Kundiawa
{{for|the local-level government area|Kundiawa Urban LLG}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kundiawa
| other_name =
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Papua New Guinea
| pushpin_relief =
| coordinates = {{coord|6|01|S|144|58|E|region:PG|display=inline}}
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Papua New Guinea
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Papua New Guinea
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Simbu Province
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kundiawa-Gembogl District
| subdivision_type3 = LLG
| subdivision_name3 = Kundiawa Urban
| area_total_km2 =
| area_footnotes =
| population_total = 11553
| population_as_of = 2013
| population_rank =
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Main languages
| demographics1_info1 = Kuman, Tok Pisin, English, Dom, Sinasina
| established_title =
| established_date =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| elevation_m = 1524
| postal_code_type = Postcode
| postal_code = 461
| timezone1 = AEST
| utc_offset1 = +10
| website =
| blank_name = Location
| blank_info = {{convert|85|km|abbr=on}} E of Mount Hagen
| blank1_name = Climate
| blank1_info = Af
}}
Kundiawa is the capital of Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea, with a population of 8,147 (2000 Census). It lies along the Highlands Highway approximately halfway between Goroka and Mount Hagen, respectively the capitals of the Eastern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces.
Kundiawa is the centre of activity for people who are formally employed (which is a relatively small minority, because most people farm) but also for people who want to sell the coffee that they have grown, or to catch PMVs (public motor vehicles) to other towns. The busiest time in Kundiawa is every other Friday afternoon, because this is when everyone gets paid.
Geography
It is a relatively small town, containing a bank, a police station, one of the few airports in the province, several stores, a hospital, a post office, a second-hand market, two food markets and several churches. The Highlands Highway is the only paved road that leads out of it, but there are several smaller, unpaved roads, including one of the roads to Mount Wilhelm.
The Wahgi River runs along one side of Kundiawa, and the Simbu River, which runs on and becomes the Wahgi, flows along the other side. The terrain around Kundiawa is very steep and mountainous, and many people walk several kilometres each way to get to Kundiawa from their villages because they don't have access to roads.
Climate
Kundiawa has a relatively cool tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), bordering on a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) due to altitude. It features mild mornings, very warm but not hot afternoons, and heavy rainfall year round.
{{Weather box
|location = Kundiawa
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 26.1
|Feb high C = 26.4
|Mar high C = 25.7
|Apr high C = 26.0
|May high C = 25.8
|Jun high C = 25.4
|Jul high C = 24.7
|Aug high C = 25.3
|Sep high C = 25.5
|Oct high C = 25.7
|Nov high C = 26.5
|Dec high C = 25.9
|Jan mean C = 20.5
|Feb mean C = 20.7
|Mar mean C = 20.2
|Apr mean C = 20.3
|May mean C = 20.2
|Jun mean C = 19.5
|Jul mean C = 19.0
|Aug mean C = 19.4
|Sep mean C = 19.6
|Oct mean C = 19.0
|Nov mean C = 20.0
|Dec mean C = 20.3
|Jan low C = 14.9
|Feb low C = 15.0
|Mar low C = 14.8
|Apr low C = 14.6
|May low C = 14.7
|Jun low C = 13.7
|Jul low C = 13.4
|Aug low C = 13.5
|Sep low C = 13.8
|Oct low C = 14.1
|Nov low C = 13.6
|Dec low C = 14.8
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan rain mm= 237
|Feb rain mm= 239
|Mar rain mm= 274
|Apr rain mm= 229
|May rain mm= 180
|Jun rain mm= 102
|Jul rain mm= 93
|Aug rain mm= 115
|Sep rain mm= 179
|Oct rain mm= 194
|Nov rain mm= 193
|Dec rain mm= 230
|rain colour= green
}}
Economy
The rugged terrain prevent people from having an elaborate commercial agriculture. However, they are known for their skilled cultivation on these very steep, sloping terrains. Their main foods are sweet potato, taro, banana, and sugar cane. Coffee is the main cash crop.
Languages
There are different ethnic-linguistic groups, Dom, Bomai, Golin and Kuman. The most spoken language is the Kuman with more than 115,000 speakers. Kuman is understood and spoken by almost all the different ethnic groups.
Notable people
Melbourne Storm and Papua New Guinea national rugby league team centre, Justin Olam was born and grew up in Kundiawa.
England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones was born in Kundiawa.