The Garamut is Papua New Guinea’s leading political blog and was established in 2008.
Deni ToKunai (aka “Tavurvur”) studied business and law at the University of Waikato, New Zealand.
He hails from Duke of York Island in East New Britain and is the third of four siblings to a Papua New Guinean father and New Zealand mother.
While studying in NZ, Deni became the first Papua New Guinean to be elected as SRC President of a NZ University in 2010, and was successfully re-elected for a second term in 2011.
He has served on several boards and held several directorships in various capacities, most notably the Waikato University Council under the leadership of former NZ Prime Minister Jim Bolger; University Sport NZ; NZ Tertiary Education Commission’s LAC; and as Chairman of Student Job Search Inc NZ.
In 2008, Deni started his leading political blog The Garamut using the nom de guerre “Tavurvur” and has secured a growing loyal readership – both domestically and internationally.
He has established himself as one of PNG social media’s leading political commentators and is regularly interviewed and quoted by media organizations in Australia and around the Pacific.
Deni’s observations and political commentary have been reported in the New York Times and The Economist, and his blog posts and tweets are regularly picked up and reported on by Australian media and New Zealand media including industry publications and news websites.
In 2012, The Garamut gained international acknowledgement as the number one source of information and news about the PNG 2012 National Election.
