| Central Province | |
| Coordinates: | -9.5°N 187°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Papua New Guinea |
| Parts Type: | Districts |
| Parts Style: | list |
| P1: | Abau District |
| P2: | Goilala District |
| P3: | Kairuku-Hiri District |
| P4: | Rigo District |
| P5: | Hiri-Koiari District |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Port Moresby |
| Area Total Km2: | 29998 |
| Population Total: | 269756 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Main languages |
| Leader Title1: | Governor |
| Leader Name1: | Rufina Peter |
| Timezone1: | AEST |
| Utc Offset1: | +10 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2018) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.556[1] · 10th of 22 |
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 29998km2 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,[2] although there has been little progress in constructing it.[3]
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).
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.[4] [5]
| District | District Capital | LLG Name |
|---|---|---|
| Abau District | Abau | Amazon Bay Rural |
| Aroma Rural | ||
| Cloudy Bay Rural | ||
| Goilala District | Tapini | Guari Rural |
| Tapini Rural | ||
| Woitape Rural | ||
| Kairuku District | Bereina | Kairuku Rural |
| Mekeo Kuni Rural | ||
| Rigo District | Kwikila | Rigo Central Rural |
| Rigo Coastal Rural | ||
| Rigo Inland Rural | ||
| Hiri-Koiari | Bautama | Hiri Rural |
| Koiari Rural |
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.[6] [7]
| Premier | Term |
|---|---|
| 1976–1978 | |
| 1978–1982 | |
| 1983 | |
| 1983–1984 | |
| 1984–1987 | |
| 1988–1991 | |
| 1991–1993 | |
| 1993–1995 | |
| Governor | Term | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995–1997 | ||
| 1997–1999 | ||
| 1999 | ||
| 1999–2002 | ||
| 2002–2012 | ||
| 2012–2017 | ||
| Robert Agarobe | 2017–2022 | |
| Rufina Peter | 2022–present |
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 | |
| Sir Puka Temu | ||
| Casmiro Aia | ||
| Peter Isoaimo | ||
| Sir Ano Pala | ||
| Hiri-koiari Open | Keith Iduhu |