Permanent presence to support Lae City Authority and partner with Morobe businesses on digitisation and automation as local government services move online
LAE, Monday 28 September 2026: NiuPay, the Papua New Guinean technology company that designs, builds and operates mission-critical digital platforms for government and enterprise, today announced that it is establishing a permanent presence in Lae.
The announcement was made at the Lae City Authority Digital Modernisation Information Breakfast at the Lae International Hotel, hosted by the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Lae City Authority (LCA), on the same day LCA ended over-the-counter Land Tax payments in favour of its online ServiceLink platform.
The Lae presence will provide on-the-ground support for LCA and ServiceLink users, as well as a local team to support businesses across Lae and Morobe Province that want to digitise services, automate processes and move payments online.
“Today Lae takes a big step forward. Land Tax is now paid online through ServiceLink, not at the counter. That means no queues, no cash and a proper record of every payment for every business and resident.
“We look forward to bringing more of the city’s services online, starting with trading licences and permits.”
Robin Calistus, Chief Executive Officer, Lae City Authority
“My own registration on ServiceLink took three minutes. For a lot of Lae businesses, paying the city used to take half a day. That difference is why we’re here.
“For months our team has been flying in and out of Lae. Today we’re putting down roots. Lae City Authority, and every business in this city that wants to digitise, automate and move faster, will have a local team to work with. When they need help, they won’t be calling Port Moresby. They’ll be calling their neighbours.
“The only test that matters is whether someone is better off. Being here, alongside the people of Lae, is how we make sure the answer is yes.”
Trevor Manokore, Chief Operating Officer, NiuPay
ServiceLink: what Lae businesses and residents can do today
Through ServiceLink, businesses and residents can register an account, link their properties, pay Land Tax online at any time by card or EFT, view their property statements and keep a digital record of every payment. Payment of trading licence and permit fees is planned next.
Businesses are asked to nominate one authorised person to manage their account and billing, and to notify LCA if that person leaves. Assisted registration is available through LCA’s support team, and a radio awareness campaign is running on NBC Radio Morobe in English and Tok Pisin.
Part of PNG’s national digital agenda
The move supports Papua New Guinea’s Digital Government Plan 2023–2027, which aims to digitise and automate public services nationally. Lae, the start of the Highlands Highway, is home to the country’s largest port, which handles more than half of PNG’s import and export cargo, making it a natural place to show what digital government can do for business.
Local people, local capability
NiuPay intends to recruit its Lae team locally and to work with the PNG University of Technology (Unitech) on graduate intakes.
