The lagatoi or lakatoi identifies the Diocese with the City of Port Moresby and the Southern Papuan Region of Papua New Guinea

It also stands for the Church, as the Cross on the mast indicates

The lagatoi is coloured black to suggest the Melanesian nature of the Diocese

The waves signify the association of the Diocese with the sea: the whole of its southern boundary is coastline; its see city is a port and most of its main centres are on the coast. The yellow band in the midst of the blue is to suggest the long coastline with its many reefs and beaches.

The mystical significance of the waves, on which the lagatoi is placed, is the Prayer Book image of the Ark of the Church passing safely through the waves of this troublesome world towards the land of everlasting life.

The yellow background of the emblem carries on the intention to associate the Diocese with the Port Moresby city. Yellow is also the colour of divinity and could be taken to suggest that the Church, represented by the lagatoi, belongs to God.