Land Law and Policy in Papua New Guinea

In most traditional and indigenous societies,land is generally regarded as a totemic symbol of the spiritual ethos of the people. Land also has obvious economic and political connotations which are underpinned by the modern demands on land use and planning. The reception of alien politico-legal institutions into such societies creates tension between indigenous and non-indigenous interests and rights, thus further exacerbating and compounding issues associated with land use and planning. This is particularly so in Papua New Guinea, with its wealth of natural resources. Land Law and Policy in Papua New Guinea analyses the policy considerations which underscore the mechanisms for regulation of land use through a comprehensive study of Papua New Guinea society. Pre-colonial land issues and post-colonial land policy are summarised and followed by an exposition of basic and fundamental issues of property law. The book also deals with the more contemporary issues of natural resource preservation, environmental protection and land reform. This is a valuable resource for law students and legal practitioners in Papua New Guinea, Australia and throughout the Pacific region. It will also be of interest to land economists, specialists in estate management and government policy decision makers.

John Mugambwa is Senior Lecturer in Law at Murdoch University and also the Director of the School of Law's law program.