CoveragePost
May 9, 2026
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Vanuatu’s government has urged the French ambassador in Port Vila to use established diplomatic channels rather than social media to communicate his concerns about state-to-state relations. It is the latest development in a diplomatic spat that emerged this week when New Caledonia’s territorial government took umbrage at Vanuatu ... <a title="French ambassador’s social media diplomacy lands poorly in Vanuatu" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/09/french-ambassadors-social-media-diplomacy-lands-poorly-in-vanuatu/" aria-label="Read more about French ambassador’s social media diplomacy lands poorly in Vanuatu">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 7, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s government says it has suspended all trade cooperation with Vanuatu after the Vanuatu government hosted the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in Port Vila. Vanuatu is hosting a series of talks under the theme “VOICE 2030” (Vanuatu Opportunities for Investment and ... <a title="New Caledonia suspends trade cooperation with Vanuatu in row over FLNKS meeting" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/07/new-caledonia-suspends-trade-cooperation-with-vanuatu-in-row-over-flnks-meeting/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia suspends trade cooperation with Vanuatu in row over FLNKS meeting">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 22, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The signing of a new agreement on New Caledonia’s political and financial future has triggered a fresh wave of reactions from across the French territory’s political chessboard. The Elysée-Oudinot agreement was signed on Monday, January 19, in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron as well ... <a title="Pro-independence FLNKS ‘unequivocally’ reject latest agreement for New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/22/pro-independence-flnks-unequivocally-reject-latest-agreement-for-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-independence FLNKS ‘unequivocally’ reject latest agreement for New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 21, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A rift within New Caledonia’s pro-independence movement has further widened after the second component of the “moderates”, the UPM (Progressist Union in Melanesia), has officially announced it has now left the once united Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS). The UPM announcement, at a press ... <a title="New Caledonia’s pro-independence split widens – another party quits FLNKS" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/21/new-caledonias-pro-independence-split-widens-another-party-quits-flnks/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia’s pro-independence split widens – another party quits FLNKS">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 20, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A Paris appeal court has confirmed that Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin is now cleared to return to New Caledonia. In September, a panel of judges had pronounced they were in favour of Téin’s return to New Caledonia, but the Public Prosecution then appealed, suspending his ... <a title="French court clears accused Kanak leader to return to New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/20/french-court-clears-accused-kanak-leader-to-return-to-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about French court clears accused Kanak leader to return to New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 14, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s pro-independence front, the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), has formally confirmed its “block rejection” of the French-sponsored Bougival project, signed last month. The pact has been presented as an agreement between all parties to serve as a guide for the French Pacific ... <a title="‘Full sovereignty and independence’: FLNKS rejects France’s Bougival project" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/14/full-sovereignty-and-independence-flnks-rejects-frances-bougival-project/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Full sovereignty and independence’: FLNKS rejects France’s Bougival project">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 26, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a formal invitation to “all New Caledonia stakeholders” for talks in Paris on the French Pacific territory’s political and economic future to be held on July 2. The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually ... <a title="Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/26/macron-invites-all-new-caledonia-stakeholders-for-paris-talks/" aria-label="Read more about Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 2, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin will remain in a mainland French jail for the time being, a Court of Appeal has ruled in Nouméa. This followed an earlier ruling on October 22 from the Court of Cassation, which is tasked to rule on possible procedural mistakes ... <a title="Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin to remain in mainland French jail" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/12/02/kanak-pro-independence-leader-christian-tein-to-remain-in-mainland-french-jail/" aria-label="Read more about Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin to remain in mainland French jail">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 24, 2024
Asia Pacific Report France’s Supreme Court has overturned a judgment imprisoning pretrial in mainland France Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Tein, who is widely regarded as a political prisoner, reports Libération. Tein, who is head of the CCAT (Field Action Coordination Unit) in New Caledonia was in August elected president of the main pro-independence umbrella group ... <a title="Kanak leader Christian Tein’s jailing in France overturned in new legal twist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/10/24/kanak-leader-christian-teins-jailing-in-france-overturned-in-new-legal-twist/" aria-label="Read more about Kanak leader Christian Tein’s jailing in France overturned in new legal twist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 22, 2024
In the West Bank, one in three Palestinians has experienced one or more incarcerations during their life since 1967, or 35 percent of the population, while in Kanaky, the Nouméa prison, known as Camp Est, is populated by 95 percent Kanaks, while they represent only 39 to 43 percent of the Caledonian population. SPECIAL REPORT: ... <a title="From Kanaky to Palestine, how Paris is weaponising deportations from Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/07/22/from-kanaky-to-palestine-how-paris-is-weaponising-deportations-from-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about From Kanaky to Palestine, how Paris is weaponising deportations from Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 24, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A group of pro-independence leaders charged with allegedly organising protests that turned into violent unrest in New Caledonia last month have been indicted and transferred to mainland France where they will be held in custody pending trial. Christian Téin and 10 others were arrested by French ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: Shock over pro-independence leader charges, transfer to France" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/24/kanaky-new-caledonia-unrest-shock-over-pro-independence-leader-charges-transfer-to-france/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: Shock over pro-independence leader charges, transfer to France">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2024
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist As New Caledonia passes the one-month mark since violent and deadly clashes erupted on last month, there has been no clear path put forward by Paris as far as the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) is concerned. Yesterday, eight people — including the leader of the Field ... <a title="‘We cannot have peace without independence,’ says Kanak govt official" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/20/we-cannot-have-peace-without-independence-says-kanak-govt-official/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We cannot have peace without independence,’ says Kanak govt official">Read more</a>
