Western Highlands Province

Western Highlands Province

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Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea
Coordinates: 5°40′S 144°30′E / 5.667°S 144.500°E / -5.667; 144.500
Country Papua New Guinea
Capital Mount Hagen
Districts
List
Government
 • Governor Paias Wingti 2012-
Area
 • Total 4,299 km2 (1,660 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
 • Total 362,580
 • Density 84/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+10 (AEST)

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.[1] "Jiwaka" is a portanteau word combining the first two letters each of Jimi, Waghi and Kambia.

Jiwaka Province officially came into being on 17 May 2012.[2]

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.

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.[3]

DistrictDistrict CapitalLLG Name
Dei District Dei Muglamp Rural
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 Nebilyer 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.[4][5]

Premiers (1978–1995)

Premier Term
Nambuga Mara1978–1984
Kagel Koroka1984
Philip Kapal1984–1987
provincial government suspended1987
Philip Kapal1987–1990
Lukas Roika1990–1992
provincial government suspended1992–1995

Governors (1995–present)

Premier Term
Paias Wingti1995–1997
Robert Lak1997–2002
Paias Wingti2002–2007
Tom Olga2007–2012
Paias Wingti2012–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.

Premier Term
Western ProvincialPaias Wingti
Baiyer-Mul OpenKoi Trape
Dei OpenWesley Nukundj
Hagen OpenWilliam Duma
Tambul-Nebilyer OpenWin Bakri Daki

References

  1. ↑ "PNG to create two new provinces", Sydney Morning Herald, July 15, 2009
  2. ↑ "PNG’S new province Hela, Jiwaka declared", The National, 17 May 2012
  3. ↑ National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Provinces". rulers.org. Retrieved 31 March 2017.


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