SUMMARY

The Wayai is a subgroup of the Takima clan, residing in Papua New Guinea’s Southern Highlands Province, near the village Komo. This village is situated in an area with significant development of hydrocarbon industrial infrastructure, such as the Hides 4 rigsite.

The Takima clan belonged to the Komo people, which in turn is part of the Huli people. The Huli people spoke a common language which is the second largest language group in Papua New Guinea. The Huli live in separate homesteads rather than larger villages, and their society is highly egalitarian. The group is known for a high incidence of violence both within and between kin groups, and the area inhabited by the group was one of the most volatile in the country.

The livelihood of the Wayai subclan of Takima is at least in part dependent on agriculture, but the group suffer from increasing social problems, deterioration of living standards, and government neglect. The area inhabited by the group lack most government services, such as a functioning law enforcement agency.

It has not been possible to establish whether the Wayai subclan of Takima had connections to any other actor or group.