Conflict Group

Conflict Islands
Satellite image
Conflict Islands is located in Papua New Guinea
Conflict Islands
Conflict Islands
Location of the Conflict Islands
Geography
LocationOceania
Coordinates10°46′48″S 151°47′32″E / 10.78000°S 151.79222°E / -10.78000; 151.79222[1]
ArchipelagoLouisiade Archipelago
Adjacent toSolomon Sea
Total islands21
Major islands
Area4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Length21 km (13 mi)
Width10 km (6 mi)
Administration
Province Milne Bay
DistrictSamarai-Murua District
LLG[2]Bwanabwana Rural LLG
Island GroupCalvados Chain
Largest settlementIrai (pop. 20)
Demographics
Population30 (2014)
Pop. density6.6/km2 (17.1/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsPapauans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codePG-MBA
Official websitewww.ncdc.gov.pg

The Conflict Group is an atoll in Papua New Guinea. The group was sighted in 1879 by HMS Cormorant, by moonlight; it was named in 1880 by Bower, captain of HMS Conflict.[3] Irai Island is the center of population of the group.

The small Panasesa Island has an eco resort with a small staff.

In September 2022 the Papua New Guinea government ordered an investigation into the islands' ownership after their owner, Australian businessman Ian Gowrie Smith, attempted to sell them.[4]

Islands in Conflict Group

The individual islands in a clockwise direction, starting in the west (Kisa and Itamarina in the lagoon):

Name Coordinates Area
km²		 Area
sq mi
Ilai (Irai Island) 10°46′03″S 151°41′33″E / 10.7675°S 151.6925°E / -10.7675; 151.6925 (Ilai (Irai)) 1.18 0.46
Panasesa Island 10°44′24″S 151°43′30″E / 10.7400°S 151.7250°E / -10.7400; 151.7250 (Panasesa) 0.68 0.26
Madiboiboi? 10°43′50″S 151°44′26″E / 10.7306°S 151.7406°E / -10.7306; 151.7406 (Madiboiboi?) 0.10 0.039
Gabugabutau 10°43′16″S 151°44′55″E / 10.7210°S 151.7485°E / -10.7210; 151.7485 (Gabugabutau) 0.17 0.066
Tubinagurm Island 10°43′03″S 151°46′20″E / 10.7175°S 151.7723°E / -10.7175; 151.7723 (Tubinagurm Island) 0.25 0.097
Lutmatavi Island 10°43′19″S 151°47′15″E / 10.7220°S 151.7874°E / -10.7220; 151.7874 (Lutmatavi Island) 0.06 0.023
Panaboal 10°44′21″S 151°49′32″E / 10.7393°S 151.8255°E / -10.7393; 151.8255 (Panaboal) 0.52 0.20
Ginara Island 10°45′08″S 151°49′51″E / 10.7521°S 151.8308°E / -10.7521; 151.8308 (Ginara Island) 0.14 0.054
Panarakuum Island 10°46′12″S 151°51′55″E / 10.7699°S 151.8654°E / -10.7699; 151.8654 (Panarakuum Island) 0.51 0.20
Panarakiim Motina 10°46′51″S 151°52′51″E / 10.7807°S 151.8808°E / -10.7807; 151.8808 (Panarakiim Motina) 0.08 0.031
Muniara Island 10°48′01″S 151°54′12″E / 10.8002°S 151.9032°E / -10.8002; 151.9032 (Muniara Island) 0.23 0.089
Auriroa Island 10°48′23″S 151°55′21″E / 10.8064°S 151.9224°E / -10.8064; 151.9224 (Auriroa Island) 0.76 0.29
Panamaiia 10°50′03″S 151°52′28″E / 10.8341°S 151.8745°E / -10.8341; 151.8745 (Panamaiia) 0.06 0.023
Tarapaniian 10°49′33″S 151°50′25″E / 10.8258°S 151.8403°E / -10.8258; 151.8403 (Tarapaniian) 0.06 0.023
Panaiiaii 10°49′15″S 151°49′44″E / 10.8207°S 151.8288°E / -10.8207; 151.8288 (Panaiiaii) 0.05 0.019
Kisa 10°46′56″S 151°49′43″E / 10.7821°S 151.8285°E / -10.7821; 151.8285 (Kisa) 0.08 0.031
Itamarina 10°45′48″S 151°46′16″E / 10.7634°S 151.7711°E / -10.7634; 151.7711 (Itamarina) 0.05 0.019

Differing surface areas, and sometimes divergent names for individual islands can be found in Oceandots: Irai (97 ha; 240 acres), Panasesa (63.5 ha; 157 acres), Auriora (61 ha; 150 acres), Panarakum (38.8 ha; 96 acres), Panibari (24.7 ha; 61 acres), Tubiniguam (17.8 ha; 44 acres), Moniara (13 ha; 32 acres), Ginouri (11 ha; 27 acres) and Tupit (10 ha; 25 acres). Thereafter, the total land area of the archipelago is 3.75 km2 (1.45 sq mi).[5]

References

  1. ^ Prostar Sailing Directions 2004 New Guinea Enroute, p. 168
  2. ^ Selve B, Bwaduai S, Nisa M, James K, Usurup JP, Turner P, Melrose W, Yas W, Samuel R, Eddie C (2000). "Community empowerment in the control of lymphatic filariasis in Misima, Milne Bay Province using diethylcarbamazine in combination with albendazole" (PDF). The Papua New Guinea Medical Journal. 43 (3-4 Sep-Dec): 184. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2010.
  3. ^ Arthur Wichman (Hrsg.): History of New-Guinea (bis 1828). Bd. 1, E. J. Brill, Leiden 1909, S. 271
  4. ^ "Investigation into Conflict Islands". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ Oceandots.com: Conflict Islands