{"id":8024,"date":"2021-06-18T04:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T04:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/?p=8024"},"modified":"2021-06-18T20:09:52","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T20:09:52","slug":"papua-new-guinea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/papua-new-guinea\/","title":{"rendered":"Papua New Guinea"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/h2>\n

Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia<\/a> (a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia). Its capital, located along its southeastern coast, is Port Moresby<\/a>. It is the world’s third largest island country with 462,840 km2 (178,700 sq mi).<\/p>\n

At the national level, after being ruled by three external powers since 1884, Papua New Guinea established its sovereignty in 1975. This followed nearly 60 years of Australian administration, which started during World War I<\/a>. It became an independent Commonwealth realm<\/a> in 1975 with Elizabeth II<\/a> as its queen. It also became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations<\/a> in its own right.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Papua New Guinea on the Globe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. As of 2019, it is also the most rural, as only 13.25% of its people live in urban centers. There are 851 known languages in the country, of which 11 now have no known speakers. Most of the population of more than 8,000,000 people live in customary communities<\/a>, which are as diverse as the languages. The country is one of the world’s least explored, culturally and geographically. It is known to have numerous groups of uncontacted peoples, and researchers believe there are many undiscovered species of plants and animals in the interior.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Huli Wigman from the Southern Highlands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sovereign state is classified as a developing economy by the International Monetary Fund. Nearly 40% of the population lives a self-sustainable natural lifestyle with no access to global capital. Most of the people live in strong traditional social groups based on farming. Their social lives combine traditional religion with modern practices, including primary education. These societies and clans are explicitly acknowledged by the Papua New Guinea Constitution, which expresses the wish for “traditional villages and communities to remain as viable units of Papua New Guinean society” and protects their continuing importance to local and national community life. The nation is an observer state in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)<\/a> since 1976 and has filed its application for full membership status. It is a full member of the Pacific Community<\/a>, the Pacific Islands Forum<\/a>, and the Commonwealth of Nations.<\/p>\n

History:<\/h2>\n

Pre-European Contact:<\/h3>\n

Archaeological evidence indicates that humans first arrived in Papua New Guinea around 42,000 to 45,000 years ago. They were descendants of migrants out of Africa, in one of the early waves of human migration.<\/p>\n

Agriculture was independently developed in the New Guinea highlands around 7000 BC, making it one of the few areas in the world where people independently domesticated plants. A major migration of Austronesian-speaking peoples to coastal regions of New Guinea took place around 500 BC. This has been correlated with the introduction of pottery, pigs, and certain fishing techniques.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kerepunu Women 1885<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the 18th century, traders brought the sweet potato<\/a> to New Guinea, where it was adopted and became a staple food. Portuguese traders<\/a> had obtained it from South America and introduced it to the Moluccas<\/a>. The far higher crop yields from sweet potato gardens radically transformed traditional agriculture and societies. Sweet potato largely supplanted the previous staple, taro<\/a>, and resulted in a significant increase in population in the highlands.<\/p>\n

Although by the late 20th century headhunting<\/a> and cannibalism<\/a> had been practically eradicated, in the past they were practiced in many parts of the country as part of rituals related to warfare and taking in enemy spirits or powers. In 1901, on Goaribari Island<\/a> in the Gulf of Papua<\/a>, missionary Harry Dauncey<\/a> found 10,000 skulls in the island’s long houses, a demonstration of past practices.<\/p>\n

European Encounters:<\/h3>\n

Little was known in Europe about the island until the 19th century, although Portuguese and Spanish explorers, such as Dom Jorge de Menezes<\/a> and Y\u00f1igo Ortiz de Retez<\/a>, had encountered it as early as the 16th century.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Traders from Southeast Asia had visited New Guinea beginning 5,000 years ago to collect bird-of-paradise<\/a> plumes.<\/p>\n

Colonialism:<\/h3>\n

The country’s dual name results from its complex administrative history before independence. In the nineteenth century, Germany ruled the northern half of the country for some decades, beginning in 1884, as a colony named German New Guinea<\/a>. In 1914 after the outbreak of World War I, Australian forces captured German New Guinea<\/a> and occupied it throughout the war. After the war, in which Germany and the Central Powers<\/a> were defeated, the League of Nations authorized Australia to administer this area as a League of Nations mandate territory that became the Territory of New Guinea.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Control of New Guinea Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The southern half of the country had been colonized in 1884 by the United Kingdom as British New Guinea. With the Papua Act 1905, the UK transferred this territory to the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia, which took on its administration. Additionally, from 1905, British New Guinea was renamed as the Territory of Papua<\/a>. In contrast to establishing an Australian mandate in former German New Guinea, the League of Nations determined that Papua was an external territory of the Australian Commonwealth; as a matter of law it remained a British possession. The difference in legal status meant that until 1949, Papua and New Guinea had entirely separate administrations, both controlled by Australia. These conditions contributed to the complexity of organizing the country’s post-independence legal system.<\/p>\n

World War II:<\/h3>\n

During World War II, the New Guinea campaign<\/a> (1942\u20131945) was one of the major military campaigns and conflicts between Japan and the Allies. Approximately 216,000 Japanese, Australian, and U.S. servicemen died. After World War II and the victory of the Allies, the two territories were combined into the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. This was later referred to as “Papua New Guinea”.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Australian Forces Attack the Japanese Near Buna<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The natives of Papua appealed to the United Nations for oversight and independence. The nation established independence from Australia on 16 September 1975, becoming a Commonwealth realm, continuing to share Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. It maintains close ties with Australia, which continues to be its largest aid donor. Papua New Guinea was admitted to membership in the United Nations on 10 October 1975.<\/p>\n

Bougainville:<\/h3>\n

A secessionist revolt in 1975\u201376 on Bougainville Island<\/a> resulted in an eleventh-hour modification of the draft Constitution of Papua New Guinea to allow for Bougainville and the other eighteen districts to have quasi-federal status as provinces. A renewed uprising on Bougainville started in 1988 and claimed 20,000 lives until it was resolved in 1997. Bougainville had been the primary mining region of the country, generating 40% of the national budget. The native peoples felt they were bearing the adverse environmental effects of the mining, which contaminated the land, water and air, without gaining a fair share of the profits.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bougainville Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The government and rebels negotiated a peace agreement that established the Bougainville Autonomous District and Province. As part of the current peace settlement, a non-binding independence referendum was held, between 23 November and 7 December 2019. The referendum question was a choice between greater autonomy within Papua New Guinea and full independence for Bougainville, and voters voted overwhelmingly (98.31%) for independence.<\/p>\n

Geography:<\/h2>\n

At 462,840 km2 (178,704 sq mi), Papua New Guinea is the world’s 54th largest country and the 3rd largest island country. Papua New Guinea is part of the Australasian realm<\/a>, which also includes Australia, New Zealand, eastern Indonesia, and several Pacific island groups, including the Solomon Islands<\/a> and Vanuatu<\/a>. The mainland of the country is the eastern half of New Guinea island, where the largest towns are also located, including Port Moresby<\/a> (capital) and Lae<\/a>; other major islands within Papua New Guinea include New Ireland<\/a>, New Britain<\/a>, Manus<\/a> and Bougainville.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
City Map of Papua New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Located north of the Australian mainland, the country’s geography is diverse and, in places, extremely rugged. A spine of mountains, the New Guinea Highlands<\/a>, runs the length of the island of New Guinea<\/a>, forming a populous highlands region mostly covered with tropical rainforest, and the long Papuan Peninsula<\/a>, known as the ‘Bird’s Tail’. Dense rainforests can be found in the lowland and coastal areas as well as very large wetland areas surrounding the Sepik<\/a> and Fly<\/a> rivers. This terrain has made it difficult for the country to develop transportation infrastructure. Some areas are accessible only on foot or by airplane. The highest peak is Mount Wilhelm<\/a> at 4,509 metres (14,793 ft). Papua New Guinea is surrounded by coral reefs which are under close watch, in the interests of preservation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Topographic Map of Papua New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are several active volcanoes, and eruptions are frequent. Earthquakes are relatively common, sometimes accompanied by tsunamis. On 25 February 2018, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5<\/a> and depth of 35 kilometers struck the middle of Papua New Guinea. The worst of the damage was centered around the Southern Highlands region. Papua New Guinea is one of the few regions close to the equator that experience snowfall, which occurs in the most elevated parts of the mainland.<\/p>\n

Economy:<\/h2>\n

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, including mineral and renewable resources, such as forests, marine (including a large portion of the world’s major tuna stocks), and in some parts agriculture. The rugged terrain\u2014including high mountain ranges and valleys, swamps and islands\u2014and high cost of developing infrastructure, combined with other factors (including law and order problems in some centers and the system of customary land title) makes it difficult for outside developers. Local developers are handicapped by years of deficient investment in education, health, and access to finance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Papua New Guinea Exports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Agriculture, for subsistence and cash crops, provides a livelihood for 85% of the population and continues to provide some 30% of GDP. Mineral deposits, including gold, oil, and copper, account for 72% of export earnings. Oil palm production has grown steadily over recent years, with palm oil now the main agricultural export. Coffee remains the major export crop (produced largely in the Highlands provinces); followed by cocoa and coconut oil\/copra from the coastal areas, each largely produced by smallholders; tea, produced on estates; and rubber. The Iagifu\/Hedinia Oil and Gas Field was discovered in 1986.<\/p>\n

Transportation:<\/h2>\n

Transport in Papua New Guinea is heavily limited by the country’s mountainous terrain. As a result, air travel is the single most important form of transport for human and high density\/value freight. Airplanes made it possible to open up the country during its early colonial period. Even today the two largest cities, Port Moresby and Lae, are only directly connected by planes. Port Moresby is not linked by road to any of the other major towns, and many remote villages can only be reached by light aircraft or on foot.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Jacksons International Airport Port Moresby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jacksons International Airport<\/a> is the major international airport in Papua New Guinea, located 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Port Moresby. In addition to two international airfields, Papua New Guinea has 578 airstrips, most of which are unpaved.<\/p>\n

Flag of Papua New Guinea:<\/h2>\n

The flag of Papua New Guinea was adopted on 1 July 1971. In the hoist, it depicts the Southern Cross<\/a>; in the fly, a raggiana bird-of-paradise<\/a> is silhouetted. The design was chosen through a nationwide design competition in early 1971. The winning designer was Susan Karike Huhume, who was 15 at the time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flag of Papua New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Red and black have long been traditional colors of many Papua New Guinean tribes. Black-white-red was the color of the German Empire<\/a> flag, which had colonized New Guinea prior to 1918. The bird-of-paradise is also found on the national coat-of-arms.<\/p>\n

Prior to independence, the Australian administration proposed a vertical tricolor flag with blue, yellow and green bands, along with the bird of paradise and southern cross, designed by Hal Holman<\/a>. It had a mainly negative reception, due to its appearance as that of a “mechanically contrived outcome”, thus the alternative proposal attributed to Susan Karike was chosen instead. The blue was said to represent the sea and islands of New Guinea, the Southern Cross was a guide for the travelling peoples, the gold represented the coastlines, mineral wealth, and unity, and the green represented the forested highlands and mainland, with the Bird of Paradise representing the unification under one nation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Proposed Flag of Papua New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Southern Cross shows that it is a country in the Southern Hemisphere and can be seen in Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The flag of Papua New Guinea was adopted on 1 July 1971. In the hoist, it depicts the Southern Cross; in the fly, a raggiana bird-of-paradise is silhouetted. The design was chosen through a nationwide design competition in early 1971. The winning designer was Susan Karike Huhume, who was 15 at the time.<\/p>\n

Red and black have long been traditional colours of many Papua New Guinean tribes. Black-white-red was the colour of the German Empire flag, which had colonised New Guinea prior to 1918. The bird-of-paradise is also found on the national coat-of-arms.<\/p>\n

Prior to independence, the Australian administration proposed a vertical tricolour flag with blue, yellow and green bands, along with the bird of paradise and southern cross, designed by Hal Holman. It had a mainly negative reception, due to its appearance as that of a “mechanically contrived outcome”, thus the alternative proposal attributed to Susan Karike was chosen instead. The blue was said to represent the sea and islands of New Guinea, the Southern Cross was a guide for the travelling peoples, the gold represented the coastlines, mineral wealth, and unity, and the green represented the forested highlands and mainland, with the Bird of Paradise representing the unification under one nation.<\/p>\n

The Southern Cross shows that it is a country in the Southern Hemisphere and can be seen in Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[58,59,5,6,7,29,30,44,76,60],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8024"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}