Wantok in Action: How Community Sustains Life on Kokoda

Wantok is more than a word — it’s how life works along the Kokoda Track.

In this episode of The Kokoda Track Podcast, Glenn Azar explores what Wantok looks like in action and how community, responsibility, and shared effort have sustained life in the Owen Stanley Range for generations.

Drawing on on-Track experience and cultural insight, this episode explains how Wantok shows up in village life, porter relationships, and even in moments of hardship — and why understanding this system is essential for anyone walking Kokoda today. This episode offers a deeper appreciation of how community, not individual strength, has always been the foundation of survival on Kokoda.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What Wantok looks like in everyday village life
How community responsibility works on Kokoda
The role Wantok played during the Kokoda Campaign
What trekkers are witnessing — even when they don’t realise it
Why respecting Wantok matters for Kokoda’s future

Follow The Kokoda Track Podcast for upcoming episodes covering Kokoda history, trekking preparation, and the deeper lessons found along the Track.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS

Wantok in Action: How Community Sustains Life on Kokoda Wantok is more than a word &mdash; it&rsquo;s how life works along the Kokoda Track. In this episode of&nbsp;The Kokoda Track Podcast, Glenn Azar explores what Wantok looks like in action and how community, responsibility, and shared effort have sustained life in the Owen Stanley Range for generations. Drawing on on-Track experience and cultural insight, this episode explains how Wantok shows up in village life, porter relationships, and even in moments of hardship &mdash; and why understanding this system is essential for anyone walking Kokoda today. This episode offers a deeper appreciation of how community, not individual strength, has always been the foundation of survival on Kokoda.
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In This Episode, You&rsquo;ll Learn:
<ul data-end="6485" data-start="6210">
<li>What Wantok looks like in everyday village life</li>
<li>How community responsibility works on Kokoda</li>
<li>The role Wantok played during the Kokoda Campaign</li>
<li>What trekkers are witnessing &mdash; even when they don&rsquo;t realise it</li>
<li>Why respecting Wantok matters for Kokoda&rsquo;s future</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Follow&nbsp;The Kokoda Track Podcast&nbsp;for upcoming episodes covering Kokoda history, trekking preparation, and the deeper lessons found along the Track. This podcast is proudly brought to you by <a href="https://www.adventureprofessionals.com.au/">ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS</a>

An insight into the lessons learnt from people that have trekked the Kokoda Track in PNG. We will interview trek leaders, local PNG villagers and trekkers who have undertaken the arduous 96km jungle trek.

Kokoda Track

Wantok in Action - How community sustains life on Kokoda

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/dcc549dd-776f-4c37-8763-b3c4000e91c9/transcript