New Caledonia bans ‘dangerous’ seabed mining for half a century
New Caledonia last week imposed a 50-year ban on deep-sea mining across its entire maritime zone – a rare and sweeping move that places the French Pacific territory among the most restrictive in
French Minister Valls wants all parties to ‘take their responsibilities’ ahead of third trip to New Caledonia
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia this week for the third time in two months, has once again called all parties to live up to their responsibilities in order to make a new
Clock ticks for social media
A ruling from France’s highest administrative court, the Conseil d’État, has criticised former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s temporary ban on TikTok in New
New Caledonia talks to resume this month, but differences remain
New Caledonian political leaders and the French government are scheduled to resume political status talks on 29 April, when France’s Overseas Minister Manuel Valls returns to Noumea. For Valls, “the objective of
No deal for New Caledonia, talks to continue later this month
After four days of continuous talks with New Caledonia’s political forces, French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has returned to Paris Tuesday, without any deal as yet regarding the French Pacific
Steps forward in New Caledonia political talks
For the first time since 2019, there have been tripartite talks on the political status of New Caledonia, during an eight-day visit by France’s Overseas Minister Manuel Valls. After six months of conflict that began
French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to visit Nouméa for key political talks
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia on 22 February to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future. This comes following preliminary talks held last
Over 10,000 left New Caledonia
Over 10,000 people left New Caledonia in 2024, according to New Caledonia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) President David Guyenne. Guyenne told public broadcaster NC la 1ère these figures (10,713, or
Alcide Ponga elected as President of New Caledonia
Alcide Ponga, president of the anti-independence party Rassemblement-Les Républicains, has been elected as the new President of New Caledonia. Ponga replaces outgoing President Louis Mapou of the Parti de Libération
Pacific Person of the year: Emmanuel Tjibaou
For Kanak cultural and political leader Emmanuel Tjibaou, 2024 has been quite the year. On 13 May, after months of peaceful protest, New Caledonia erupted in violence as young people rioted across the capital Noumea and
Collapse of government in Paris sends shockwaves to Noumea
by Nic Maclellan A no-confidence motion in the French National Assembly has ousted the government led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier. But for New Caledonians, still reeling from the economic, cultural and social
Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin to remain in mainland France jail
Pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin will remain in mainland France jail for the time being, a Court of Appeal ruled in Nouméa on Friday. This followed an earlier ruling on 22 October from the Court
Rebuilding New Caledonia’s shattered economy
We’re sitting on mats in the garden around a public housing tower in Noumea, as a small group of women and elders listen to updates from independence activists about the ongoing crisis in New Caledonia. Local
We Say: When issues find voice
As an oral people, Pacific islanders often put their thoughts into words and later into song or chants. These cries from the soul speak to the issues which trouble indigenous people – colonisation, suppression of
Emmanuel Tjibaou elected as Union Calédonienne president
Kanak cultural leader Emmanuel Tjibaou has been elected as president of Union Calédonienne, the oldest and largest political party in New Caledonia. His election came at the 43rd Union Calédonienne congress, held last
“We are all Pacific islanders, even if New Caledonia is French”
On the final day of the Pacific Islands Forum mission to New Caledonia, the delegation of Forum leaders broke bread with church and community elders at a working breakfast. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka thanked
New Caledonia’s President meets with fellow Forum leaders
President Louis Mapou and the Government of New Caledonia has met with a visiting mission of Pacific Islands Forum leaders, with the Kanak politician noting “New Caledonia is at a turning point in its evolution, and
“We’re here as family”: Forum delegation arrives in New Caledonia
After months of delay, a high-level Pacific Islands Forum mission has arrived in New Caledonia for three days of dialogue and information sharing. In a busy program, the delegation will meet with members of New
Kanak activist Christian Tein’s imprisonment overturned by France’s highest court
The highest court in France has overturned a decision to lock up the Kanak pro-independence activist Christian
Overseas Minister buffeted by New Caledonia crisis
By Nic Maclellan, in Noumea, New Caledonia France’s newly appointed Overseas Minister François-Noël Buffet has travelled to New Caledonia for a four-day visit, pledging that “the time has come for the return of
Fewer tropical cyclones expected, says NIWA
The Southwest Pacific may see either fewer or a normal number of tropical cyclones this season, according to New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
New Caledonia, Fiji win at Oceania World Cup Qualifiers in Suva
New Caledonia was hot in pursuit of an early goal in their match against Papua New Guinea in Suva yesterday
Paris shifts gears on New Caledonia, after months of conflict
After nearly five months of conflict in New Caledonia, the French government has formally announced it will abandon a constitutional amendment on voting rights for New
