town on the island of New Guinea, central Papua New Guinea, southwestern Pacific Ocean. It lies at an elevation of 5,495 feet (1,675 m) in the Mendi River valley on a gentle volcanic slope with mountains to the west and east. The heavily populated area surrounding Mendi remains little-developed. Vegetables and coffee are grown in the area, and a tea plantation is located nearby. The town also has a sawmill. Most transportation is by air, although a road links Mendi with the town of Mount Hagen and with a highway to the northeast. In 2000 the town became the centre of an escalating cycle of intertribal violence in which several dozen people were killed. Pop. (2000) 17,119.