East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, consisting of the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and the Duke of York Islands. The capital of the province is Kokopo, not far from the old capital of Rabaul, which was largely destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 1994. East New Britain covers a total land area of 15,816 square kilometres (6,107 sq mi), and the province's population was reported as 220,133 in the 2000 census, rising to 328,369 in the 2011 count.[2] Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 square metres (26 acres). The province's only land border is with West New Britain Province to the west, and it also shares a maritime border with New Ireland Province to the east.

East New Britain Province
Is Niu Briten Provins (Tok Pisin)
Flag of East New Britain Province
East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea
East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea
Coordinates: 5°10′S 151°45′E / 5.167°S 151.750°E / -5.167; 151.750
CountryPapua New Guinea
Formation1976
CapitalKokopo
Districts
Government
 • GovernorMichael Marum
Area
 • Total15,724 km2 (6,071 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total328,369
 • Density21/km2 (54/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+10 (AEST)
HDI (2019)0.600[1]
medium · 3rd of 22
Websitewww.eastnewbritain.gov.pg

East New Britain has a dual economy: a cash economy operates side by side with the subsistence-farming sector. The main crops produced for export are cocoa and copra. Tourism continues to be an increasingly important sector of the provincial economy.

Languages

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There are sixteen Austronesian languages spoken in the province, of which Kuanua, spoken by the Tolai on the Gazelle Peninsula is the most widely spoken. Papuan languages are also spoken in the province, including the Baining, Taulil, Ata, Kol, Makolkol, and Sulka languages.

Districts and LLGs

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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.[3]

District District Capital LLG Name
Gazelle District Kerevat Central Gazelle Rural
Inland Baining Rural
Lassul Baining Rural
Livuan-Reimber Rural
Toma-Vunadidir Rural
Kokopo District Kokopo Bitapaka Rural
Duke of York Rural
Kokopo-Vunamami Urban
Raluana Rural
Pomio District Pomio Central-Inland Pomio Rural
East Pomio Rural
Melkoi Rural
Sinivit Rural
West Pomio-Mamusi Rural
Rabaul District Rabaul Balanataman Rural
Kombiu Rural
Rabaul Urban
Watom Island Rural

Provincial leaders

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The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1977 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)

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Premier Term
Koniel Alar 1977–1978
Ereman Tobaining Sr. 1978–1980
Jacob Timele 1980–1981
Ronald ToVue 1981–1989
Sinai Brown 1989–1995

Governors (1995–present)

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Governor Term
Francis Koimanrea (died 2019) 1995–2000
Leo Dion 2000–2012
Ereman Tobaining Jr. 2012–2017
Nakikus Konga 2017–2022
Michael Marum 2022–present

Members of the National Parliament

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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
East New Britain Provincial Michael Marum
Gazelle Open Jelta Wong
Kokopo Open Ereman ToBaining Jr
Pomio Open Elias Kapavore
Rabaul Open Allan Marat

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  2. ^ "Papua New Guinea: Provinces, Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Pacific Regional Statistics - Secretariat of the Pacific Community". www.spc.int. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  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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