Central Province
Sentral Provins (Tok Pisin)
Flag of Central Province
Flag
Central Province in Papua New Guinea
Central Province in Papua New Guinea
Coordinates: 9°30′S 147°40′E / 9.500°S 147.667°E / -9.500; 147.667
CountryPapua New Guinea
CapitalPort Moresby
Districts
List
Government
 • GovernorRufina Peter
Area
 • Total29,998 km2 (11,582 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total269,756
 • Density9.0/km2 (23/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+10 (AEST)
HDI (2018)0.556[1]
medium · 10th of 22

Central Province is a province in Papua New Guinea located on the southern coast of the country. It has a population of 237,016 (2010 census) people and is 29,998 square kilometres (11,582 sq mi) in size. The seat of government of Central Province, which is located within the National Capital District outside the province, is the Port Moresby suburb of Konedobu. On 9 October 2007, the Central Province government announced plans to build a new provincial capital city at Bautama, which lies within Central Province near Port Moresby,[2] although there has been little progress in constructing it.[3]

Whereas Tok Pisin is the main lingua franca in all Papua New Guinean towns, in part of the southern mainland coastal area centred on Central Province, Hiri Motu is a stronger lingua franca (but not in Port Moresby).

Districts and LLGs

Each province in Papua New Guinea has one or more districts, and each district has one or more Local Level Government (LLG) areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.[4][5]

District District Capital LLG Name
Abau District Abau Amazon Bay Rural
Aroma Rural
Cloudy Bay Rural
Goilala District Tapini Guari Rural
Tapini Rural
Woitape Rural
Kairuku District Bereina Kairuku Rural
Mekeo Kuni Rural
Rigo District Kwikila Rigo Central Rural
Rigo Coastal Rural
Rigo Inland Rural
Hiri-Koiari Bautama Hiri Rural
Koiari Rural

Provincial leaders

The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1976 to 1995. Following reforms taking effect that year, the national government reassumed some powers, and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor, to be held by the winner of the province-wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.[6][7]

Premiers (1976–1995)

Premier Term
Gau Henao 1976–1978
Rina Nau 1978–1982
Kone Vanuawaru 1983
Reuben Taureka 1983–1984
Kone Vanuawaru 1984–1987
Emmanuel Ume 1988–1991
Isaiah Oda 1991–1993
Paul Kipo 1993–1995

Governors (1995–present)

Governor Term
John Orea 1995–1997
Ted Diro 1997–1999
Ajax Bia 1999
Opa Taureka 1999–2002
Alphonse Moroi 2002–2012
Kila Haoda 2012–2017
Robert Agarobe 2017–2022
Rufina Peter 2022–present

Members of the National Parliament

The province and each district is represented by a Member of the National Parliament. There is one provincial electorate and each district is an open electorate.

Electorate Member
Central Provincial Rufina Peter
Abau Open Sir Puka Temu
Goilala Open Casmiro Aia
Kairuku Open Peter Isoaimo
Rigo Open Sir Ano Pala
Hiri-koiari Open Keith Iduhu

Notable people

Sources/further reading

References

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  2. ^ "K300m Central capital to emerge at Bautama". The National. 9 October 2007.
  3. ^ Pascoe, Noel (20 August 2010). "Donor agencies to fund hospital". PNG Post-Courier. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  4. ^ National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea
  5. ^ "Final Figures". www.nso.gov.pg. 2011 National Population and Housing Census: Ward Population Profile. Port Moresby: National Statistical Office, Papua New Guinea. 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  6. ^ May, R. J. "8. Decentralisation: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back". State and society in Papua New Guinea: the first twenty-five years. Australian National University. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Provinces". rulers.org. Retrieved 31 March 2017.



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