Kairuku-Hiri is the largest district in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea. It has an overall population of over 80,000 and consists of 4 local level governments (LLGs) namely Kairuku, Mekeo/Kuni, Hiri and Koiari. There are 4 main languages spoken in Kairuku; Roro, Nara, Mekeo and Kuni and in the Hiri district, there are 3 main languages; Motu, Koiari and Koitabu.

There are two distinctive regions: Kairuku and Hiri. Kairuku District covers both Kairuku and Mekeo/Kuni villages with total population of over 40,000. Bereina Government station is the administrative centre for Kairuku and it is situated near the coastline approximately 160km west of Port Moresby. Access to Bereina via the Hiritano highway generally takes about 2 1/2 hours. With the current upgrading and sealing of the highway, this would considerably reduce travelling time, improve access to health facilities, enable efficient flow of services and increase economic activity throughout Kairuku.

Hiri District has a total population of about 39,000 inhabitants in villages, hamlets, settlements and plantations. Hiri encompassess West Coast and East Hiri with the inland areas of Sogeri Valley, Vanapa and Brown Rivers and Mount Koiari. The administrative centre for Hiri LLG is located at Konedobu, Port Moresby while Koiari LLG headquarter is at Sogeri, about half an hour drive from Port Moresby.

The coastline of Kairuku-Hiri is relatively flat with thick vegetation, consisting mainly of savannah grassland, mangroves and eucalyptus trees. About 62% of land features mountains which are filled with dense rainforests containing a variety of flora and fauna and numerous tree species such as beech, oak, pine and kwila. Major rivers are Laloki, Brown River, Goldie, Vanapa, Agevairu, Akaifu and Angabanga.

Just like most parts of Papua New Guinea, the climate is mostly wet and dry throughout the year. Coastal regions have less rainfall whereas further in higher altitudes, rainfall increases to more than 400 mm annually. Average temperature ranges from 19 to 32 degrees .

Click here to view the Kairuku-Hiri District Map

An up-to date detailed version of the Kairuku - Hiri map will be linked in the near future. Hot spots will be created on the map and linked to profile type pages of villages, businesses, picnic spots, schools, project sites, etc.