The total number of women candidates in the upcoming Papua New Guinea general election has risen above previous polls.
The Electoral Commission says a total of 3332 candidates have nominated to contest the 2017 election, based on official figures from each province.
Of this number, 165 are women candidates.
In the last general election in 2012, 135 women contested out of a total of 3435 candidates.
A total of 2,759 candidates were registered as contesting the 2007 election, including 101 females.
From 2007, PNG has adopted a Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) electoral system to replace the old 'first past the post" system.
The front facade of Papua New Guinea's parliament Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades