The celebration of Papua New Guinea’s 50th year of independence preoccupied the nation throughout 2025 and to mark the milestone Paradise has put together a pictorial essay showing some of the key celebratory moments. 
The 30 photos we have curated show all walks of life, from Papua New Guineans wearing the national colours and partying in the streets to Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, inspecting the guard.
The people who took these photos that capture a moment in PNG’s history include local photographers, as well as those who were on assignment for international news agencies, the PNG government and defence forces.
Paradise writer Mary Tao describes the moment on September 16 when the nation stopped for a moving flag-raising ceremony as big crowds gathered on Independence Boulevard in Port Moresby and sang the national anthem, in what was a special year for a proud nation.
The year is also significant because it marks the arrival of Air Niugini’s first A220 aircraft, the first of many that will be added in a major modernisation of the airline’s fleet.
The A220-300 known as the People’s Balus touched down in Port Moresby on September 15 to coincide with the country’s independence celebrations.
Another significant moment in 2025 was the canonisation by Pope Leo XIV of Peter To Rot, who has become PNG’s first saint. We tell the story of Peter To Rot, who was a wartime martyr from the village of Rakunai in East New Britain Province.
In other stories, Paradise readers are taken on a birding tour of PNG with British naturalist Mike Dilger, we look at 10 big adventures that can be undertaken in PNG (think remote mountain lodges, game fishing and trekking), and we report on the best new things at each Air Niugini destination, including the latest bar, restaurant and hotel openings.
Celebrity chef Julian Heano talks about the local food scene, and we have our regular restaurant, hotel and book reviews, wine column, gadgets column and a special Christmas gift guide.
Happy reading.
Robert Upe, Editor