CoveragePost
January 2, 2022
ANALYSIS: By David Robie in Auckland The Pacific year has closed with growing tensions over sovereignty and self-determination issues and growing stress over the ravages of covid-19 pandemic in a region that was largely virus-free in 2020. Just two days before the year 2021 wrapped up, Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama took the extraordinary statement of ... <a title="‘Secret plots’, sovereignty and covid challenges face Pacific for New Year" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/01/02/secret-plots-sovereignty-and-covid-challenges-face-pacific-for-new-year/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Secret plots’, sovereignty and covid challenges face Pacific for New Year">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 20, 2021
RNZ Pacific A committee has been set up in New Caledonia to support the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron although he is yet to announce whether he will again seek office next April. The committee is headed by the mayor of Noumea Sonia Lagarde, who said Macron’s support for New Caledonia had been “flawless”. ... <a title="Pro-Macron presidential election committee formed in New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/20/pro-macron-presidential-election-committee-formed-in-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-Macron presidential election committee formed in New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 16, 2021
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The French government’s decision to press ahead with the third and final referendum vote for self-determination in Kanaky New Caledonia was “unjust and unfair” for the Indigenous Kanak people, says a coalition of nine pan-Pacific civil society groups. The groups have also accused the French state of “colonial manoeuvring in the ... <a title="Pacific civil society groups slam New Caledonia ballot as ‘unjust … unfair’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/16/pacific-civil-society-groups-slam-new-caledonia-ballot-as-unjust-unfair/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific civil society groups slam New Caledonia ballot as ‘unjust … unfair’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 16, 2021
Kaniva News Tonga’s Parliament has elected a new prime minister to replace Dr Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Siaosi Sovaleni, 51, the current Minister of Education, has won convincingly with 16 votes, against former Minister of Finance and MP Dr ‘Aisake Eke, who got 10 votes. The Interim Speaker, Lord Tangi, announced the results this afternoon after he ... <a title="Education minister Sovaleni elected as Tonga’s new prime minister" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/16/education-minister-sovaleni-elected-as-tongas-new-prime-minister/" aria-label="Read more about Education minister Sovaleni elected as Tonga’s new prime minister">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 16, 2021
RNZ Pacific A leftwing candidate in the French presidential race, Jean-Luc Melenchon, says the outcome of New Caledonia’s independence referendum is a catastrophe. He held a news conference after several leading French politicians welcomed Sunday’s overwhelming rejection of independence, with just 3.5 percent voting for it. Melenchon, leader of the France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) ... <a title="France’s New Caledonia policy labelled a ‘catastrophe’ by left leader" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/16/frances-new-caledonia-policy-labelled-a-catastrophe-by-left-leader/" aria-label="Read more about France’s New Caledonia policy labelled a ‘catastrophe’ by left leader">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 14, 2021
RNZ Pacific New Caledonia’s pro-independence umbrella organisation says it does not recognise the legitimacy and validity of the third and final referendum on independence from France. The statement by the organisation grouping seven parties and unions — the Strategic Independence Committee of Non-Particioation (CSIMP) — is the first since 96.5 percent of voters rejected independence ... <a title="New Caledonian referendum result rejected – not wish of ‘silent majority’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/14/new-caledonian-referendum-result-rejected-not-wish-of-silent-majority/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonian referendum result rejected – not wish of ‘silent majority’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 14, 2021
ANALYSIS: By David Robie “Loyalist” New Caledonians handed France the decisive victory in the third and final referendum on independence it wanted in Sunday’s vote. But it was a hollow victory, with pro-independence Kanaks delivering Paris a massive rebuke for its three-decade decolonisation strategy. The referendum is likely to be seen as a failure, a ... <a title="New Caledonia votes to stay with France, but it’s a hollow victory that will only ratchet up tensions" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/14/new-caledonia-votes-to-stay-with-france-but-its-a-hollow-victory-that-will-only-ratchet-up-tensions/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia votes to stay with France, but it’s a hollow victory that will only ratchet up tensions">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 14, 2021
RNZ Pacific Leading French politicians have welcomed New Caledonia’s rejection of independence, but pro-independence leaders have dismissed the result. More than 96 percent voted against independence in a poll boycotted by the pro-independence camp. Senate president Gerard Larcher said the challenge now was to make New Caledonia a land of harmony and progress, respectful of ... <a title="Paris delighted at New Caledonia result, but Kanaks dismiss it" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/14/paris-delighted-at-new-caledonia-result-but-kanaks-dismiss-it/" aria-label="Read more about Paris delighted at New Caledonia result, but Kanaks dismiss it">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 12, 2021
COMMENTARY: By Marylou Mahe, a Kanak supporter of independence for New Caledonia When tomorrow’s referendum on independence for New Caledonia goes ahead, it won’t have my vote. I am a young Kanak woman, a pro-independence and decolonial feminist who wants to stop the injustice and humiliation of my people, colonised for more than a century ... <a title="I support Kanaky New Caledonian independence – but why I’m not voting" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/12/i-support-kanaky-new-caledonian-independence-but-why-im-not-voting/" aria-label="Read more about I support Kanaky New Caledonian independence – but why I’m not voting">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 10, 2021
ANALYSIS: By David Robie After three decades of frustratingly slow progress but with a measure of quiet optimism over the decolonisation process unfolding under the Noumea Accord, Kanaky New Caledonia is again poised on the edge of a precipice. Two out of three pledged referendums from 2018 produced higher than expected – and growing — ... <a title="Betrayal of Kanaky decolonisation by Paris risks return to dark days" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/10/betrayal-of-kanaky-decolonisation-by-paris-risks-return-to-dark-days/" aria-label="Read more about Betrayal of Kanaky decolonisation by Paris risks return to dark days">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 10, 2021
RNZ Pacific New Caledonia’s pro-independence parties say the French overseas minister’s visit in the next few days is unwelcome, describing it as “another provocation”. Overseas Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced his trip as New Caledonia readies for Sunday’s third and final independence referendum after rejected pleas by the pro-independence parties to postpone it to next year ... <a title="French minister’s visit ‘a provocation’, say pro-independence parties" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/10/french-ministers-visit-a-provocation-say-pro-independence-parties/" aria-label="Read more about French minister’s visit ‘a provocation’, say pro-independence parties">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 9, 2021
RNZ Pacific A late legal bid to postpone Sunday’s independence referendum in New Caledonia has reportedly failed. A leading anti-independence leader and president of New Caledonia’s Southern Province, Sonia Backes, said the highest French administrative court had rejected an urgent submission to defer the third and final independence referendum until next year. The submission was ... <a title="Paris court clears way for Sunday’s New Caledonia referendum" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/09/paris-court-clears-way-for-sundays-new-caledonia-referendum/" aria-label="Read more about Paris court clears way for Sunday’s New Caledonia referendum">Read more</a>
