Papua New Guiniea's Provinces and People - East New Britain Province

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting East New Britain Province

East New Britain Provincial flag

East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes 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 the 1994 volcanic eruption. East New Britain covers a total land area of 15,816 km², and the province has an estimated population of 220,133 (2000 census). Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 m².

Some facts

East New Britain lies between 4 and 6 degrees south of the equator and was one of the first areas in PNG to be visited by early explorers and navigators. It covers a total land area of 15, 816 sq kms much of which is rugged mountainous terrain covered by tropical rainforest. Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 square kilometres.

Population

The estimated population of the province is 230, 000 made up mainly of Tolais. People who live in East New Britain are of Melanesian descent, speaking Australasian languages of which there are sixteen.

“Kuanua” which the Tolais speak is the main language of the Gazelle Peninsula. English is also widely spoken and understood. 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.

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.

Brief Political History

Local Government Councils were established in the province during the colonial era. between 1960 and 1970 these smaller councils were amalgamated into three large Council Areas, namely the Gazelle, Greater Toma and Mengen. East New Britain attaned Provincial Government status in 1976 with sixteen appointed members in the first Interim Provincial Government (IPG).

Tavurvur Volcano - after the major eruption

The IPG was later responsible for developing the East New Britain Provincial Government Constitution. The first Provincial Government was formely inaugurated on 3th July 1976. Since 1981 East New Britain Provincial Governments have been very stable with only one attempted “vote of no confidence”.

Environment

The tropical nature of the province, with its evergreen rainforest vegetation and rugged mountain ranges, the imposing volcanoes which surround the town of Rabaul and the beautiful Simpson Harbour as well as the friendliness of the local people, have made East New Britain an attractive and adventurous holiday destination.

Putput Sandy Beach - Good for picnicking

The climate consists of two main seasons, the wet, November to April and dry, May to October. East New Britain is also home to numerous colourful birds which include the famous hornbills, parrots and megapodes, whose eggs are selectively harvested from deep in the hot volcanic ash to provide food and income for the local people.

Rabaul which is built on an ancient volcanic crater, is surrounded by six volcanoes which add beauty and are natural attraction to the town of Rabaul. Simpson harbour is one of the deepest in Papua New Guinea and can accommodate some of the world's largest cruise ships bringing tourists to the town, the Gazelle Peninsula and the Province.

Map of PNG - ENBP is circled in red colour

The marine resources in the East New Britain are diverse. The clear warm blue waters provide a home for a great colourful corals, fish and World War II relics, whist scuba-diving and snorkelling can be undertaken at Tavui Submarine Bay, Kulau Lodge , Duke Of York Islands, Baining and Pomio, or for that matter anywhere along the many kilometers of beautiful beaches in the Province. For more information about the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea, click here.

Papua New Guiniea's Provinces and People - East New Britain Province

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting East New Britain Province

East New Britain Provincial flag

East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes 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 the 1994 volcanic eruption. East New Britain covers a total land area of 15,816 km², and the province has an estimated population of 220,133 (2000 census). Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 m².

Some facts

East New Britain lies between 4 and 6 degrees south of the equator and was one of the first areas in PNG to be visited by early explorers and navigators. It covers a total land area of 15, 816 sq kms much of which is rugged mountainous terrain covered by tropical rainforest. Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 square kilometres.

Population

The estimated population of the province is 230, 000 made up mainly of Tolais. People who live in East New Britain are of Melanesian descent, speaking Australasian languages of which there are sixteen.

“Kuanua” which the Tolais speak is the main language of the Gazelle Peninsula. English is also widely spoken and understood. 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.

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.

Brief Political History

Local Government Councils were established in the province during the colonial era. between 1960 and 1970 these smaller councils were amalgamated into three large Council Areas, namely the Gazelle, Greater Toma and Mengen. East New Britain attaned Provincial Government status in 1976 with sixteen appointed members in the first Interim Provincial Government (IPG).

Tavurvur Volcano - after the major eruption

The IPG was later responsible for developing the East New Britain Provincial Government Constitution. The first Provincial Government was formely inaugurated on 3th July 1976. Since 1981 East New Britain Provincial Governments have been very stable with only one attempted “vote of no confidence”.

Environment

The tropical nature of the province, with its evergreen rainforest vegetation and rugged mountain ranges, the imposing volcanoes which surround the town of Rabaul and the beautiful Simpson Harbour as well as the friendliness of the local people, have made East New Britain an attractive and adventurous holiday destination.

Putput Sandy Beach - Good for picnicking

The climate consists of two main seasons, the wet, November to April and dry, May to October. East New Britain is also home to numerous colourful birds which include the famous hornbills, parrots and megapodes, whose eggs are selectively harvested from deep in the hot volcanic ash to provide food and income for the local people.

Rabaul which is built on an ancient volcanic crater, is surrounded by six volcanoes which add beauty and are natural attraction to the town of Rabaul. Simpson harbour is one of the deepest in Papua New Guinea and can accommodate some of the world's largest cruise ships bringing tourists to the town, the Gazelle Peninsula and the Province.

Map of PNG - ENBP is circled in red colour

The marine resources in the East New Britain are diverse. The clear warm blue waters provide a home for a great colourful corals, fish and World War II relics, whist scuba-diving and snorkelling can be undertaken at Tavui Submarine Bay, Kulau Lodge , Duke Of York Islands, Baining and Pomio, or for that matter anywhere along the many kilometers of beautiful beaches in the Province. For more information about the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea, click here.

Papua New Guiniea's Provinces and People - East New Britain Province

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting East New Britain Province

East New Britain Provincial flag

East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes 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 the 1994 volcanic eruption. East New Britain covers a total land area of 15,816 km², and the province has an estimated population of 220,133 (2000 census). Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 m².

Some facts

East New Britain lies between 4 and 6 degrees south of the equator and was one of the first areas in PNG to be visited by early explorers and navigators. It covers a total land area of 15, 816 sq kms much of which is rugged mountainous terrain covered by tropical rainforest. Provincial coastal waters extend over an area of 104,000 square kilometres.

Population

The estimated population of the province is 230, 000 made up mainly of Tolais. People who live in East New Britain are of Melanesian descent, speaking Australasian languages of which there are sixteen.

“Kuanua” which the Tolais speak is the main language of the Gazelle Peninsula. English is also widely spoken and understood. 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.

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.

Brief Political History

Local Government Councils were established in the province during the colonial era. between 1960 and 1970 these smaller councils were amalgamated into three large Council Areas, namely the Gazelle, Greater Toma and Mengen. East New Britain attaned Provincial Government status in 1976 with sixteen appointed members in the first Interim Provincial Government (IPG).

Tavurvur Volcano - after the major eruption

The IPG was later responsible for developing the East New Britain Provincial Government Constitution. The first Provincial Government was formely inaugurated on 3th July 1976. Since 1981 East New Britain Provincial Governments have been very stable with only one attempted “vote of no confidence”.

Environment

The tropical nature of the province, with its evergreen rainforest vegetation and rugged mountain ranges, the imposing volcanoes which surround the town of Rabaul and the beautiful Simpson Harbour as well as the friendliness of the local people, have made East New Britain an attractive and adventurous holiday destination.

Putput Sandy Beach - Good for picnicking

The climate consists of two main seasons, the wet, November to April and dry, May to October. East New Britain is also home to numerous colourful birds which include the famous hornbills, parrots and megapodes, whose eggs are selectively harvested from deep in the hot volcanic ash to provide food and income for the local people.

Rabaul which is built on an ancient volcanic crater, is surrounded by six volcanoes which add beauty and are natural attraction to the town of Rabaul. Simpson harbour is one of the deepest in Papua New Guinea and can accommodate some of the world's largest cruise ships bringing tourists to the town, the Gazelle Peninsula and the Province.

Map of PNG - ENBP is circled in red colour

The marine resources in the East New Britain are diverse. The clear warm blue waters provide a home for a great colourful corals, fish and World War II relics, whist scuba-diving and snorkelling can be undertaken at Tavui Submarine Bay, Kulau Lodge , Duke Of York Islands, Baining and Pomio, or for that matter anywhere along the many kilometers of beautiful beaches in the Province. For more information about the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea, click here.

Papua New Guinea's Provinces and People - East Sepik Province

Map of Papua New Guinea showing East Sepik Province

Flag of East Sepik Province

East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 343,180 people (2000 census) and is roughly 42,800 km square in size.

Wewak, the provincial capital, is located on the coast of East Sepik. There are a scattering of islands off shore, and coastal ranges dominate the landscape just inland of the coast.

The remainder of the province's geography is dominated by the Sepik River, which is one of the largest rivers in the world in terms of water flow and is known for flooding -- the river's level can alter by as much as five metres in the course of the year as it rises and falls. The southern areas of the province are taken up by the Hunstein Range and other mountain ranges which form the central cordillera and feed the Sepik River.

The districts of East Sepik Province and their current members of parliament are shown below.

East Sepik Provincial - Sir Michael Somare

Ambunti-Dreikikir District - Tonny Aimo Waterupu

Angoram District - Arthur Somare

Maprik District - Gabriel Lenny Kapris

Wewak District - Jim Simatab

Wosera-Gawi District - Ronald Asik

Yangoru-Saussia District - Peter Wanaru Waranaka (Governor)

Although East Sepik has a long coastline, Wewak is the only town on the coast. Most of the province’s population is in villages and towns inland along the Sepik River.

Most tourists entering the East Sepik province do so on board Sepik River cruises out of Madang. Wewak town only experiences a small number of bona fide tourist arrivals. From Wewak, visitors can travel by PMV to Maprik, Yangoru, and the river towns of Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagwi. Light aircraft fly out to April River, Ambunti and numerous other small grass airfields.

Previous independent travellers visiting the Sepik recommend that you don’t try to “see it all”. The Sepik area is hot, humid, and from December to June is often thick with mosquitoes (June to November are the best months to visit). Moving around - especially on foot - can be tiring and uncomfortable.

It is said to be better to stay put in one or two destinations for a few days at a time, experiencing the people, culture and art of the district, than to try to accumulate a kaleidoscope of experiences on a punishing schedule of visits to multiple villages.

Wewak itself is a quietly pleasant little town. There is a busy main market where handicrafts are sold, but mainly baskets and shells, not many carvings. Surprisingly, it is actually quite difficult to find carvings and artifacts to buy in Wewak town.

There is a roadside stall on the main road selling Chambri Lakes handcrafts and the Alois Shop opposite the Airlink terminal has a range of artifacts although not cheap. The shopping centre has a couple of small supermarkets and several Chinese general stores. The Christian Bookshop near the market has local maps and guidebooks.

There is a good airport with a sealed runway about 10 minutes drive from the town centre. There is one motel on the beach opposite the airport (Airport Lodge), and the largest hotel, the Windjammer Beach Resort, is right on the beach halfway into town. The other places are right in the town centre area.

There is an excellent walking beach between the Windjammer and the town shops, a distance of about 3 kilometres. Wewak is a safe town where you can take a stroll along the street or beach without looking over your shoulder.

Papua New Guinea's Provinces and People - East Sepik Province

Map of Papua New Guinea showing East Sepik Province

Flag of East Sepik Province

East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 343,180 people (2000 census) and is roughly 42,800 km square in size.

Wewak, the provincial capital, is located on the coast of East Sepik. There are a scattering of islands off shore, and coastal ranges dominate the landscape just inland of the coast.

The remainder of the province's geography is dominated by the Sepik River, which is one of the largest rivers in the world in terms of water flow and is known for flooding -- the river's level can alter by as much as five metres in the course of the year as it rises and falls. The southern areas of the province are taken up by the Hunstein Range and other mountain ranges which form the central cordillera and feed the Sepik River.

The districts of East Sepik Province and their current members of parliament are shown below.

East Sepik Provincial - Sir Michael Somare

Ambunti-Dreikikir District - Tonny Aimo Waterupu

Angoram District - Arthur Somare

Maprik District - Gabriel Lenny Kapris

Wewak District - Jim Simatab

Wosera-Gawi District - Ronald Asik

Yangoru-Saussia District - Peter Wanaru Waranaka (Governor)

Although East Sepik has a long coastline, Wewak is the only town on the coast. Most of the province’s population is in villages and towns inland along the Sepik River.

Most tourists entering the East Sepik province do so on board Sepik River cruises out of Madang. Wewak town only experiences a small number of bona fide tourist arrivals. From Wewak, visitors can travel by PMV to Maprik, Yangoru, and the river towns of Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagwi. Light aircraft fly out to April River, Ambunti and numerous other small grass airfields.

Previous independent travellers visiting the Sepik recommend that you don’t try to “see it all”. The Sepik area is hot, humid, and from December to June is often thick with mosquitoes (June to November are the best months to visit). Moving around - especially on foot - can be tiring and uncomfortable.

It is said to be better to stay put in one or two destinations for a few days at a time, experiencing the people, culture and art of the district, than to try to accumulate a kaleidoscope of experiences on a punishing schedule of visits to multiple villages.

Wewak itself is a quietly pleasant little town. There is a busy main market where handicrafts are sold, but mainly baskets and shells, not many carvings. Surprisingly, it is actually quite difficult to find carvings and artifacts to buy in Wewak town.

There is a roadside stall on the main road selling Chambri Lakes handcrafts and the Alois Shop opposite the Airlink terminal has a range of artifacts although not cheap. The shopping centre has a couple of small supermarkets and several Chinese general stores. The Christian Bookshop near the market has local maps and guidebooks.

There is a good airport with a sealed runway about 10 minutes drive from the town centre. There is one motel on the beach opposite the airport (Airport Lodge), and the largest hotel, the Windjammer Beach Resort, is right on the beach halfway into town. The other places are right in the town centre area.

There is an excellent walking beach between the Windjammer and the town shops, a distance of about 3 kilometres. Wewak is a safe town where you can take a stroll along the street or beach without looking over your shoulder.

Papua New Guinea's Provinces and People - East Sepik Province

Map of Papua New Guinea showing East Sepik Province

Flag of East Sepik Province

East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 343,180 people (2000 census) and is roughly 42,800 km square in size.

Wewak, the provincial capital, is located on the coast of East Sepik. There are a scattering of islands off shore, and coastal ranges dominate the landscape just inland of the coast.

The remainder of the province's geography is dominated by the Sepik River, which is one of the largest rivers in the world in terms of water flow and is known for flooding -- the river's level can alter by as much as five metres in the course of the year as it rises and falls. The southern areas of the province are taken up by the Hunstein Range and other mountain ranges which form the central cordillera and feed the Sepik River.

The districts of East Sepik Province and their current members of parliament are shown below.

East Sepik Provincial - Sir Michael Somare

Ambunti-Dreikikir District - Tonny Aimo Waterupu

Angoram District - Arthur Somare

Maprik District - Gabriel Lenny Kapris

Wewak District - Jim Simatab

Wosera-Gawi District - Ronald Asik

Yangoru-Saussia District - Peter Wanaru Waranaka (Governor)

Although East Sepik has a long coastline, Wewak is the only town on the coast. Most of the province’s population is in villages and towns inland along the Sepik River.

Most tourists entering the East Sepik province do so on board Sepik River cruises out of Madang. Wewak town only experiences a small number of bona fide tourist arrivals. From Wewak, visitors can travel by PMV to Maprik, Yangoru, and the river towns of Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagwi. Light aircraft fly out to April River, Ambunti and numerous other small grass airfields.

Previous independent travellers visiting the Sepik recommend that you don’t try to “see it all”. The Sepik area is hot, humid, and from December to June is often thick with mosquitoes (June to November are the best months to visit). Moving around - especially on foot - can be tiring and uncomfortable.

It is said to be better to stay put in one or two destinations for a few days at a time, experiencing the people, culture and art of the district, than to try to accumulate a kaleidoscope of experiences on a punishing schedule of visits to multiple villages.

Wewak itself is a quietly pleasant little town. There is a busy main market where handicrafts are sold, but mainly baskets and shells, not many carvings. Surprisingly, it is actually quite difficult to find carvings and artifacts to buy in Wewak town.

There is a roadside stall on the main road selling Chambri Lakes handcrafts and the Alois Shop opposite the Airlink terminal has a range of artifacts although not cheap. The shopping centre has a couple of small supermarkets and several Chinese general stores. The Christian Bookshop near the market has local maps and guidebooks.

There is a good airport with a sealed runway about 10 minutes drive from the town centre. There is one motel on the beach opposite the airport (Airport Lodge), and the largest hotel, the Windjammer Beach Resort, is right on the beach halfway into town. The other places are right in the town centre area.

There is an excellent walking beach between the Windjammer and the town shops, a distance of about 3 kilometres. Wewak is a safe town where you can take a stroll along the street or beach without looking over your shoulder.

Papua New Guinea's Provinces and People - New Ireland Province

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting New Ireland Province

Flag of New Ireland Province

New Ireland Province, formerly New Mecklenburg (German: Neu-Mecklenburg) is the most northeastern province of Papua New Guinea. Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600.

Kavieng is the main port for New Ireland, and is both a trading and tourist destination. Several dive companies operate from the town, as the area is known for its diving, both for natural sites and wrecks dating from the Second World War. There are several plane and ship wrecks in Kavieng Harbour itself, as well as several more nearby.

The largest island of the province is New Ireland.
Also part of the province are numerous smaller islands, including Saint Matthias Group (Mussau, Emirau), New Hanover, Djaul, Tabar Group (Tabar, Tatau, Simberi), Lihir, Tanga Group (Malendok, Boang), Feni Islands (Ambitle, Babase) and Anir.

The land area of the province is around 9 600 km². The sea area within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of New Ireland Province is around 230,000 km².

History

There have been at least three waves of migration into New Ireland over the last 40,000 years. The famous Lapita pottery culture was present around 3,300 years ago. Chinese and South-East Asian contact appears to have been longstanding, though evidence is thin.

Dutch explorers made the first European contact in 1616. It was initially believed by Europeans to be part of New Britain, but the British explorer Philip Carteret established in 1767 that the island was physically separate, and gave it the name Nova Hibernia.

In the 1870s and 1880s, Marquis de Rays, a French nobleman unsuccessfully attempted to establish a French colony on the island called La Nouvelle France. He sent four ill-fated expeditions to the island, the most famous of which caused the death of 123 settlers.

Missionary activity did not begin until 1877, and New Ireland was colonised by Germany in 1886 under the name Neu-Mecklenburg, as part of the German partition comprising the northern half of present-day Papua New Guinea.

Blackbirding - the removal, often by force, of local young men to work on plantations in northern Australia and other Pacific islands - was widespread in New Ireland in the late 19th century.

Australia took control in 1914, in the early stages of World War I, and renamed the island as New Ireland. It became part of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea declared in 1921 by the League of Nations and administered by Australia.

During World War II New Ireland was occupied by Japanese forces from January 1941 until September 1945. Australian colonial administration continued until Papua New Guinea became independent in September 1975.

Ecology

In the early days of the French Revolution while in search of a lost scientific expedition the vessel La Recherche passed by New Ireland. On board was the prominent botanist Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière who noted in his journal fine stands of teak (tectona grandis) trees growing at the southern end of the island.

This marks the easternmost occurrence of teak, an important timber tree which extends naturally from India to Thailand on the Asian mainland and also is present on Java in the Indonesian archipelago.

Human geography

The population during the year 2000 census was 118,350 people, the vast majority of whom (ca.90%) live in small rural villages. The population is very young, with a median age of 18.7 years. Over 40% of the population are under the age of 15 years, while only 3% are above 65 years old.

The provincial capital is Kavieng, located on the northern tip of the main island. Namatanai is another small town halfway along the island. The Boluminski Highway runs down the east coast, linking the two towns. Around twenty languages are spoken in New Ireland, and the number of dialects and subdialects totals perhaps 45. All are in the New Ireland languages group within the Austronesian language family, except for one language isolate, Kuot.

Culture

New Ireland, like much of Papua New Guinea, has a mixture of the old and the new: traditional cultural practices ("custom") are widespread and almost universally respected, yet society is changing as a result of church activity, urbanisation, and various aspects of global contemporary culture making their mark.

Probably the most famous cultural system of New Ireland is "Malagan", a Nalik word for an ancient and revered set of practices and ceremonies practised throughout much of the main island, though abandoned during World War II because of the difficulty of providing the considerable investment of resources the rites and ceremonies required.

Malagan is also an art where the dead are remembered through the various depictions that are carved on Malagan masks. The Malagan masks have a symbolic meaning as the dead must be remembered through the masks and ceremonies.

They are the practical means of capturing the spirits of recent dead relatives or clan members. During the colonial era, significant quantities of Malagan masks were collected by European administrators and can be seen in museums all over Europe.

Kavieng town is serviced by Kavieng Airport, with daily connections to Port Moresby. It lies at one end of the Boluminski Highway which runs 193km to Namatanai.

Papua New Guinea's Provinces and People - New Ireland Province

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting New Ireland Province

Flag of New Ireland Province

New Ireland Province, formerly New Mecklenburg (German: Neu-Mecklenburg) is the most northeastern province of Papua New Guinea. Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600.

Kavieng is the main port for New Ireland, and is both a trading and tourist destination. Several dive companies operate from the town, as the area is known for its diving, both for natural sites and wrecks dating from the Second World War. There are several plane and ship wrecks in Kavieng Harbour itself, as well as several more nearby.

The largest island of the province is New Ireland.
Also part of the province are numerous smaller islands, including Saint Matthias Group (Mussau, Emirau), New Hanover, Djaul, Tabar Group (Tabar, Tatau, Simberi), Lihir, Tanga Group (Malendok, Boang), Feni Islands (Ambitle, Babase) and Anir.

The land area of the province is around 9 600 km². The sea area within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of New Ireland Province is around 230,000 km².

History

There have been at least three waves of migration into New Ireland over the last 40,000 years. The famous Lapita pottery culture was present around 3,300 years ago. Chinese and South-East Asian contact appears to have been longstanding, though evidence is thin.

Dutch explorers made the first European contact in 1616. It was initially believed by Europeans to be part of New Britain, but the British explorer Philip Carteret established in 1767 that the island was physically separate, and gave it the name Nova Hibernia.

In the 1870s and 1880s, Marquis de Rays, a French nobleman unsuccessfully attempted to establish a French colony on the island called La Nouvelle France. He sent four ill-fated expeditions to the island, the most famous of which caused the death of 123 settlers.

Missionary activity did not begin until 1877, and New Ireland was colonised by Germany in 1886 under the name Neu-Mecklenburg, as part of the German partition comprising the northern half of present-day Papua New Guinea.

Blackbirding - the removal, often by force, of local young men to work on plantations in northern Australia and other Pacific islands - was widespread in New Ireland in the late 19th century.

Australia took control in 1914, in the early stages of World War I, and renamed the island as New Ireland. It became part of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea declared in 1921 by the League of Nations and administered by Australia.

During World War II New Ireland was occupied by Japanese forces from January 1941 until September 1945. Australian colonial administration continued until Papua New Guinea became independent in September 1975.

Ecology

In the early days of the French Revolution while in search of a lost scientific expedition the vessel La Recherche passed by New Ireland. On board was the prominent botanist Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière who noted in his journal fine stands of teak (tectona grandis) trees growing at the southern end of the island.

This marks the easternmost occurrence of teak, an important timber tree which extends naturally from India to Thailand on the Asian mainland and also is present on Java in the Indonesian archipelago.

Human geography

The population during the year 2000 census was 118,350 people, the vast majority of whom (ca.90%) live in small rural villages. The population is very young, with a median age of 18.7 years. Over 40% of the population are under the age of 15 years, while only 3% are above 65 years old.

The provincial capital is Kavieng, located on the northern tip of the main island. Namatanai is another small town halfway along the island. The Boluminski Highway runs down the east coast, linking the two towns. Around twenty languages are spoken in New Ireland, and the number of dialects and subdialects totals perhaps 45. All are in the New Ireland languages group within the Austronesian language family, except for one language isolate, Kuot.

Culture

New Ireland, like much of Papua New Guinea, has a mixture of the old and the new: traditional cultural practices ("custom") are widespread and almost universally respected, yet society is changing as a result of church activity, urbanisation, and various aspects of global contemporary culture making their mark.

Probably the most famous cultural system of New Ireland is "Malagan", a Nalik word for an ancient and revered set of practices and ceremonies practised throughout much of the main island, though abandoned during World War II because of the difficulty of providing the considerable investment of resources the rites and ceremonies required.

Malagan is also an art where the dead are remembered through the various depictions that are carved on Malagan masks. The Malagan masks have a symbolic meaning as the dead must be remembered through the masks and ceremonies.

They are the practical means of capturing the spirits of recent dead relatives or clan members. During the colonial era, significant quantities of Malagan masks were collected by European administrators and can be seen in museums all over Europe.

Kavieng town is serviced by Kavieng Airport, with daily connections to Port Moresby. It lies at one end of the Boluminski Highway which runs 193km to Namatanai.

Papua New Guinea's Provinces and People - New Ireland Province

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting New Ireland Province

Flag of New Ireland Province

New Ireland Province, formerly New Mecklenburg (German: Neu-Mecklenburg) is the most northeastern province of Papua New Guinea. Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600.

Kavieng is the main port for New Ireland, and is both a trading and tourist destination. Several dive companies operate from the town, as the area is known for its diving, both for natural sites and wrecks dating from the Second World War. There are several plane and ship wrecks in Kavieng Harbour itself, as well as several more nearby.

The largest island of the province is New Ireland.
Also part of the province are numerous smaller islands, including Saint Matthias Group (Mussau, Emirau), New Hanover, Djaul, Tabar Group (Tabar, Tatau, Simberi), Lihir, Tanga Group (Malendok, Boang), Feni Islands (Ambitle, Babase) and Anir.

The land area of the province is around 9 600 km². The sea area within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of New Ireland Province is around 230,000 km².

History

There have been at least three waves of migration into New Ireland over the last 40,000 years. The famous Lapita pottery culture was present around 3,300 years ago. Chinese and South-East Asian contact appears to have been longstanding, though evidence is thin.

Dutch explorers made the first European contact in 1616. It was initially believed by Europeans to be part of New Britain, but the British explorer Philip Carteret established in 1767 that the island was physically separate, and gave it the name Nova Hibernia.

In the 1870s and 1880s, Marquis de Rays, a French nobleman unsuccessfully attempted to establish a French colony on the island called La Nouvelle France. He sent four ill-fated expeditions to the island, the most famous of which caused the death of 123 settlers.

Missionary activity did not begin until 1877, and New Ireland was colonised by Germany in 1886 under the name Neu-Mecklenburg, as part of the German partition comprising the northern half of present-day Papua New Guinea.

Blackbirding - the removal, often by force, of local young men to work on plantations in northern Australia and other Pacific islands - was widespread in New Ireland in the late 19th century.

Australia took control in 1914, in the early stages of World War I, and renamed the island as New Ireland. It became part of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea declared in 1921 by the League of Nations and administered by Australia.

During World War II New Ireland was occupied by Japanese forces from January 1941 until September 1945. Australian colonial administration continued until Papua New Guinea became independent in September 1975.

Ecology

In the early days of the French Revolution while in search of a lost scientific expedition the vessel La Recherche passed by New Ireland. On board was the prominent botanist Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière who noted in his journal fine stands of teak (tectona grandis) trees growing at the southern end of the island.

This marks the easternmost occurrence of teak, an important timber tree which extends naturally from India to Thailand on the Asian mainland and also is present on Java in the Indonesian archipelago.

Human geography

The population during the year 2000 census was 118,350 people, the vast majority of whom (ca.90%) live in small rural villages. The population is very young, with a median age of 18.7 years. Over 40% of the population are under the age of 15 years, while only 3% are above 65 years old.

The provincial capital is Kavieng, located on the northern tip of the main island. Namatanai is another small town halfway along the island. The Boluminski Highway runs down the east coast, linking the two towns. Around twenty languages are spoken in New Ireland, and the number of dialects and subdialects totals perhaps 45. All are in the New Ireland languages group within the Austronesian language family, except for one language isolate, Kuot.

Culture

New Ireland, like much of Papua New Guinea, has a mixture of the old and the new: traditional cultural practices ("custom") are widespread and almost universally respected, yet society is changing as a result of church activity, urbanisation, and various aspects of global contemporary culture making their mark.

Probably the most famous cultural system of New Ireland is "Malagan", a Nalik word for an ancient and revered set of practices and ceremonies practised throughout much of the main island, though abandoned during World War II because of the difficulty of providing the considerable investment of resources the rites and ceremonies required.

Malagan is also an art where the dead are remembered through the various depictions that are carved on Malagan masks. The Malagan masks have a symbolic meaning as the dead must be remembered through the masks and ceremonies.

They are the practical means of capturing the spirits of recent dead relatives or clan members. During the colonial era, significant quantities of Malagan masks were collected by European administrators and can be seen in museums all over Europe.

Kavieng town is serviced by Kavieng Airport, with daily connections to Port Moresby. It lies at one end of the Boluminski Highway which runs 193km to Namatanai.