Oala Oala-Rarua (12 June 1934 – 17 May 1980) was a Papua New Guinean educator, civil servant, trade unionist, politician and diplomat. He served as a member of the House of Assembly and Assistant Minister for the Treasury between 1968 and 1972, later becoming the first Lord Mayor of Port Moresby and High Commissioner to Australia.
Biography Oala-Rarua was born in Pari in June 1934, the son of Asi (née Daroa) and Oala Oala-Rarua.Oala-Rarua, Oala (1934–1980) Australian Dictionary of Biography He was educated at local schools, before training to be a teacher at Sogeri. He initially worked at a teacher at the same school in Sogeri, before moving onto the Kwato missionary school in Milne Bay in 1955. In 1957 he was appointed headmaster of Kerepuni school, and later studied at the University of Papua New Guinea. In 1961 he unsuccessfully contested elections to the Legislative Council. In 1962 he moved to Port Moresby to become an assistant to Assistant Administrator John Thomson Gunther. He joined the Welder's Club of Port Moresby, and was elected president of the Port Moresby Workers' Association the same year, a role he held until 1965.Oala Oala-Rarua is out of P-NG trade unionism Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1970, p34 He also became a member of the territory's Council of Girl Guides Association.Members of the Second House of Assembly, p44
In 1964 he contested the elections to the House of Assembly in the Moresby constituency, losing to Eriko Rarupu. The following year he founded the United National Party,Industrial Disputes Create Fair Winds for New Party Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1965, p25 after which he resigned from the civil service.No Kenyatta for New Guinea? The Bulletin, September 1965, p36 In 1967 he was involved in the establishment of the Pangu Party and was elected to the House from the Central Provincial constituency in the 1968 elections. Following the elections, he was appointed Assistant Minister for the Treasury. In 1971 he was a candidate to become Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission. However, after a tie in the first round of voting, he withdrew from the contest, allowing Fred Betham to win.SPC decision postponed Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1971, p13 Rather like a wake at the SPC Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1971, p27
Oala-Rarua did not run for re-election in 1972 after being appointed to the Public Services Conciliation and Arbitration Tribunal.Oala-Rarua to take govt job Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 4 February 1972 He had been elected president of Port Moresby local council in 1971, and became its first Lord Mayor when it was granted city status later in 1972.Our first city Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 14 April 1972 In 1974 he was appointed High Commissioner to Australia,Arrival in Australia of Papua New Guinea Government Commissioner Government of Australia After resigning from the role in late 1976,People Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1976, p20 he unsuccessfully ran in the Moresby South constituency in the 1977 elections.Papua New Guinea Election Results 1972–2012 Development Policy Centre He subsequently went into business.
He died in Port Moresby General Hospital in May 1980 after suffering a stroke, survived by his wife and five children.Oala Oala-Rarua Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1980, p82Political pioneer dies in hospital Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 19 May 1980
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