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 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, although there has been little progress in constructing it.

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.National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea

District District Capital LLG Name Abau District Abau Amazon Bay Rural Aroma Rural Cloudy Bay Rural Goilala District Tapini Guari Rural Tapini Rural Woitape RuralKairuku DistrictBereina Kairuku Rural Mekeo Kuni Rural Rigo District Kwikila Rigo Central Rural Rigo Coastal Rural Rigo Inland RuralHiri-KoiariBautamaHiri RuralKoiari 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.

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 2012–2017Robert Agarobe2017–2022Rufina Peter2022–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 PalaHiri-koiari OpenKeith Iduhu

Notable people

Julia Mage’au Gray (born 1973) - choreographer and tattoo artist.

Sources/further reading Hanson, L.W., Allen, B.J., Bourke, R.M. and McCarthy, T.J. (2001). Papua New Guinea Rural Development Handbook. Land Management Group, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra. Available as a 30 Megabyte PDF .

References

eo:Okcidenta Provinco (Papuo)