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A line of men in feather headress with black and white face decorations

Papuan cultural group performs at an event attended by provincial leaders Photo: ( RNZ / Koroi Hawkins )

Until recently, access for foreign media to Indonesia's region of Papua, known as West Papua, has been heavily restricted.

But after Indonesia's new president, Joko Widodo, recently signalled restrictions were being lifted, Radio New Zealand International journalists  Johnny Blades and Koroi Hawkins gained rare access to the province.

They found a corner of Indonesia which has undergone rapid change, leaving the indigenous people of Papua struggling to participate in development but determined to protect their culture and rights.

Insight asks how West Papuans are faring under Indonesian rule, and what kind of future they face.