants and menstrual health. Table Tennis Dreams: The Hila brothers are in Shanghai for high-performance training, building on Pacific Mini Games success. Fitness Loss: Les Mills, the Olympian who founded the global gym brand, has died at 91.

NRL & PNG Chiefs: Prime Minister James Marape backed the Chiefs Village plan with family-first facilities, while New Ireland Governor Byron Chan called the NRL entry a once-in-a-lifetime chance for young Papua New Guineans. Local Talent: The Chiefs are also reportedly signing three homegrown prospects on development deals, sparking debate over opportunities for other players. Sports Funding: NGCB backed PNG kickboxing with K300,000 for the “Last Man Standing” series, and Marape praised sport’s role in discipline and youth pathways. AFL Boost: Chan committed K100,000 to AFL PNG, with K50,000 earmarked for New Ireland development and more clinics and community events. Women’s Rugby League & Fashion: Lavagirl and Power Meri launched a limited-edition fabric to support grassroots women’s rugby league and menstrual health initiatives. Table Tennis Dreams: Hila brothers Guba and Mysel are in Shanghai for high-performance training, building on a bronze at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games. Community Through Sport: UOT’s soccer team cleaned Madang Town after the Intervarsity tournament, leaving a positive civic mark. WOW Awards: Westpac Outstanding Women Awards finalists were announced ahead of the July 25 ceremony in Port Moresby.

NRL Chiefs Momentum: Matty Johns landed in Port Moresby with Fox League to see why the PNG Chiefs project is drawing so much attention, as the club pushes for a strong, locally rooted NRL future. Local Talent Contracts: The Chiefs are reportedly signing three homegrown prospects—Gairo Voro, Morea Morea and Finley Glare—on two-year development deals, though the contract structure is already raising eyebrows. Women’s Rugby League + Fashion: Lavagirl and Power Meri launched a limited-edition fabric celebrating the women’s game, with sales supporting grassroots teams, education grants and menstrual health. Kickboxing Pathway Boost: Prime Minister James Marape backed the “Last Man Standing” kickboxing series after NGCB funding, while the PNGKBF also received K300,000 to stage the nationwide heats. Coaching Standards: PNG women’s rugby league coaches gathered in Port Moresby for a conference focused on lifting standards and strengthening pathways. Community Through Sport: UOT soccer players cleaned Madang Town after the Intervarsity tournament, showing hospitality with a civic clean-up. Arts & Culture Spotlight: Asian Community Day was launched in Port Moresby to celebrate shared culture and strengthen social cohesion.

Cycling Spotlight (Lae): Stanis Kaiks’ five years of training paid off with a junior title at the 2026 Rosso Mountain Bike Race, as Lae’s junior cycling scene keeps growing with more kids and family support. Aussie Rules Push (New Ireland): AFL PNG chairman Ekonia Peni challenged politicians to back Aussie Rules, pointing to New Ireland Governor Byron Chan’s K100,000 boost for local pathways. Women’s Rugby League + Fashion: Lavagirl and social enterprise Power Meri launched a limited-edition fabric and meri blouse range to fund grassroots women’s teams, education grants and menstrual health. NRL Chiefs Build (Homegrown Contracts): PNG Chiefs are set to sign three homegrown prospects on two-year development deals, a move welcomed for local talent but questioned for contract structure and limited spots. AI for Learning (Ialibu): Western Pacific University opened an AI-enabled digital knowledge hub with tablets and expanded support for schools, aiming to bring global learning to rural communities. Kickboxing Revival (Port Moresby): The NGCB backed the “Last Man Standing” series with K300,000, backing youth participation and a nationwide talent pathway. Community Culture (Port Moresby): Asian Community Day launched to strengthen inclusion and social cohesion through performances, food and exhibitions. Fitness Legacy (Global): Fitness icon Les Mills died at 91, leaving behind a worldwide group-class empire. Music + Tech (PNG): Azzimbah Band members spoke about how AI is changing music sales and enabling unauthorised remixes.

NRL Spotlight: Australian rugby league icon Matty Johns has arrived in Port Moresby with a Fox League crew, boosting international attention on the PNG Chiefs and their push toward the NRL in 2028. Johns says PNG’s rugby league passion is “long overdue” and unlike anywhere else, while Chiefs GM Michael Chammas frames the visit as a chance for Australians to see the culture firsthand. Kickboxing Funding Boost: Prime Minister James Marape and the National Gaming Control Board backed the PNG Kickboxing Federation’s “Last Man Standing” series with K300,000, with quarter-final heat #03 underway in Port Moresby and fighters chasing spots ahead of semi-finals. Community Through Sport: UOT’s soccer team left Madang with more than memories, running a clean-up campaign after the Intervarsity tournament to thank locals and help preserve “Beautiful Madang.” Women’s Leadership: Finalists for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards have been announced, with categories spanning sports and arts, sustainability, and young achievers—winners set for July 25 in Port Moresby. Inclusion in the City: Asian Community Day launched in Port Moresby to celebrate culture and strengthen social cohesion.

Kickboxing Spotlight: Prime Minister James Marape backed the PNG Kickboxing Federation’s “Last Man Standing” series after the NGCB handed over K300,000, with quarter-final heat three wrapping at Taurama Aquatic Centre and fighters chasing semi-final spots. Youth Pathways: NGCB CEO Imelda Agon said the funding supports youth development, discipline and talent ID, while president Stanley Nandex framed the international-style format as a high-performance pathway aiming at stronger national teams from 2027. Rugby League Community: A decade-long milestone was celebrated by the Port Moresby Menjails Rugby League Club, formed by Southern Highlands players to keep rugby league alive in the capital. Women’s Recognition: Finalists for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards were announced ahead of the July 25 Port Moresby ceremony, with categories spanning sports and arts. Fitness Legacy: New Zealand Olympian and gym founder Les Mills died at 91, leaving behind a global group-fitness empire. Health Fundraiser: The PNG Cancer Foundation’s “Fit and Fun Day” brought corporate teams together to promote active living and cancer risk reduction.

NRL Dream in Focus: Former Australian rugby league star Matthew Johns says PNG’s 2028 NRL entry is “long overdue” after visiting Port Moresby and praising the country’s unmatched passion for the game. Kickboxing Boost: The National Gaming Control Board backs the PNG Kickboxing Federation with K300,000 for a nationwide “Last Man Standing” series, including the Port Moresby heat #03 quarter-finals. Women’s Leadership Spotlight: Finalists for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards have been announced, with categories spanning business, public service, sport, arts and sustainability ahead of the July 25 ceremony in Port Moresby. Women’s Rugby League Standards: Coaches gathered in Port Moresby for the 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference, with a push to lift coaching quality and improve pathways across the women’s league. Community & Culture: Asian Community Day launches in Port Moresby to strengthen inclusion and social cohesion, featuring performances, food and exhibitions from Asian communities. Health & Fitness Fundraiser: The PNG Cancer Foundation’s “fit and fun” challenge brought corporate teams together to promote active living and healthier diets to reduce cancer risk.

Westpac Outstanding Women Awards: Twenty-one PNG women have been named finalists across seven categories, including Sports & Arts (Edith Monagi, Susanne Sere, Wosi Kaeyo), ahead of the awards in Port Moresby on July 25. Women’s rugby league: Coaches gathered in Port Moresby for the 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference, with a push on leadership, modern methods and raising standards across the women’s game. Kickboxing gets a boost: The NGCB backed the PNG Kickboxing Federation with K300,000 for its Last Man Standing series, with Heat #03 quarter-finals set for Taurama Aquatic Centre on June 28. PNG Chiefs funding debate: East Sepik Governor Allan Bird says PNG will need K30–K40 million a year after 2035 to sustain the Chiefs once Australia’s funding ends, sparking fresh questions about long-term financial planning. Asian Community Day in Port Moresby: The city’s inclusion push continues with cultural performances, food and entertainment bringing PNG and Asian communities together. Music and tech in PNG: Azzimbah Band members discuss how AI is reshaping music—making sales easier while also enabling unauthorised remixing. PNG Olympic Committee at 60: The PNGOC marks its 60th year, with Secretary-General Auvita Rapilla reflecting on decades of Olympic development.

Coral Triangle Research: The French Tara Ocean Foundation is setting up its next expedition, Tara Coral, to study why corals in the Coral Triangle (including waters off Papua New Guinea) seem unusually resilient to climate change, after earlier microplastics surveys around Japan. Madang Community Clean-up: Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) soccer players chose to give back after the 2026 Intervarsity Soccer Tournament, helping clean parts of Madang Town. Asian Community Day in Port Moresby: A new inclusion-focused Asian Community Day launched in the capital, bringing Filipino, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese and Bangladeshi communities together with performances, food and exhibitions. Kickboxing Gets NGCB Boost: The PNG Kickboxing Federation’s NGCB Kumite “Last Man Standing” Heat #03 quarter-finals hit Port Moresby this Sunday with a K300,000 grant and K-1 3×3 bouts at Taurama Aquatic Centre. PNG Chiefs Funding Debate: Concerns are growing over whether PNG can sustain the Chiefs beyond 2035, with critics pointing to the K30–K40 million annual cost and the risk of over-reliance on external support. Music & AI in PNG: Azzimbah Band members say technology has made music sales easier, but AI has also enabled unauthorised song theft and remixes. Cricket Support Call: Cricket PNG leaders are urging the government to back cricket and other sporting codes more consistently, not just rugby league. Sports Leadership Training: A “Business of Sport in PNG” short course trained 30 sport leaders on governance, sponsorship and sustainable management.

Community & Culture: Unitech students left the Intervarsity Soccer Tournament with more than medals, volunteering for a clean-up in Madang Town. Inclusion in the Capital: Asian Community Day was launched in Port Moresby to celebrate Filipino, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese and Bangladeshi communities and strengthen social cohesion through performances, food and exhibitions. Music & Tech: Azzimbah Band members say AI is reshaping music in PNG—making online sales easier, but also enabling songs to be stolen and remixed without consent. Combat Sports: The NGCB Kumite: Last Man Standing Heat #03 quarter-finals hit Port Moresby on Sunday, backed by a K300,000 Give Back Program grant. Rugby League Pathways: Oro’s rugby league returns after nine years with a new school competition and plans to rebuild facilities from the grassroots. Sport Funding Watch: Debate continues over how PNG will sustain the Chiefs beyond 2035, with critics flagging the K30–K40 million annual cost and the risk of over-relying on external support. Health & Policy: PNG has banned Australian poultry and egg imports after H5N1 bird flu was detected in wild seabirds.

Inclusion in Port Moresby: Asian Community Day launched today (Sat June 27) with NCD Governor Powes Parkop saying the event celebrates Filipino, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese and Bangladesh communities while strengthening social cohesion in PNG’s capital through performances, food and exhibitions. Kickboxing spotlight: The NGCB Kumite “Last Man Standing” Heat #03 quarter-finals are set for Sunday June 28 at Taurama Aquatic Centre, backed by a K300,000 NGCB Give Back grant, with tickets at K15 (adults) and K10 (children under 16). PNG sport funding debate: East Sepik Governor Allan Bird says PNG needs K30–K40 million a year to sustain the PNG Chiefs after 2035 when Australia’s funding ends, warning the long-term model could strain national priorities. Music and tech: Azzimbah Band members discuss how technology and AI are reshaping music in PNG—making sales easier, but also enabling songs to be stolen and remixed without consent. Cricket support call: Cricket PNG voices concern that cricket and other sporting codes still lack enough government attention and funding compared with rugby league. Wellness push: BSP Life launches its “Movement is Medicine” Facebook challenge to encourage healthier habits and raise awareness of life insurance ahead of National Insurance Awareness Day on June 28.

Kickboxing Spotlight: The NGCB Kumite: Last Man Standing Heat #03 quarter-finals is set for Sunday, 28 June at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby, backed by a K300,000 Give Back Program grant and running under 3×3 K-1 rules across five weight classes, with tickets at K15 adults / K10 children. Rugby League Merch & Momentum: Jacks Retail has launched official PNG Kumuls Rugby League World Cup merchandise at Vision City Mega Mall, with sales royalties feeding back into the World Cup campaign, while rugby league returns to Oro after nine years with a new schoolboys/schoolgirls competition and facility upgrades. PNG Chiefs Funding Debate: East Sepik Governor Allan Bird says PNG will need K30–K40 million a year after 2035 to sustain the Chiefs once Australia’s funding ends, raising fresh questions about long-term viability and whether the Chiefs model can stand on its own. Music & Tech: Azzimbah Band members speak on how technology and AI are reshaping music in PNG—making distribution easier, but also enabling songs to be stolen and remixed without consent. Wellness Challenge: BSP Life PNG launches the “Movement is Medicine” Facebook challenge to encourage healthier habits among young adults ahead of National Insurance Awareness Day on 28 June.

Music & Tech: Azzimbah Band members say AI has made selling music easier in PNG, but also led to songs being stolen and remixed without consent—while legal action is hard because it’s “impossible to find whoever is responsible.” Kickboxing & Youth Sport: The National Gaming Control Board backed PNG Kickboxing with a K300,000 grant for a nationwide “Last Man Standing” series aimed at youth participation, discipline and talent spotting. Rugby League Comeback: Oro (Northern) rugby league is returning after nine years, with plans to rebuild facilities and launch a dedicated schoolboys and schoolgirls competition to create a clear pathway to higher levels. Kumuls Merch & World Cup Build-Up: PNG Kumuls Rugby League World Cup supporters’ merchandise is now on sale in Port Moresby, with sales royalties feeding back into the campaign. Health & Community: BSP Life launched its “Movement is Medicine” Facebook challenge to push wellness among young Papua New Guineans and boost life insurance awareness. Bird Flu Watch: PNG’s poultry and egg imports from Australia have been banned over H5N1 fears after bird flu was detected in Australian wild seabirds. Sport Funding Pressure: East Sepik Governor Allan Bird warns PNG Chiefs may need K30–K40 million a year after 2035 when Australian funding ends, raising fresh questions about long-term sustainability. Coaching Development: PNG women’s rugby league coaches gathered for the 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference, with focus on leadership, athlete management and lifting standards.

Earthquake Watch: A 5.6 quake hit Mendocino County near Willits, rattling Northern California and damaging some buildings as residents assess safety and clean up after a day of multiple strong global tremors. Women’s Rugby League: PNG coaches gathered in Port Moresby for the 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference, with PNG Orchids coach Craig Sandercock pushing elite standards, athlete management, and leadership as key to lifting the game. Sport Leadership & Pathways: A new “Business of Sport in PNG” short course trained 30 sport leaders on governance and commercial skills, aiming to strengthen PNG’s sports sector ahead of the National Rugby League push. PNG Chiefs Funding Pressure: East Sepik Governor Allan Bird says PNG will need K30–K40 million a year after 2035 when Australian funding ends, raising fresh questions about whether the Chiefs can truly stand on their own. Community & Culture: The Queen of Paradise Orchestra in Vanimo received new wind instruments to expand into a fully symphonic setup, while PNG artists DJ Dirty Fingers and O‑Four are set to perform at Asian Community Day as a cultural give-back. Health & Wellness: BSP Life launched the “Movement is Medicine” Facebook challenge to encourage movement among young Papua New Guineans and boost awareness ahead of National Insurance Awareness Day. Grassroots Sport: IBSU hosts the 2026 Intervarsity Touch Rugby Competition in Port Moresby, bringing together tertiary teams for leadership, teamwork, and campus pride.

Women’s Rugby League: PNG coaches gathered in Port Moresby for the 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference, with speakers stressing leadership, athlete management and modern coaching to lift standards across the women’s game. Sport Leadership & Growth: A new short course for 30 PNG sport leaders focused on governance and commercial skills, aiming to strengthen the sector as the National Rugby League approach nears. Fundraising for Athletes: The PNG Olympic Committee’s Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Challenge raised K87,000 for Team PNG, backing Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympic preparations. Community & Inclusion: Wau-Waria launched financial inclusion and economic empowerment programs through the Women’s Micro Bank (Access Point) and related capacity building, with an MoU signed with the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion. Wellness Campaign: BSP Life launched the “Movement is Medicine” Facebook challenge to encourage healthier habits and boost awareness ahead of National Insurance Awareness Day. Arts & Culture: The Queen of Paradise Orchestra in Vanimo received new wind instruments, helping it grow toward a fully symphonic sound and expand music training for young people. Music & Heritage: PNG DJs Dirty Fingers and O‑Four are set to perform at Asian Community Day, using music to celebrate heritage and bring families together.