Theckla Gunga
Papua New Guinea
Theckla Gunga is a producer and journalist with the ABC, based in Port Moresby. She joined the ABC in September 2022, and works alongside the Papua New Guinea correspondent. Theckla also regularly files stories for Radio Australia's Pacific Beat Program. Theckla worked as a broadcast journalist in PNG for more than eight years before joining the ABC. You can follow her on Twitter @ThecklaGunga1
Latest by Theckla Gunga
PNG is trying to work out what its population is, but there are fears even a census won't be able to determine it
PNG has not had an accurate count of its population in 24 years and estimates vary by millions, but with a new census underway and officials heading to all corners of the country by road, boat and helicopter there could soon be a reliable number on exactly how many people are in the country.
A remote community slept under a mountain. Overnight it was levelled
Under a mountain, a remote community quietly slept. Then a sudden landslide levelled a village.
Survivors of the PNG landslide say they heard two loud cracks before a mountainside fell on their village
Survivors of a colossal landslide in Papua New Guinea's highlands have spoken about the warning signs they noticed hours before it flattened a village, killing upwards of 160 people.
'The loss of life and damage is devastating': Australia ready to assist after landslide strikes PNG village
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia is ready to assist in recovery efforts after a huge landslide struck the remote Kaokalam Village in Papua New Guinea, leaving more than 100 people estimated dead.
Five men in custody after being caught crossing illegally into Australia
Five men are in custody on Saibai Island in the Torres Strait after being caught crossing into Australia illegally.
The sudden death of Elli's relative led to her being branded a witch. She barely escaped with her life
When a woman was accused of using witchcraft in PNG to kill a young boy, she was attacked and left for dead. She survived thanks to the help of strangers and a safe house offering refuge for victims of sorcery-related violence.
PNG earthquake destroys 1,000 homes and reportedly kills three people
The magnitude-6.9 earthquake has shaken villages along the Sepik River that which were already battling a flood disaster.
Meth arrives in Australia from all over the world, but this route is destroying lives in PNG
At its closest point, Papua New Guinea is just 4 kilometres from Australia's islands in the Torres Strait, and local authorities warn this tropical archipelago has become an attractive route for drug smugglers.
Discovery of six bodies lifts death toll in PNG riots to 22
The national death toll from violent riots in Papua New Guinea has climbed to 22, with the remains of six people found in Port Moresby today.
State of emergency declared in Papua New Guinea with defence personnel on standby to stop further violence
Sixteen people have died in violent riots in Papua New Guinea after some residents took advantage of police being on strike to set shops and businesses alight in the capital. The PM has now declared a state of emergency for 14 days.
$7bn of gold is buried in these PNG hills. The battle to claim it has been called 'Game of Thrones on crack'
PNG's Porgera gold mine could potentially transform the fortunes of an impoverished province now that it has reopened. But some locals say they've experienced considerable environmental damage from the mine's waste and tailings.
These refugees were detained for years on Manus Island. Now they're caught between three countries
Men who spent years in detention on Manus Island living in the hope of resettlement now face being evicted from their temporary homes.
'They're killing people at sea': The lucrative PNG trade that gave rise to pirates
In PNG's Manus province, dozens of locals have gone missing in treacherous journeys across the seas in search of the addictive betel nut. Some of them drown, but others meet their ends at the hands of other traders, or pirates.
PNG and Australia's defence cooperation is a 'jewel' of their relationship but forming a treaty has not been simple
Months after an expected date to sign a Bilateral Security Treaty, Australia and PNG remain at the negotiating table, working to create a framework for current defence activities as well as expanded security cooperation in the future.
Violence is so bad in this PNG community that police sealed it off to outsiders. The ABC got to go inside
With a seemingly endless supply of guns, money and young men willing to act as mercenaries, tribal fighting in PNG has become akin to guerilla warfare.
PNG family demand answers after soldier shot dead in a training exercise
The family of a Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier who was shot dead in a "tragic accident" during a training exercise last week are calling for greater transparency from the force in investigating his death.
The PNG gang that kidnapped an Australian professor may now be unleashing new horrors on teen girls
A group of bandits that kidnapped an Australian professor in the PNG Highlands appears to have struck again, this time snatching and assaulting a group of women and girls. Warning: Readers might find the details in this story distressing.
'The husband is spoiling her reputation': PNG's climate change office embroiled in corruption allegations
Senior Papua New Guinea climate change officials are facing criminal action, after allegedly misappropriating more than $2m of public and international funds.
Four dead after 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake rocks Papua New Guinea's East Sepik province.
It's a little-known natural wonder on Australia's doorstep. It could be changing for good
It's called the "second Amazon". But like the Amazon, a pristine river system to Australia's north has become a battleground.
A brazen kidnapping, a ransom demand and a rescue mission: Australian professor, PNG research team freed
An Australian archaeology professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues are released from captivity after more than a week of tense and traumatic negotiations, and a complex security operation involving police and defence personnel.
'Specialised security force' willing to use lethal force to free kidnapped Australian in PNG, police say
The Australian professor was conducting a field study with three female researchers when a group of armed men abducted them, took them to a secret location and demanded money for their release.
Could Papua New Guinea's population be as high as 17 million? One researcher is sceptical
A Papua New Guinean researcher calls for Australia to help deliver its next national census amid speculation the population is as high as 17 million.
Thousands of PNG residents have been evicted after more than a decade-long court battle. But it's not over yet
Housing affordability and availability is so dire in PNG's main centres, squatters build communities on vacant lots. But it means the residents live under the constant threat of eviction.