Bamahuta: Leaving Papua

Bamahuta is a poignant farewell that was made by the thousands of Australians who departed the territories of Papua and New Guinea following independence. Among them were the kiaps - the patrol officers. In the coastal villages, the remote mountain hamlets and the burgeoning new towns, they were responsible for exploring the country, introducing the rule of law and acting as a catalyst for political and economic development. Bamahuta recreates the adventure and dynamism of the pre-independence years as seen through the eyes of a young kiap. Loneliness, friendship and romance sharpen a growing social and self awareness. The result is a unique perspective on the drive to independence and its consequences. Capturing nostalgia for the past and uncertainty about the future, this is a story about growing up and moving on.