CoveragePost
May 14, 2026
ANALYSIS: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk As New Caledonia marks the second anniversary of a spate of unrest and riots that broke out on 13 May 2024, the situation on the ground remains tense, on the political, economic and security levels. Politically, over the past two years, there have been sequences ... <a title="Two years after New Caledonia’s violent uprising, tensions remain high" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/14/two-years-after-new-caledonias-violent-uprising-tensions-remain-high/" aria-label="Read more about Two years after New Caledonia’s violent uprising, tensions remain high">Read more</a>
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 8, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s crucial provincial elections will be held next month on Sunday, June 28, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced. Lecornu’s announcement was widely relayed by New Caledonian politicians who have just participated in a video conference meeting yesterday. The announcement also came with a ... <a title="New Caledonia provincial elections set for June but voter roll changes face criticism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/08/new-caledonia-provincial-elections-set-for-june-but-voter-roll-changes-face-criticism/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia provincial elections set for June but voter roll changes face criticism">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 25, 2026
OBITUARY: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Political leaders and institutions have paid tributes for Lionel Jospin, the “father” of the 1998 Nouméa Accord, who died at the weekend aged 88. Jospin was a socialist prime minister who played a significant role in supervising the signature of the 1998 Accord, which paved ... <a title="Tributes pour in for Lionel Jospin, ‘father’ of the Nouméa Accord" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/25/tributes-pour-in-for-lionel-jospin-father-of-the-noumea-accord/" aria-label="Read more about Tributes pour in for Lionel Jospin, ‘father’ of the Nouméa Accord">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
November 19, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French minister for overseas Naïma Moutchou left New Caledonia at the weekend after a 5-day stay, with an announcement regarding a re-scheduled referendum-like consultation on a project for the French Pacific territory’s political future — but few pledges regarding further French commitment to tackle a dire ... <a title="Minister Moutchou ends New Caledonia visit – political announcements, no new financial pledge" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/minister-moutchou-ends-new-caledonia-visit-political-announcements-no-new-financial-pledge/" aria-label="Read more about Minister Moutchou ends New Caledonia visit – political announcements, no new financial pledge">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 13, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Minister for Overseas Naïma Moutchou’s first visit to New Caledonia is marked by marathon political talks and growing concerns about the French Pacific territory’s deteriorating economic situation. Moutchou arrived on Monday on a visit scheduled to last until tomorrow. With a backdrop of political uncertainty ... <a title="French Overseas Minister holds marathon political talks in New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/13/french-overseas-minister-holds-marathon-political-talks-in-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about French Overseas Minister holds marathon political talks in New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 9, 2025
Asia Pacific Report A Pacific people’s mission to Kanaky New Caledonia was repeatedly confronted with a “profound sense of distrust” in the French state’s role in the decolonisation process, a new report released this week has revealed. “This scepticism, articulated by Kanak representatives, is rooted in the belief that France is not a neutral arbiter ... <a title="‘Profound distrust’ in France, says Pacific people’s mission report calling for new Kanaky negotiations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/09/profound-distrust-in-france-says-pacific-peoples-mission-report-calling-for-new-kanaky-negotiations/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Profound distrust’ in France, says Pacific people’s mission report calling for new Kanaky negotiations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 6, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Newly appointed French Minister for Overseas Naïma Moutchou has now rescheduled her first visit to New Caledonia, which was postponed last week due to urgent budget talks in Paris. In the latest version of her schedule for next week, Moutchou now has earmarked the date November ... <a title="New dates for French minister Moutchou’s visit to New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/06/new-dates-for-french-minister-moutchous-visit-to-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about New dates for French minister Moutchou’s visit to New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 4, 2025
Asia Pacific Report A People’s Mission to Kanaky New Caledonia says the French Pacific territory remains in a fragile political and social transition nearly three decades after the signing of the Nouméa Accord. It says the pro-independence unrest in May last year has “left visible scars” — not only in a damaged economy but in ... <a title="People’s mission to Kanaky warns over ‘broken trust’ in France about decolonisation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/04/peoples-mission-to-kanaky-warns-over-broken-trust-in-france-about-decolonisation/" aria-label="Read more about People’s mission to Kanaky warns over ‘broken trust’ in France about decolonisation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 30, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French MPs narrowly endorsed the postponement of New Caledonia’s provincial elections to no later than 28 June 2026 in a crucial vote in Paris this week. It comes as newly appointed Overseas Minister Naïma Moutchou prepares to visit the French Pacific territory for more talks on ... <a title="French MPs vote to postpone New Caledonia’s elections to June 2026" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/30/french-mps-vote-to-postpone-new-caledonias-elections-to-june-2026/" aria-label="Read more about French MPs vote to postpone New Caledonia’s elections to June 2026">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 24, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French national politics have once again cast a shadow on New Caledonia’s issues even though the French Pacific territory is facing a pressing schedule. Debates in the French National Assembly on a New Caledonia-related Bill were once again heated and rocky yesterday, resulting in further delays. ... <a title="French MPs clash over New Caledonia policy, debates further postponed" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/24/french-mps-clash-over-new-caledonia-policy-debates-further-postponed/" aria-label="Read more about French MPs clash over New Caledonia policy, debates further postponed">Read more</a>
