French Minister Valls wants all parties to 'take their responsibilities' ahead of third trip to New Caledonia

Union Calédonienne President Emmanuel Tjibaou [blue shirt] and other participants at the pro-independence FLNKS convention in Yaté, New Caledonia on 26 April 2025. Photo: RRB French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia...

In 1988, Townsville hosted the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture - it's legacy remains to this day

Every four years, people from across the Pacific come together to celebrate traditional cultural practices through song and dance. The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture will next be held in New Caledonia in 2028, but way back in 1988, it made...

France warns of ‘chaos’ if New Caledonia independence deal n...

French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls has launched a third round of talks between pro and anti-independence groups on the Pacific Ocean archipelago. Amid deepening divisions over last year's unrest, he warned that further chaos could be in store...

What’s the ‘micro-retirement’ trend – and where should you go?

Many people see retirement as an opportunity to finally do some travelling for longer than a week or two – but a new trend emerging is proving not everyone wants to wait that long. Coined ‘micro-retirement’, travellers are taking an extended...

New Caledonia: A small step forward

After an inauspicious start when he was verballed publicly by angry loyalists, France’s Minister for Overseas Territories Manuel Valls succeeded in holding discussions last week in New Caledonia about future governance. It was the first talks...

Protest ban lifted in New Caledonia nearly a year after dead...

People in New Caledonia can now protest again – nearly a year after violent riots – following a French court decision to suspend bans that had remained in place in parts of the archipelago. The administrative court of New Caledonia on Thursday...

New Caledonia’s politicians hold first bipartisan meeting in years

New Caledonia’s political parties all sitting for early political talks at the Congress in Nouméa 24 February 2025 – PHOTO RRB Photo: RRB New Caledonia's opposing politicians, both pro-independence and pro-France, held a joint meeting for the...

New Caledonia: A troubled France seeks agreement about the future

New Caledonia remains a tinder box. Local divisions run deep between primarily European loyalist and mainly indigenous independence parties after a contested independence referendum in 2021 led to a standoff, which last year in May erupted into...

Leaked ‘working paper’ on New Caledonia’s political future sparks new concerns

By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A leaked “working paper” on New Caledonia’s future political status is causing concern on the local stage and has prompted a “clarification” from the French government’s Minister...

Le Franc replaced as New Caledonia’s High Commissioner

Jacques Billant, 65, was appointed as the new French High Commissioner in New Caledonia on April 9 2025 Photo: Pool The French government has appointed a new High Commissioner in New Caledonia to replace Louis Le Franc. The decision came as part...

New Caledonia's Mont-Dore inks security deal

Mont-Dore Mayor Eddie Lecourieux (centre) signs security agreement with French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc (right) and Gendarmerie General Nicolas Matthéos (left) in New Caledonia – 6 February 2025 Photo: Haut-Commissariat de la République...

New Caledonia opens second football academy

FCF President Gilles Tavergeux officially opened the facility Photo: FCF Foot The New Caledonia Football Federation (FCF) has opened its second academy, focusing on the 13-15 year old age group. FCF's president Gilles Tavergeux officially opened...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – October 17 – 23, 2025

Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security Outspoken Former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani Passes Away (In-depth Solomons) New Caledonia: FLNKS concerned about the postponement of provincial elections, “satisfied” with the green...

Japan’s U17 coach Hiroyama hails individual talent in his team

November is fast approaching and with it comes the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025. At the helm for Japan is head coach Nozomi Hiroyama, who leads his team into a tournament that they have been spending the past two years preparing for. “We’ve been...

French overseas minister returns for talks in New Caledonia amid ongoing crisis

France’s Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls in Paris January 7, 2025 [AP Photo/Ludovic Marin]France’s Overseas Minister Manuel Valls returned to New Caledonia this week for four days of talks on the French Pacific territory’s future. Valls...

French minister Valls pushes for deal on New Caledonia’s future

France’s Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, is on a four-day New Caledonia to support efforts to shape the archipelago’s future, as fresh negotiations aim to bridge political divides and foster stability. Valls took a significant...

French Minister Valls pushes for deal on New Caledonia’s fut...

France's Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, is on a four-day New Caledonia to support efforts to shape the archipelago's future, as fresh negotiations aim to bridge political divides and foster stability. Valls took a significant...

Rotorua Labour weekend: Thousands of mountain bikers in town for Whaka 100

“This year we are hoping to increase that number even more with a record number of participants and more countries represented this year.” Competing riders were from New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, China, Taiwan, Japan, the UK, Puerto Rico,...

Flashmob held in Baku to support anti-colonial struggle in New Caledonia -PHOTO

A flashmob was held to support those fighting against colonial regimes in Kanaki (New Caledonia) at the international conference "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, APA reports. During...

France's humane treatment of political prisoners is out of question - New Caledonian resident

There can be no talk of humane treatment of political prisoners in France's overseas territories, said Désiré Tein (New Caledonia), a member of the political prisoners' families, at a press conference ahead of the international conference titled...