{{Infobox political party | name = PNG Country Party | logo = | colorcode = {{party color|PNG Country Party}} | leader = Chris Haiveta | founder = Sinake Giregire | president = Nelson Duabane <ref name=ippcc>{{cite web | url=http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/political-parties-information.pdf | title=REGISTRY OF POLITICAL PARTIES | publisher=Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411055235/http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/political-parties-information.pdf | archive-date=11 April 2017 | accessdate=11 April 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref> | secretary = Rose Kepo <ref name=ippcc /> | foundation = {{start date|1974|03}} | ideology = Rural development<br/>Agrarianism<br/>Conservatism<br/>Republicanism<ref name=head>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250532525|title=It's now official–the Queen is Head|newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier|date=6 June 1975}}</ref> | position = Centre-right | country = Papua New Guinea |blank1_title = National Parliament |blank1 = {{Composition bar|2|111|{{party color|PNG Country Party}}}} }}

The '''Papua New Guinea Country Party''' is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1974.

==History== The party was founded by Sinake Giregire in March 1974 in advance of Papua New Guinean independence, drawing members largely from the United Party.<ref>{{cite news | title=The origins of PNG's independence | work=Australian Associated Press | date=8 September 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kAJnzXZf0oC&dq=%22country+party%22+papua&pg=PA86 | title=Political Parties in the Pacific Islands | publisher=ANU ePress | author=Rich, Roland, Hambly, Luke & Morgan, Michael G. | date=January 2008 | pages=86| isbn=9781921313752 }}</ref><ref name="rev">{{cite news | title=Veteran politician revives Country Party for 2002 poll | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=14 May 2001 }}</ref> The party's policy was largely based on agricultural, resource and other economic development.<ref name=obit /> The conservative Australian Country Party reportedly agreed to provide assistance to the new party.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=15NuEaFohJcC&q=%22He+said+the+Australian+Country+Party+had+agreed+to+help+in+the+formation+of+the+new+party+in+Papua-New+Guinea%22 | title=Daily report: Asia & Pacific, Issues 127-136 | year=1974 | publisher=Foreign Broadcast Information Service}}</ref>

The Country Party was involved in the Nationalist Pressure Group in debates surrounding the formation of the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. The party supported the country becoming a republic rather than a monarchy upon independence, unsuccessfully moving for the draft constitution to be amended to that effect prior to its adoption in 1975.<ref name=head/> Giregire was defeated by John Guise in a bid to become the first Governor-General of Papua New Guinea in 1975, but the party successfully nominated Tore Lokoloko as the second Governor-General in 1977.<ref name="obit">{{cite news | title=Knight Sir Sinake Giregire is dead | work=PNG Post Courier | date=5 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PNG's first G-G Sir John Guise | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=9 February 2011 }}</ref> Giregire lost his seat at the 1977 election.<ref name="gire">{{cite news | title=Goroka's shining knight | work=Weekend Courier | date=29 May 2010 }}</ref>

Giregire revived the party for the 2002 election after years of inactivity, with ex-politicians Albert Mokai, Mackenzie Dauge, James Ibras and Bionte Heruo as regional co-ordinators. Giregire described the party's ideology as conservative but "more aggressive in addressing basic fundamentals of the society", specifically targeting the rural population.<ref name=rev /> Former MP Roy Buaki Singeri and rugby star Dekot Koki were also among the party's candidates.<ref>{{cite news | title=GENERAL ELECTIONS 2002 - ROUND-UP In Brief. | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=9 April 2002 }}</ref> Giregire was defeated, finishing third in his seat.<ref name=gire /> Kompiam-Ambium candidate Dickson Maki was the only one to be elected, but declared himself an independent before joining the People's Action Party only days after his election.<ref>{{cite news | title=New elections for six SHP seats | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=2 August 2002 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PAP numbers swell to 10 | work=PNG Post Courier | date=8 August 2002 }}</ref>

It was relaunched again in October 2006 when MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham, formerly from the People's Progress Party, crossed to the Country Party and accepted the leadership with the support of Giregire.<ref>{{cite news | title=Party eyes comeback | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 October 2006 }}</ref> Maxtone-Graham was re-elected for the Country Party in the 2007 election and was joined by Jim Nomane, who won in Chuave Open.<ref>{{cite news | title=Small parties fared well in elections | work=PNG Post Courier | date=2 August 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Nomane wins back seat | work=PNG Post Courier | date=27 July 2007 }}</ref> Maxtone-Graham and Nomane both crossed to other parties during that term, and Giregire died in January 2012.<ref name=obit /> The party briefly regained a parliamentary seat when Minister for Environment and Conservation Thompson Harokaqveh crossed to the party and assumed the leadership in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news | title=Harokaqveh to lead party | work=PNG Post Courier | date=23 April 2012 }}</ref> Harokaqveh lost his own seat at the 2012 election, but two new MPs were elected at the election: Jeffery Kuave (Lufa Open) and Richard Mendani (Kerema Open). Both MPs defected to the People's National Congress in May 2013.<ref>{{cite news | title=Gelu worried over MPs' party-hopping | work=PNG Post Courier | date=21 July 2014 }}</ref>

The party did not have parliamentary representation between 2013 and 2017, but party president Nelson Duwabane remained politically active during that time, having been outspoken about legal issues surrounding defecting MPs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/support-for-law-to-stregthen-parties/ | title=Support for law to strengthen parties | work=PNG Post Courier | date=21 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Gelu urged to stay out of party issues | work=PNG Post Courier | date=19 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Electoral results== The party contested the 2017 election, and as of May 2019 has 2 seats in the National Parliament.

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *Orlegge, W. T. (2002) "Goroka Open: From Rural Capitalist to Educated Elites?" ''Catalyst''. Melanesian Institute. *''Goroka Gazette''. 1967. Goroka. *''Highlands News''. 1971, 1972, 1973. Goroka. *Woolford, D. ''Assignment New Guinea''. *Hastings, P. ''Politics of Papua New Guinea''.

{{Papua New Guinean political parties}}

Category:Political parties in Papua New Guinea Category:Political parties established in 1974