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 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
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
April 4, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A Constitutional Reform Bill dedicated to New Caledonia was rejected on Thursday by the French National Assembly (Lower House) without debate, by a gathering of opposition parties by a score of 190 to 107. The rejection came in the form of the endorsement of a preliminary ... <a title="French National Assembly rejects New Caledonia’s constitutional reform" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/04/french-national-assembly-rejects-new-caledonias-constitutional-reform/" aria-label="Read more about French National Assembly rejects New Caledonia’s constitutional reform">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 2, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Thousands took to the streets of the capital Nouméa on Tuesday — hours ahead of a scheduled French Parliament debate in the National Assembly in Paris to discuss the French Pacific territory’s political future. An estimated 2500 came in support of local Association Un Coeur, une ... <a title="Thousands take to Nouméa streets ahead of French Parliament debate on New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/02/thousands-take-to-noumea-streets-ahead-of-french-parliament-debate-on-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about Thousands take to Nouméa streets ahead of French Parliament debate on New Caledonia">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
February 26, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Senators have endorsed a Constitutional amendment text regarding New Caledonia’s future political status. Two-hundred and fifteen senators (mostly an alliance between right and centre-right parties) voted in favour, and 41 voted against. The four-hour sitting was marked by a lengthy address by French Prime Minister ... <a title="French Senate vote endorses New Caledonia’s future status" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/french-senate-vote-endorses-new-caledonias-future-status/" aria-label="Read more about French Senate vote endorses New Caledonia’s future status">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
January 19, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Talks on New Caledonia’s political future have been underway in Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron launched a fresh roundtable on Friday, despite the absence of one of the French territory’s largest pro-independence group, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS). During a first meeting ... <a title="Pro-France MPs confront Macron over New Caledonia at future talks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/19/pro-france-mps-confront-macron-over-new-caledonia-at-future-talks/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-France MPs confront Macron over New Caledonia at future talks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) has put in a late request to join talks on the territory’s future remotely. The meeting, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, is calling all politicians from the French Pacific territory back to the negotiating table. ... <a title="FLNKS sends in late request to join Paris talks on New Caledonia remotely" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/flnks-sends-in-late-request-to-join-paris-talks-on-new-caledonia-remotely/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS sends in late request to join Paris talks on New Caledonia remotely">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>