Tribal violence has again erupted in Papua New Guinea with at least 30 people killed in gun battles between rival tribes in PNG's remote central highlands.

The unrest started in August when ‘illegal miners’ attacked a landowner in the Porgera Valley, which is home to one of Papua New Guinea's largest gold deposits.

Local police had been holding peace talks but the dialogue broke down over the weekend with gunshots ringing out for the past few days.