CoveragePost
January 21, 2026
RNZ Pacific France’s High Commission in French Polynesia has reported the seizure of 4.87 tonnes of cocaine in its maritime zone. The armed forces in French Polynesia (FAPF), the national gendarmerie and the local branch of the anti-narcotics office (OFAST) were involved in the intercept. A statement from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have congratulated ... <a title="4.87 tonnes of cocaine seized in French Polynesian waters – bound for Australia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/21/4-87-tonnes-of-cocaine-seized-in-french-polynesian-waters-bound-for-australia/" aria-label="Read more about 4.87 tonnes of cocaine seized in French Polynesian waters – bound for Australia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 24, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Southern Cross, a French-hosted regional military exercise, is moving to Wallis and Futuna Islands this year. The exercise, which includes participating regional armed and law enforcement forces from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga every two years, is scheduled to take place April ... <a title="France’s Southern Cross regional military exercise moves to Wallis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/24/frances-southern-cross-regional-military-exercise-moves-to-wallis/" aria-label="Read more about France’s Southern Cross regional military exercise moves to Wallis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk France’s naval flagship, the 261m aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, is to be deployed to the Pacific later this year, as part of an exercise codenamed “Clémenceau 25”. French Naval Command Etat-Major’s Commodore Jacques Mallard told a French media briefing that the main objective of the ... <a title="France plans to deploy flagship carrier Charles de Gaulle to Pacific this year" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/12/france-plans-to-deploy-flagship-carrier-charles-de-gaulle-to-pacific-this-year/" aria-label="Read more about France plans to deploy flagship carrier Charles de Gaulle to Pacific this year">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 14, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk More armoured vehicles and firetrucks have been delivered for Kanaky New Caledonia’s security forces, including police and firemen. The France-freighted shipment consignment arrived aboard a cargo vessel, the Calao, the French High Commission announced on Thursday. It contained 10 more armoured vehicles for the security forces, ... <a title="New riot vehicle shipment arrives for police, firemen in New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/07/14/new-riot-vehicle-shipment-arrives-for-police-firemen-in-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about New riot vehicle shipment arrives for police, firemen in New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2024
Vanuatu Daily Post All eight Members of Parliament from Vanuatu’s Tafea Province have made a bold and powerful call to French President Emmanuel Macron to “stop the violence and killing” being committed against the Kanak people of New Caledonia. The MPs include Trade Minister Bob Loughman, a former prime minister; Internal Affairs Minister Johnny Koanapo; ... <a title="‘Stop the violence, killing against Kanaks’ plea by Vanuatu MPs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/22/stop-the-violence-killing-against-kanaks-plea-by-vanuatu-mps/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Stop the violence, killing against Kanaks’ plea by Vanuatu MPs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Polynesia has just played host to a 15-nation “Marara” military exercise aimed at increasing “interoperability” between participating armed forces. From May 27 to June 8, the exercise involved about 1000 military from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, ... <a title="French Polynesia hosts ‘Marara’ military exercise for Asia-Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/15/french-polynesia-hosts-marara-military-exercise-for-asia-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about French Polynesia hosts ‘Marara’ military exercise for Asia-Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 7, 2024
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A Pacific regional network has deplored what they call increasing brutality on Kanak youth in Kanaky New Caledonia and the deployment of thousands of troops. New Caledonia has experienced a wave of violence with Nouméa the scene of riots, blockades, looting and deadly clashes since mid-May. France has sent ... <a title="Force not the answer in Kanaky New Caledonia, says PANG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/07/force-not-the-answer-in-kanaky-new-caledonia-says-pang/" aria-label="Read more about Force not the answer in Kanaky New Caledonia, says PANG">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 4, 2024
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Police in New Caledonia have a new weapon in their arsenal — state of the art armoured vehicles with machine guns, flown in from France to take control of the law and order situation following the violent unrest. The state of emergency was lifted in the territory last ... <a title="France sends armoured vehicles with machine gun capability to New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/04/france-sends-armoured-vehicles-with-machine-gun-capability-to-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about France sends armoured vehicles with machine gun capability to New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2024
By Adam Burns, RNZ News reporter Worried New Caledonian expats in Aotearoa admit they are “terrified” for friends and family amid ongoing violence and civil unrest in the French Pacific territory. The death toll remained at four tonight, and hundreds have been injured after electoral changes sparked widespread rioting by pro-independence supporters in the capital ... <a title="NZ families worried as loved ones shelter from violent unrest in New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/05/16/nz-families-worried-as-loved-ones-shelter-from-violent-unrest-in-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about NZ families worried as loved ones shelter from violent unrest in New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 3, 2023
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ French Pacific correspondent Defence ministers from several Asian and Pacific states are scheduled to meet in New Caledonia for two days during the first week of December, French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) commander General Yann Latil announced at the weekend. He added that French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu was ... <a title="France to host Pacific defence ministers in New Caledonia ‘hub’ meeting" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/10/03/france-to-host-pacific-defence-ministers-in-new-caledonia-hub-meeting/" aria-label="Read more about France to host Pacific defence ministers in New Caledonia ‘hub’ meeting">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 27, 2021
RNZ Pacific France has detailed an unprecedented security set-up for New Caledonia’s third and final independence referendum on December 12. The French authorities made the announcement as the pro-independence FLNKS called on its supporters to boycott the vote after France refused to delay it until next year. If the call is heeded, the anti-independence side ... <a title="France deploys big force to secure New Caledonia referendum" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/10/27/france-deploys-big-force-to-secure-new-caledonia-referendum/" aria-label="Read more about France deploys big force to secure New Caledonia referendum">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 9, 2021
RNZ Pacific French Polynesia’s pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru says high-level talks on France’s nuclear legacy due in Paris this month should be held at the United Nations in New York instead. French President Emmanuel Macron called the meeting in response to a report which accused France of misleading the public about the fallout after a ... <a title="Temaru calls for Tahiti nuclear tests roundtable in New York – not Paris" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/09/temaru-calls-for-tahiti-nuclear-tests-roundtable-in-new-york-not-paris/" aria-label="Read more about Temaru calls for Tahiti nuclear tests roundtable in New York – not Paris">Read more</a>
