"MMJV was asked to provide logistical and medical assistance to the trekkers injured in the attack," a spokesman from the Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold JV said.

"They were brought back to Wau from the scene where they were treated by our exploration medical team.

"We also assisted to fly the wounded porters to Lae for treatment. The ex-pat trekkers are all back in Port Moresby now."

As is widely reported, four Australian trekkers were injured while two of their guides were killed and another five of them were badly injured when a group of armed men attacked their campsite on the Black Cat track in Morobe Province around dusk.

The group of trekkers totalled seven Australians and one New Zealander, with three of them escaping injuries.

All of their equipment was stolen and two porters were reportedly hacked to death, which coincides with how they are typically used to carry backpacks and gear during expeditions.

However, the ABC reported that a source close to local police said there was talk the attack could have stemmed from a disagreement between porters from PNG's lowlands and local highlanders.

"This is the first ever trouble that we've had on any track in Papua New Guinea," PNG Trekking Adventures spokesman Mark Hitchcock reportedly said.

"It's a difficult track - the Black Cat track - and there have been some issues with other companies a long time ago but of recent time there's been a lot development gone into the track since 2005."

The injured porters reportedly received more serious wounds than the trekkers and were medically evacuated to Lae.

MMJV operates the Hidden Valley gold and silver mine and also owns the Wafi-Golpu copper-gold project in the province.