Pro-independence forces win elections on French Polynesia
Pro-independence forces won elections on France’s Pacific territory of French Polynesia, giving them control of affairs on the archipelagos for the next five years and opening the way to a possible referendum on
Moetai Brotherson seeks presidency in French Polynesia
Moetai Brotherson of the independence party Tavini Huira’atira no Te Ao Ma’ohi has announced he will run for the Presidency of French Polynesia. The post is currently held by President Edouard Fritch of the Tapura
French Senate committee questions Indo-Pacific Strategy
The French Senate in Paris has issued a report sharply critiquing France’s official Indo-Pacific Strategy, highlighting the lack of capacity of French military forces deployed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The
Officials apply to have Marquesas Islands a World Heritage Site
French Polynesia has filed an application to make the Marquesas Islands a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Speaking in Paris, the culture minister Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu said the bid is the most complicated ever
Fraud case against ex-French Polynesia president dismissed
The French judiciary has thrown out an alleged forgery and fraud case against the former French Polynesian president Gaston Flosse, relating to a property transaction in Paris. In 2018, Flosse and his son Reginald had
Gaston Flosse given suspended prison sentence
French Polynesia’s former president and veteran politician, Gaston Flosse has been given a suspended prison sentence for producing a fake contract to register as a Papeete voter. The criminal court gave him a
Connecting French Polynesia to the world
ICT in French Polynesia will likely see further improvement as the territory’s infrastructure is expected to connect to a new submarine cable. Hawaiki Niu Submarine Cable LP, a subsidiary of BW digital, and Office Des
“We absolutely must preserve the unity of the Forum”
French Polynesia at the regional summit For Jean-Christophe Bouissou, Vice President of French Polynesia, the 51st Pacific Islands Forum is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenge of climate change for the
French Polynesia president says election win ‘catastrophic’
French Polynesia’s president Edouard Fritch has described the election of three candidates of the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party to the French National Assembly as catastrophic. They won all three seats
Stunning electoral victory for independence party in French Polynesia
In an unprecedented electoral victory, the independence party Tavini Huira’atira has won all three seats allocated to French Polynesia in the French National Assembly. Voters across French Polynesia turned out on
French Polynesia hosts Blue Climate Summit this week
Global leaders including the Pacific Oceans Commissioner and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna, and the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown are in French Polynesia this week for the Blue Climate
Macron in the lead, as contest for French President impacts Pacific
In a contest with significant implications for the Pacific, French President, Emmanuel Macron topped the poll in the first round of voting on
$50m drug bust, COVID eases in French Polynesia
Police in French Polynesia have seized almost US$50 million worth of methamphetamine (‘ice’) on a cruise ship from the United States. A 27-year-old Tahitian passenger has been arrested after the discovery of
France, the oceans and seabed mining
Pacific leaders have joined a major oceans summit hosted by the French government in the port city of Brest, addressing climate change, illegal fishing, ocean acidification and plastics pollution.
“People want to travel, they want to live again”
As coronavirus began spreading around the world in early 2020, even the far-flung islands of French Polynesia were affected. The first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Tahiti on 10 March 2020, after politician Maina
“At 33 years old, I felt like I was 90”
COVID-19 challenges in Noumea and Papeete By Nic Maclellan Hina Montas was making a cup of tea and forgot to turn the gas off. It was only when her partner came home and smelt the gas filling the kitchen, that she
Bainimarama condemns nuclear testing “atrocities”
Commemorating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has spoken out about the health and environmental legacies of Cold War nuclear testing in the Pacific. As Pacific Islands
France expands Pacific reach
The French government is expanding its engagement with Pacific Island nations, following the fifth France-Oceania summit, a visit by President Emmanuel Macron to French Polynesia, and increased support by France and the
France expands Pacific reach
The French government is expanding its engagement with Pacific Island nations, following the fifth France-Oceania summit, a visit by President Emmanuel Macron to French Polynesia, and increased support by France and the
Threat to radio hits press freedom in Tahiti
The most popular radio station in French Polynesia faces closure, as it appeals a court fine that threatens to drive it out of business. For the community station Radio Tefana, it’s future is tied to a long-running
Remember Hiroshima…and the Pacific
In Japan, they’re called hibakusha – the survivors of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, and the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. Seventy-five years on, the survivors remember those days, and
French nuclear tests: ‘I bury people nearly every day, what was our sin?’
The day began with a video, showing a disparate collection of arresting images – the drowned Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, camera in hand and a huge smile on his face. Mugshots of two captured French DGSE
Yachtie calls on Aust, NZ to set up Blue Lanes
The skipper of a yacht that has just been cleared under Fiji’s ‘Blue Lane’ program says Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific island nations should follow Fiji’s lead and create an easy pathway for yachts to
