News edition for 8 October 2026. Added to Nungya on 22 October 2026 as part of our retrospective news archive. Reporting reflects information available by the edition date.

A border does not remove the connections between families, cultures and neighbouring environments. Rangers from Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea’s South Fly have brought those relationships into their first official ranger knowledge exchange under the Torres Strait Treaty.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority’s 8 October report describes a three-day visit hosted on Waiben/Thursday Island. Yarning circles, field visits and cultural exchanges gave the rangers time to explore common responsibilities and challenges.

The conversations included climate, food and water security, language preservation, youth engagement, and dugong and turtle management. They also considered how traditional ecological knowledge and western science can contribute to community-led conservation and adaptation.

The South Fly Rangers have returned to Western Province, where the report says they are applying lessons with local communities through monitoring and practical conservation activities. TSRA’s Land and Sea Management Unit hosted the exchange through its Environmental Management Program.

The value of this gathering lies in the relationships as much as the itinerary. People responsible for neighbouring land and sea Country can compare experiences directly, recognise shared concerns and build a basis for future work. The first exchange establishes a starting point for that continuing collaboration.