New French PM Sébastien Lecornu triggers swift reactions in New Caledonia

Lecornu was in charge of matters related to a series of three self-determination referendums in New Caledonia. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur / Hans Lucas French President Emmanuel Macron's new choice for a prime minister has triggered immediate and...

New Caledonia confirmed as host of the 2028 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture

The previous FestPAC was held in Hawaii in June 2024. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton New Caledonia has been officially endorsed as the host of the 14th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC14) in 2028. This follows back-to-back meetings...

More uncertainty for New Caledonia as French government falls

The fall of the French government has cast more uncertainty for New Caledonia. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur The fall of the French government following a vote of defiance against its Prime Minister François Bayrou has cast more uncertainty for New...

World’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserve a step closer to reality

A project to develop the world’s first Indigenous-led marine protected area operating across the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia is one step closer to reality, with resources now committed to the development of the...

West Papua holds an important place on Pacific countries' agenda - former New Caledonia President Louis Mapou

New Caledonia President Louis Mapou in the Tonga island group of Vava'u. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Lydia Lewis Former New Caledonia President Louis Mapou says human rights and sovereignty are big issues facing not only Melanesia, but the wider Pacific....

Solomon Islands Commits Ministerial Resources To World’s First Indigenous-led, Multi-National Ocean Reserve

Press Release – Melanesian Ocean Reserve Led by the governments of the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatuand in partnership with the Islands Knowledge Institute (IKI) and Nia TeroPacific leaders will take the momentum to Climate Week in...

Matignon, Nouméa and Bougival Accords: Decolonization process in New Caledonia postponed

Baku, September 3, AZERTAC “France's colonial policy towards New Caledonia was reflected in the Matignon (1988), Nouméa (1998) and Bougival (2025) Accords. The aim is to protect the interests of the French settlers, maintain colonial control and...

Hostility rises as New Caledonia peace deal collapses

It was meant to be the deal that finally brought peace to a Pacific paradise, with big promises of hope and stability. The Bougival Accord, signed in the French town of the same name in July, was celebrated as historic by French President Emmanuel...

A new future for New Caledonia?

New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the Pacific, might become a state within France. The French government and six delegations representing pro- and anti- independence factions in New Caledonia have signed the Bougival Accord, a draft...

New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS rejects French-led agreement

New Caledonia’s main pro-independence organisation, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), has formally confirmed its “block rejection” of the French-led “Bougival project.” Under the agreement, the colony’s pro- and...

Devil in the detail of New Caledonia’s “historic” agreement

By Nic Maclellan Meeting in France, New Caledonian political leaders have signed an agreement on the political and economic future of the French Pacific dependency. The signing of the Bougival Accord on 12 July, described as “historic” by French...

FLNKS snubs Nouméa constitutional reform talks for New Caledonia

By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A newly established “drafting committee” held its inaugural meeting in Nouméa this week, aiming to translate the Bougival agreement — signed by New Caledonian political parties in...

Notes from Central Taiwan: The PRC’s false indigenous history

The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II provided Beijing another opportunity to lie about Taiwan, which was parroted by the international press The People’s Republic of China (PRC) yesterday paraded its military hardware in an effort to...

FLNKS snubs New Caledonia's constitutional reform talks in Nouméa

FLNKS members with 'No to Bougival' banners in Nouméa. Photo: FLNKS Indépendantistes et Nationalistes A newly established "draft committee" held its inaugural meeting in Nouméa on Thursday, aiming to translate the Bougival agreement, signed by New...

This Week on Campus — Sept. 15, 2025

BRANDON UNIVERSITY The Brandon University Students’ Union will host its Food Truck Festival today from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Some of the amazing flavours of Brandon will be available in four local food trucks, set up in Parking Lot 2, in front of the...

Rejuvenated France Sparking Women’s Cricket In New Caledonia

Women's cricket is developing in New Caledonia Supplied It’s rare for news in Associate cricket - countries below the top 12 who receive more funds, fixtures and power - to go mainstream. It happened in April last year, but for all the wrong...

French Overseas Minister in New Caledonia in bid to ‘save’ Bougival deal

French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls is once again in New Caledonia for a four-day visit aimed at maintaining dialogue, despite a strong rejection from a significant part of the pro-independence camp. He touched down at the Nouméa-La Tontouta...

French Overseas Minister in New Caledonia to save Bougival deal

Manuel Valls takes part in the welcoming ceremony. Photo: Delphine Mayeur / Hans Lucas / AFP French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls is once again in New Caledonia for a four-day visit aimed at maintaining dialogue, despite strong rejection from...

Paris scrambles to rescue New Caledonia deal after pro-independence rejection

PARIS – France’s Overseas Minister Manuel Valls is returning to New Caledonia on Tuesday in a bid to rescue a political agreement that would redefine the territory’s status with broad new powers, despite outright rejection by the main...

Valls heads to New Caledonia in wake of collapse of independence deal

Political tensions in New Caledonia have flared, as its main pro-independence coalition FLNKS voted against a deal that would have given the French overseas territory some sovereign powers – but no independence referendum, a key demand for...