Southern Highlands (Papua New Guinea)
Encyclopedia
Southern Highlands is a province in Papua New Guinea
. Its provincial capital is the town of Mendi
. According to Papua New Guinea's national 2000 census, the total population of Southern Highlands is 546,265 spread across 23800 square kilometres (9,189.2 sq mi), which makes it the most highly populated province in the country.
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.
. There is one provincial electorate
and each district is an open electorate. The following table lists Members before and after the 2007 general election
.
, troops were deployed to restore 'law, order and good governance' in the region, following accusations of corruption, theft and misuse of government buildings at the hands of the regional government.
As a region rich in energy resources, the Southern Highlands was at the centre of plans to construct a gas pipeline to pump natural gas to Queensland
in north Australia
. The project would have resulted in much needed revenue for Papua New Guinea, and as it was believed that the instability in the region could jeopardise the project, the national government decided to intervene by declaring a state of emergency. The move was supported by Parliament, although some criticism was leveled at the government for restricting press access to the region while the state of emergency was in force. The companies involved in the project have re-designed the project to now have a pipeline which will carry gas by pipeline initially to the coast, and then underwater to a site near Port Moresby where the gas will be liquefied and loaded onto ships for transfer to predominantly Asian customers.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. Its provincial capital is the town of Mendi
Mendi
Mendi, Papua New Guinea, is the provincial capital of the Southern Highlands Province....
. According to Papua New Guinea's national 2000 census, the total population of Southern Highlands is 546,265 spread across 23800 square kilometres (9,189.2 sq mi), which makes it the most highly populated province in the country.
Split to create Hela Province
In July 2009, Parliament passed legislation to create two new provinces by 2012. One of these is to be created by removing the districts of Tari-Pori, Komo-Magarima, and Koroba-Kopiago from the Southern Highlands Province to form the new Hela Province.Regions
The province is divided into roughly four distinct geographic regions:- The West: which includes the districts of Tari, Koroba, Kopiago and Komo - the home of the HuliHuli peopleThe Huli are an indigenous people that live in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Latest estimates put their numbers at around 150,000, while they have been living in the area where they now reside for about 1000 years...
, Duna, and HewaHewaThe Hewa are an indigenous people that live in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea near the junction of the Strickland and Lagaip rivers. They number about 2,000 persons, and their rugged rainforest terrain comprises about , some of which was unexplored until 2008...
peoples. - The Centre: which includes the districts of Margarima, Nipa, Mendi and the Lai Valley, and is the home of the speakers of dialects of the Anggal Heneng language.
- The East: which includes the districts of Kagua, IalibuIalibuIalibu is a town in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, serving as the headquarters for the Ialibu-Pangia District.-Culture:...
, Pangia and Erave, and is the home of the speakers of the Imbongu, Kewa, and Wiru languages, and home to the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea, Mount GiluweMount GiluweMount Giluwe is the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea at . It is located in the Southern Highlands province and is an old shield volcano with vast alpine grasslands. Ancient volcanic plugs form its two summits, with the central peak the highest and an east peak about away at...
. - The Lowlands: which stretch across the southern part of the Southern Highlands province from the volcanic peaks of Mount BosaviMount BosaviMount Bosavi is a mountain in the Southern Highlands province, Papua New Guinea. It is the collapsed cone of an extinct volcano on the Great Papuan Plateau, part of the Kikori River basin. The crater is approximately 4 km wide and 1 km deep; it is home to a number of unique species.Part...
to include the oilfields of Lake KutubuLake KutubuLake Kutubu is a lake in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies to the east of the Kikori River, into which it eventually drains. It is about 50 km southwest of Mendi, the provincial capital. It is one of the few lakes in the country that occurs in a depression in the...
, and includes the language groups of Biami (shared with Western Province) Foe, and Fasu.
Districts and LLGs
There are eight districtsDistricts and LLGs of Papua New Guinea
||This page is a list of districts and Local-Level Government areas of Papua New Guinea.On the highest level, Papua New Guinea is divided into four Regions. Below, Papua New Guinea has 20 province-level divisions: 18 integrated provinces, the autonomous province of North Solomons and the National...
in the province. Each district has one or more Local Level Government (LLG) areas. For census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.
| District | District Capital | LLG Name |
|---|---|---|
| Ialibu-Pangia District Ialibu-Pangia District Ialibu-Pangia District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Ialibu. The population was 50,243 at the 2000 census.... |
Ialibu Ialibu Ialibu is a town in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, serving as the headquarters for the Ialibu-Pangia District.-Culture:... |
East Pangia Rural |
| Ialibu Urban | ||
| Kewabi Rural | ||
| Wiru Rural | ||
| Imbonggu District Imbonggu District Imbonggu District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Imbonggu. The population was 59,813 at the 2000 census.... |
Imbonggu | Ialibu Basin Rural |
| Imbongu Rural | ||
| Lower Mendi Rural | ||
| Kagua-Erave District Kagua-Erave District Kagua-Erave District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Kagua. The population was 54,640 at the 2000 census.... |
Kagua | Erave Rural |
| Kagua Rural | ||
| Kuare Rural | ||
| Komo-Magarima District Komo-Magarima District Komo-Magarima District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Magarima. The population was 63,895 at the 2000 census.... |
Magarima | Hulia Rural |
| Komo Rural | ||
| Margarima Rural | ||
| Koroba-Kopiago District Koroba-Kopiago District Koroba-Kopiago District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Kopiago. The population was 69,465 at the 2000 census.... |
Kopiago | Awi-Pori Rural |
| Lake Kopiago Rural | ||
| North Koroba Rural | ||
| South Koroba Rural | ||
| Mendi-Munihu District Mendi-Munihu District Mendi-Munihu District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Mendi. The population was 96,137 at the 2000 census.... |
Mendi Mendi Mendi, Papua New Guinea, is the provincial capital of the Southern Highlands Province.... |
Karints Rural |
| Lai Valley Rural | ||
| Mendi Urban | ||
| Upper Mendi Rural | ||
| Nipa-Kutubu District Nipa-Kutubu District Nipa-Kutubu District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Nipa. The population was 98,261 at the 2000 census.... |
Nipa | Lake Kutubu Rural |
| Mount Bosavi Rural | ||
| Nembi Plateau Rural | ||
| Nipa Rural | ||
| Poroma Rural | ||
| Tari-Pori District Tari-Pori District Tari-Pori District is a district of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Tari. The population was 51,898 at the 2000 census.... |
Tari Tari, Papua New Guinea Tari Is the centre of Huli country in the Southern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea. It is the second largest settlement in the province, and accessible by road from Mendi.-Aviation Accidents:... |
Hayapuga Rural |
| Tagali Rural | ||
| Tari Urban | ||
| Tebi Rural |
Members of the National Parliament
The province and each district is represented by a Member of the National ParliamentNational Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
. There is one provincial electorate
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
and each district is an open electorate. The following table lists Members before and after the 2007 general election
Results of the Papua New Guinean general election, 2007
Counting of the official results of the Papua New Guinean general election to elect members of the 2007–2012 National Parliament, held from 30 June 2007 to 14 July 2007, was largely completed by 6 August, the deadline for the return of writs. Counting in two seats was delayed for a further few days...
.
| Electorate | Previous member (party) | 2007 winner (party) |
|---|---|---|
| Nipa Yawari (PCP PNG Conservative Party The PNG Conservative Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 1 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections, but its member of parliament subsequently joined another party.... ) |
Anderson Agiru (URP United Resources Party The United Resources Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 5 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections... ) |
|
| Ialibu-Pangia Open | Peter O'Neill Peter O'Neill Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is the leader of the People's National Congress and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia.-Biography:... (PNC People's National Congress Party The People's National Congress Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. Its former leader Bill Skate served as prime minister from 1997 to 1999 and as speaker of Parliament from 2002 to 2004. Skate died in 2006 and the party is now led by Peter O’Neill.... ) |
Peter O'Neill Peter O'Neill Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is the leader of the People's National Congress and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia.-Biography:... (PNC People's National Congress Party The People's National Congress Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. Its former leader Bill Skate served as prime minister from 1997 to 1999 and as speaker of Parliament from 2002 to 2004. Skate died in 2006 and the party is now led by Peter O’Neill.... ) |
| Imbonggu Open | Timothy Tala (NA National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea) The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance... ) |
Francis Awesa (PNGP) |
| Kagua-Erave Open | David Basua (NA National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea) The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance... ) |
James Lagea James Lagea James Lagea is a Papua New Guinea politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Kagua-Erave Open... (elected as PNGCP PNG Conservative Party The PNG Conservative Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 1 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections, but its member of parliament subsequently joined another party.... then joined NA National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea) The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance... ) |
| Komo-Margarima Open | Balus Libe (PLP People's Labour Party (Papua New Guinea) The People's Labour Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea.At the last legislative elections, 30 June–14 July 2007, the party won 2 seats .... ) |
Francis Potape (NGP New Generation Party (Papua New Guinea) The New Generation Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 4 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections... ) |
| Koroba-Lake Kopiago Open | John Kekeno (PAP People's Action Party (Papua New Guinea) The People's Action Party is a right-of-centre political party in Papua New Guinea.At the legislative elections in June 2002, the party won 5 out of 109 seats in total . At the last legislative elections, in June and July 2007, the party won 6 seats. It supports the government of Prime Minister... ) |
John Kekeno (PAP People's Action Party (Papua New Guinea) The People's Action Party is a right-of-centre political party in Papua New Guinea.At the legislative elections in June 2002, the party won 5 out of 109 seats in total . At the last legislative elections, in June and July 2007, the party won 6 seats. It supports the government of Prime Minister... ) |
| Mendi Open | Michael Nali Michael Nali Michael Nali CBE is a Papua New Guinean politician. He was the leader of the People's Progress Party from 2002 to 2007 and was Member of Parliament for the electorate of Mendi Open, in Southern Highlands Province, from 1992 until 2007. During this period he held various ministerial positions,... (PPP People's Progress Party The People's Progress Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It is led by Sir Julius Chan, and has 4 of 109 seats in parliament.It was founded in 1968 by Chan, who was Prime Minister from 1980 to 1982 and 1994 to 1997. Chan’s second government was brought down by the Sandline Affair and... ) |
Isaac Joseph Isaac Joseph Isaac Joseph is a Papua New Guinea politician. He has been a New Generation Party member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Mendi Open.... (NGP New Generation Party (Papua New Guinea) The New Generation Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 4 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections... ) |
| Nipa-Kutubu Open | Robert Kopaol (Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... ) |
Philemon Embel (PANGU Pangu Party The Pangu Party or Papua and Niugini Union Pati is a political party in Papua New Guinea.It was founded in 1968 by Michael Somare, who served as prime minister of Papua New Guinea as the leader of the Pangu Party from 1972 to 1980 and from 1982 to 1985... ) |
| Tari Open | Tom Tomiape (RDP Rural Development Party The Rural Development Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. The party won 4 out of 109 seats in the 2007 General Elections... ) |
James Marabe James Marabe James Marabe is a Papua New Guinea politician. He has been a National Alliance member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari Open.... (NA National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea) The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance... ) |
Declaration of state of emergency in Southern Highlands region
On 1 August 2006, the government of Papua New Guinea declared a state of emergency in the country's Southern Highlands region. According to Prime Minister Sir Michael SomareMichael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
, troops were deployed to restore 'law, order and good governance' in the region, following accusations of corruption, theft and misuse of government buildings at the hands of the regional government.
As a region rich in energy resources, the Southern Highlands was at the centre of plans to construct a gas pipeline to pump natural gas to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in north Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The project would have resulted in much needed revenue for Papua New Guinea, and as it was believed that the instability in the region could jeopardise the project, the national government decided to intervene by declaring a state of emergency. The move was supported by Parliament, although some criticism was leveled at the government for restricting press access to the region while the state of emergency was in force. The companies involved in the project have re-designed the project to now have a pipeline which will carry gas by pipeline initially to the coast, and then underwater to a site near Port Moresby where the gas will be liquefied and loaded onto ships for transfer to predominantly Asian customers.