Oro Province


Oro Province, formerly Northern Province, is a coastal province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Popondetta. The province covers 22,800 km2, and has 176,206 inhabitants. The province shares land borders with Morobe Province to the northwest, Central Province to the west and south, and Milne Bay Province to the southeast. The province is located within the Papuan Peninsula.
Oro is the only province in which the Anglican Church is the major religious denomination. Oil palm is the principal primary industry. William Clarke College also funds people in that area.
The northern end of the Kokoda Track terminates at the village of Kokoda in the province and the active volcano Mount Lamington. Once the Kokoda Track was taken and provided access from Port Moresby to the hinterland during the Second World War, the coast of the then Northern District was also the scene of heavy fighting; the Buna, Gona and Sanananda campaigns are particularly well remembered.
The Tufi dive and cultural resort is located on the north coast of the Cape Nelson Rural Local Level Government area and is well known for its diving and the spectacular rias, locally referred to as ' fjords'.

Rivers

Each province in Papua New Guinea has one or more districts, and each district has one or more Local Level Government areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.
DistrictDistrict CapitalLLG Name
Ijivitari DistrictPopondettaAfore Rural
Ijivitari DistrictPopondettaOro Bay Rural
Ijivitari DistrictPopondettaPopondetta Urban
Ijivitari DistrictPopondettaSafia Rural
Ijivitari DistrictPopondettaTufi Rural
Sohe DistrictKokodaHigaturu Rural
Sohe DistrictKokodaKira Rural
Sohe DistrictKokodaKokoda Rural
Sohe DistrictKokodaTamata Rural

Provincial leaders

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.

Premiers (1977–1995)

PremierTerm
Edric Eupu1977
Mark Taua1977–1983
Conway Ihova1983–1985
Dennis Kageni1985–1987
Bensen Ariembo1987–1988
Newman Mongagi1988–1989
Lionel Handu1989
Kingsley Gegeyo1990
Parminus Cuthbert1991
Benstead Atoto1991–1992
Douglas Garawa1992–1995

Governors (1995–present)

PremierTerm
Sylvanius Siembo1995–2002
Bani Hoivo2002–2007
Suckling Tamanabae2007–2012
Gary Juffa2012–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.
PremierTerm
Northern ProvincialGary Juffa
Ijivitari OpenRichard Masere
Sohe OpenHenry Amuli