Western Highlands Province
Westen Hailans Provins (Tok Pisin)
Flag of Western Highlands Province
Flag
Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea
Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea
Coordinates: 5°40′S 144°30′E / 5.667°S 144.500°E / -5.667; 144.500
CountryPapua New Guinea
CapitalMount Hagen
Districts
List
Government
 • GovernorPaias Wingti 2012-
Area
 • Total4,299 km2 (1,660 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total362,580
 • Density84/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+10 (AEST)
HDI (2019)0.585[1]
medium · 8th of 22

Western Highlands is a province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Mount Hagen. The province covers an area of 4,299 km2, and there are 362,850 inhabitants (2011 census), making the Western Highlands the most densely populated province (apart from the National Capital District). Tea and coffee are grown in the Western Highlands.

Split to create Jiwaka Province

In July 2009, Parliament passed legislation to create two new provinces by 2012. One of these was to be created by removing Jimi District, North Waghi District, and the South Waghi part of Anglimp-South Waghi District from the Western Highlands Province to form the new Jiwaka Province.[2] "Jiwaka" is a portmanteau combining the first two letters each of Jimi, Waghi and Kambia.

Jiwaka Province officially came into being on 17 May 2012.[3]

Economy

The Western Highlands economy is primarily based on coffee. Coffee is grown on plantations and small-holder blocks. They are picked, dried and processed for export. In addition, tea is also a major crop grown and processed, but in plantations by W. R. Carpenter & Co Ltd for local consumption and export. Apart from these, vegetables are grown for the domestic market, and sold mainly to markets Lae and Port Moresby.[clarification needed]

Districts and LLGs

Since the separation of Jiwaka there are now four districts in the province. 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][6]

District District Capital LLG Name
Dei District Dei Dei Rural (Muglamp)
Kotna Rural
Mount Hagen District Mount Hagen Mount Hagen Rural
Mount Hagen Urban
Mul-Baiyer District Baiyer Baiyer Rural
Lumusa Rural
Mul Rural
Tambul-Nebilyer District Tambul Mount Giluwe Rural
Nebilyer Rural

Provincial leaders

The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1978 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.[7][8]

Premiers (1978–1995)

Premier Term
Nambuga Mara 1978–1984
Kagul Koroka 1984
Philip Kapal 1984–1987
provincial government suspended 1987
Philip Kapal 1987–1990
Lukas Roika 1990–1992
provincial government suspended 1992–1995

Governors (1995–present)

Governor Term
Paias Wingti 1995–1997
Robert Lak 1997–2002
Paias Wingti 2002–2007
Tom Olga 2007–2012
Paias Wingti 2017–2022
Wai Rapa Since 2022

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
Western Provincial Wai RAPA
Baiyer-Mul Open Jacob Maki
Dei Open Steven Pim
Hagen Open William Duma
Tambul-Nebilyer Open Win Bakri Daki

References

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  2. ^ "PNG to create two new provinces" Archived 2014-10-24 at the Wayback Machine, Sydney Morning Herald, July 15, 2009
  3. ^ "PNG’S new province Hela, Jiwaka declared" Archived 2012-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, The National, 17 May 2012
  4. ^ National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea
  5. ^ "Census Figures by Wards - Highlands Region". 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 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Provinces". rulers.org. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2017.


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