Steamships Gold Sponsorship for 2026 Hiri Moale Festival
03 September 2026
Steamships has announced a PGK100,000 Gold sponsorship for the 2026 Hiri Moale Festival, reaffirming its commitment to supporting communities within its business footprint and preserving Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural heritage.
The sponsorship reflects Steamships’ long-standing relationship with the Motu Koita people and recognises the important role the community continues to play in the social, cultural and economic life of Port Moresby.
The Motu Koita communities are closely connected to many of Steamships’ operations, employees, customers and investments across the National Capital District.
“The story of the Motu Koita people and the story of Steamships are connected by the sea. Long before modern shipping routes connected Papua New Guinea, the Hiri voyages linked communities through trade, trust and cooperation. Those same values have shaped Steamships throughout our 108-year history,” said Chris Daniells, Managing Director.
Steamships’ support for the festival also recognises a shared history between the company and the Motu Koita people.
From the early partnership between Steamships founder Captain Algernon Fitch and Captain Pipi Gari of Elevala, who became the first qualified Papuan ship captain in 1929, to the many Motu Koita men and women who have contributed to the company over generations, the relationship continues to be built on trust, respect and shared purpose.
The sponsorship aligns with Steamships’ Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy, which focuses on building strong relationships and creating long-term value in the communities where the company operates.
Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly, Honourable Russell Simon Wavik, welcomed the sponsorship and acknowledged the longstanding relationship between the company and the community.
“We appreciate Steamships' Gold Sponsorship of the 2026 Hiri Moale Festival and acknowledge the enduring relationship between Steamships and the Motu Koita people. We pay homage to the legacy built by those who came before us and recognise the strong partnership that continues today," he said.
The Hiri Moale Festival is one of Papua New Guinea’s premier cultural events, celebrating the history of the Hiri trading voyages.
Steamships is proud to support the 2026 festival and looks forward to joining the community in celebrating this important cultural tradition.
[ Image 1: Steamships General Manager Corporate Affairs, Ruth Kissam (third from left), presents the sponsorship cheque to Motu Koita Assembly Chairman, Hon. Russell Simon Wavik, during the sponsorship announcement, joined by representatives from both organisations. ]