30/01/2026
Central Province Is Too Large to Remain One Province.
Central Province is one of the largest provinces in Papua New Guinea, covering an estimated 30,000 square kilometres. This vast land mass includes coastal communities, inland plains, mountainous regions, river systems, and some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the country. Despite this geographic reality, Central Province is administered as a single political and administrative unit and is funded under a national system that does not adequately account for land size or accessibility.
Under the current funding arrangement, districts across Papua New Guinea receive similar District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) allocations, regardless of whether they cover a small, compact land area or thousands of square kilometres of difficult terrain. As a result, Central Province is required to stretch the same level of funding across a far larger and more complex landscape than most other provinces. This structural imbalance makes service delivery slower, more expensive, and less visible, particularly in remote districts such as Goilala and Abau.
In contrast, most Highlands provinces range between 4,000 and 15,000 square kilometres, with districts that are geographically smaller and more compact. When the same DSIP funding is applied to these smaller areas, infrastructure development, road construction, and service delivery naturally appear faster and more effective. The difference is not one of leadership or effort, but of geography and administrative burden.
Several districts within Central Province are already too large to be governed efficiently. Abau District, due to its size and population spread, is long overdue for subdivision. Rigo District naturally divides into two distinct areas: Upper Rigo, which is largely rural and underserved, and Rigo Coast, which is more densely populated and economically active. Hiri-Koiari, recently separated from Kairuku, has demonstrated that smaller administrative units can improve focus and governance. Within this arrangement, Koiari itself has the potential to function as a district, given its land resources and strategic importance. Goilala District, due to its extreme terrain and isolation, also warrants review for possible subdivision.
Beyond service delivery, the size of Central Province has direct political consequences. In Papua New Guinea, every new district creates an additional Open Member of Parliament, bringing increased political representation, greater access to funding, and stronger influence in national decision-making. Over time, this process has significantly strengthened the political weight of the Highlands Region, where new districts and provinces have steadily increased parliamentary numbers. Meanwhile, the Papuan (Southern) Region, remains underrepresented despite its size, population distribution, and strategic importance.
The proposal to build a new Central City at Bautama further highlights these structural issues. Bautamaโs location places it close to the National Capital District, making it geographically inaccessible to large portions of Central Province, particularly communities in Goilala, Abau, and Upper Rigo. Rather than serving the wider province, such a development risks becoming a small extension of Port Moresby, benefiting those already living near or economically connected to the capital. Additionally, the cost of building an entirely new town from scratch, requiring roads, utilities, housing, and administrative infrastructure, would place a heavy financial burden on a province already struggling to meet basic service delivery needs.
A more practical and inclusive solution lies in splitting Central Province into two provinces, such as East Central and West Central, while strengthening existing towns. Under this model, Bereina could be developed into a provincial town for the western half, while Kwikila could serve as a provincial centre for the eastern half. Both towns already exist, are geographically closer to their respective populations, and can be upgraded at a lower cost than constructing a new city.
Splitting Central Province would reduce administrative overload, improve access to services, enhance political representation for the Papuan region, and allow development funding to be applied more effectively. This is not a call for division, but for administrative correction and equitable governance.
Central Province is not failing, it is overburdened. Its size, diversity, and strategic importance demand a governance structure that reflects reality on the ground. For the sake of fair development, effective service delivery, and balanced national representation, the time has come to seriously pursue the division of Central Province.
Just food for thought.
