Conflict Group

Conflict Islands

Satellite image
Conflict Islands Location of the Conflict Islands
Geography
Location	Oceania
Coordinates	10°46′48″S151°47′32″E / 10.78000°S 151.79222°E / -10.78000; 151.79222 [1]
Archipelago	Louisiade Archipelago
Adjacent to	Solomon Sea
Total islands	21
Major islands	Irai Lunn Auriroa Panarakuum Panasesa
Area	4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Length	21 km (13 mi)
Width	10 km (6 mi)
Administration
Papua New Guinea
Province	Milne Bay
District	Samarai-Murua District
LLG [2]	Bwanabwana Rural LLG
Island Group	Calvados Chain
Largest settlement	Irai (pop. 20)
Demographics
Population	30 (2014)
Pop. density	6.6/km2 (17.1/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Papauans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
ISO code	PG-MBA
Official website	www.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″S151°41′33″E / 10.7675°S 151.6925°E / -10.7675; 151.6925 (Ilai (Irai))	1.18	0.46
Panasesa Island	10°44′24″S151°43′30″E / 10.7400°S 151.7250°E / -10.7400; 151.7250 (Panasesa)	0.68	0.26
Madiboiboi?	10°43′50″S151°44′26″E / 10.7306°S 151.7406°E / -10.7306; 151.7406 (Madiboiboi?)	0.10	0.039
Gabugabutau	10°43′16″S151°44′55″E / 10.7210°S 151.7485°E / -10.7210; 151.7485 (Gabugabutau)	0.17	0.066
Tubinagurm Island	10°43′03″S151°46′20″E / 10.7175°S 151.7723°E / -10.7175; 151.7723 (Tubinagurm Island)	0.25	0.097
Lutmatavi Island	10°43′19″S151°47′15″E / 10.7220°S 151.7874°E / -10.7220; 151.7874 (Lutmatavi Island)	0.06	0.023
Panaboal	10°44′21″S151°49′32″E / 10.7393°S 151.8255°E / -10.7393; 151.8255 (Panaboal)	0.52	0.20
Ginara Island	10°45′08″S151°49′51″E / 10.7521°S 151.8308°E / -10.7521; 151.8308 (Ginara Island)	0.14	0.054
Panarakuum Island	10°46′12″S151°51′55″E / 10.7699°S 151.8654°E / -10.7699; 151.8654 (Panarakuum Island)	0.51	0.20
Panarakiim Motina	10°46′51″S151°52′51″E / 10.7807°S 151.8808°E / -10.7807; 151.8808 (Panarakiim Motina)	0.08	0.031
Muniara Island	10°48′01″S151°54′12″E / 10.8002°S 151.9032°E / -10.8002; 151.9032 (Muniara Island)	0.23	0.089
Auriroa Island	10°48′23″S151°55′21″E / 10.8064°S 151.9224°E / -10.8064; 151.9224 (Auriroa Island)	0.76	0.29
Panamaiia	10°50′03″S151°52′28″E / 10.8341°S 151.8745°E / -10.8341; 151.8745 (Panamaiia)	0.06	0.023
Tarapaniian	10°49′33″S151°50′25″E / 10.8258°S 151.8403°E / -10.8258; 151.8403 (Tarapaniian)	0.06	0.023
Panaiiaii	10°49′15″S151°49′44″E / 10.8207°S 151.8288°E / -10.8207; 151.8288 (Panaiiaii)	0.05	0.019
Kisa	10°46′56″S151°49′43″E / 10.7821°S 151.8285°E / -10.7821; 151.8285 (Kisa)	0.08	0.031
Itamarina	10°45′48″S151°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 ^[usurped]