Pacific Manuscripts Bureau

Adding our voice to the chorus of people so proud and excited for our ANU colleague and friend, Anna Naupa, on her appointment as Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group 👏👏👏

‼️VANUATU RISES AT MSG — CONGRATULATIONS ANNA NAUPA‼️🇻🇺

Today, Vanuatu stands proud.

Dr. Anna Naupa — one of our nation’s finest minds and respected leader in development — has been appointed Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

This is a historic moment. Since the MSG was founded in 1986 by the giants of Melanesia — Paias Wingti of Papua New Guinea, Fr. Walter Lini of Vanuatu, Ezekiel Alebua of Solomon Islands, and our brothers from the FLNKS — Vanuatu has waited 40 years to lead this organization. Today, that wait ends.

As a woman taking the helm, Ms. Naupa’s appointment sends a clear message to every young ni-Vanuatu girl: aspire for the best, because the highest offices in our region are within your reach. Her leadership will inspire a new generation to dream bigger and serve boldly.

The Vanuatu Government holds immense confidence in Dr. Naupa’s capabilities, leadership, and integrity. We commend the MSG and the selection team for a transparent process that has delivered the right leader for this moment.

Prime Minister Jotham Napat extends his warmest congratulations to Dr. Naupa on her successful appointment. He wishes her strength, wisdom, and every success as she takes up this critical role.

We know the MSG was born from struggle — its heart has always been the political aspirations of the Kanak people and the big issues facing Melanesia. Over the years the organization has grown, expanding its focus to trade, sports, culture, and other areas of common interest that bind our nations. Vanuatu believes the success of the MSG under Dr. Naupa’s leadership will depend on never losing sight of that founding spirit — solidarity, justice, and self-determination for our peoples.

Anna, you carry not just a title, but the hopes of a region. You carry Vanuatu’s pride, Melanesia’s trust, and the spirit of Fr. Walter Lini’s vision.

Go well, lead boldly, and make Melanesia shine.

Congratulations, Director General Dr. Anna Naupa🇻🇺👏👏👏

- Office of the Prime Minister
Republic of Vanuatu

This International Archives Week we share with you some new resources recently added to our website. We are proud to host an English translation of a set of registers of Melanesian and Micronesian indentured labourers employed by the German Trading and Plantation Company (Deutsche Handels- und Plantagengesellschaft or DHPG) on plantations in Samoa from 1887 to 1913. These registers were originally microfilmed by the Bureau in 2002 in collaboration with the Nelson Memorial Library in Apia. This important translation was funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra. For all involved it has been a work of great dedication and care. You can read more about this collaboration in the introductory text to the translation and researchers are encouraged to read the cultural sensitivity warning.https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/2026-06/260610-DHPG-Translated-Registers-sm.pdf

We have also added some new finding aids to our website on labour, Banaba and Bougainville, and an index compiled by one of interns to PNG patrol reports in the PMB collection. The link to the finding aids is in the comments.

The latest AAPS newsletter is out and features a story by Lisa Hilli about work in progress to translate and transcribe registers of people taken from islands of Melanesia and Kiribati to work on DHPG plantations in Samoa, 1887-1913. Work is almost complete and will be released on the PMB website soon.

pacificstudies.org.au

Pitcairn and Norfolk Islands book of origins returns to Norfolk. Thanks Pauline Seton Reynolds for bringing this story to our attention.

An old register forges new relations on Norfolk Island - ABC listen After the infamous mutiny on the Bounty the mutineers settled on remote Pitcairn Island. The Pitcairn Island Register is the original record of births, deaths, and marriages from the Bounty and it also records their fate. It dates back to 1790 and has, until now, been kept in the National Maritime M...

Followers in Samoa 🇼🇸 may be interested in this upcoming presentation by Ruby Satele.

FOA SEMINAR SERIES 2026

We are excited to host PhD candidate Ruby Satele, presenting on her research on Samoan ancestors in Museums.

For more information, see the flyer below.
ALL are invited.

Coming up later this morning, PMB Chair Dr Nayahamui Rooney, will be presenting a seminar on the important work she is doing with her parents' archive. You can attend in person at ANU or join via Zoom. Details below 👇

Relationality, Movement and Transnationality in Biographies across PNG and Australia: Stories through Nahau and Wesley Rooney Choosing the right university is a defining decision. Discover why an arts, social sciences or humanities degree at ANU is the right choice for you.

We're so proud of long-term friend of PAMBU, Annie Kwai, for her role in the excellent children's book about the Solomon Islands Coastwatchers - Aaron Kumana and Biuku Gasa - who rescued JFK and the crew of PT-109 during the Second World War. The book was launched in Honiara last week and will be distributed to all schools in Solomon Islands. The book can be ordered from most online bookstores.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Murray Launches “Rescuing JFK” Book Donation Campaign at Betikama Adventist College - Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) U.S. Embassy launches campaign delivering Rescuing JFK book to all Solomon Islands schools, honoring WWII history

Pambu gets a mention in the latest ANU Pacific Institute news.

Anthropologist Ton Otto’s visit to ANU: Material and archival collections, film, and research engagement at the ANU | ANU Pacific Institute Ton Otto, Professor Emeritus of anthropology at Aarhus University, Denmark, visited the ANU.