Hiri Moale 2014 festival launched

Caption: (R) Festival Chairman Miria Ikupu with Governor Parkop sharing a few words.

Caption: Applause made after the symbolic launch of the 2014 Hiri Moale Festival by Governor Parkop and Minister for Tourism and Culture Boka Kondra.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 13, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

WITH the closing of the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts already taking place on Friday for the first time in PNG- the week also saw the resurgence of another iconic festival in the nation’s capital Port Moresby.

The 2014 Hiri Moale festival will finally regain its position in Port Moresby’s yearly calendar after an absence of two years.

With Independence Day also on the drawcard, the festival will coincide with the national day one day in advance from September 15 to the 16.

Political Heads of the capital and representative from the traditional landowners of NCD, the Motu Koita, all converged at the Holiday Inn Hotel to kick-start the fundraising drive towards staging the historical event.

Chairman of the festival and the Motu-Koita Assembly, Miria Ikupu made special thanks to the festivals staunch supporters in NCDC and other corporate entities.

“The festival continues to have a permanent place in our annual calendar, however, I would like to apologise to our people for the festival not being staged in 2012 and 2013 due to the national election, the Motu-Koita elections held last year, and funding constraints,” the chairman said.

“The festival has grown in its popularity that when it was not being staged we had numerous phone calls from overseas with enquiries as to why it never eventuated.”

He called for the support from businesses and individuals, reminding those present that the event was sponsor driven.

“Despite us not having a lot of sponsors at this stage- we have on record the highest number of entrants into the Hiri Hanenamo Quest,” Mr Ikupu said.

Chairman Ikupu announced that in respect to bringing the festival right to the doorsteps of the Mtu-Koita people- festivities will be held all the respective villages that took part in the trade as far as Gabagaba in the district of Rigo.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop apologised to the Motu Koita on the part of the municipal government for not staging the event for two successive years, adding that the challenge now was for it not to be repeated again.

“The festival is all about celebrating the Motu-Koita culture to remind us of their sacrifice for us in this city, and it ensures that their culture continues to be passed down despite the pressures of modern development in the city,” Governor Parkop.

Governor Parkop announced an additional K100,000 on top of the K500,000 already allocated in the city’s budget.

Support for the event also came from the local electorate MPs of the city with the Member for Moresby North-East Labi Amaiu commiting K20,000, Member for Moresby North-West Michael Malabag committing a further K30,000, and the Member for Moresby South and the Minister for National Events Justin Tkatchenko committing the support of his ministry.