The campaign to save PNG's Sepik river from an Australian mining company
From Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast by ABC Australia
June 10, 2026 · 26 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the efforts to protect Papua New Guinea's Sepik river from mining exploitation.
Deep in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea winds the Sepik river. Rich with crocodiles, eels, turtles, prawns and fish, it’s one of the largest unpolluted freshwater systems in the world. The river is of huge cultural significance for the half a million people the river sustains, and is guarded by the water spirit, Sukundimi. But for developers there are other riches. The land along the river holds billions of dollars’ worth of copper and gold, and an Australian-based company is on the verge a securing a mining lease after decades of exploration. A new documentary, Sukundimi Walks Before Me , charts the Sepik peoples’ rise to protect the river from the enormous project. Guests: Emmanuel Peni, director of the PNG NGO Project Sepik , and co-Producer of the film. Theonila Roka Matbob, former PNG MP from Bougainville and winner of the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize . Producer: Catherine Zengerer
People in this episode
Guests: Emmanuel Peni, Theonila Roka Matbob
Topics covered
- environment
- indigenous rights
- mining
- cultural significance
- documentary
Keywords
- Sepik river
- Papua New Guinea
- mining
- environmental protection
- indigenous culture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Project Sepik, ABC Australia
Books & works: Sukundimi Walks Before Me
Places: Papua New Guinea, Sepik river, Bougainville
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