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
January 14, 2026
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), one of the main components in New Caledonia’s pro-independence Kanak movement, has confirmed it will not take part in a new round of talks in Paris this week called by French President Emmanuel Macron. In mid-December 2025, Macron invited New Caledonia’s politicians back to the negotiating table ... <a title="FLNKS boycotts Macron-convened Paris talks over future this week" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/14/flnks-boycotts-macron-convened-paris-talks-over-future-this-week/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS boycotts Macron-convened Paris talks over future this week">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
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 28, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific Correspondent French Pacific desk French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has ended an extended seven-day visit to New Caledonia with mixed feelings. On one hand, he said he was confident his “Bougival deal” for New Caledonia’s future is now “more advanced” after three sittings of a “drafting committee” made up ... <a title="French Overseas Minister pushes ahead with Bougival deal despite FLNKS snub" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/28/french-overseas-minister-pushes-ahead-with-bougival-deal-despite-flnks-snub/" aria-label="Read more about French Overseas Minister pushes ahead with Bougival deal despite FLNKS snub">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 26, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s surprise announcement yesterday that he will call for a parliamentary confidence vote in his government is set to further complicate protracted talks in New Caledonia on the French territory’s political future. The announcement comes as French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls ... <a title="French PM’s confidence vote hits New Caledonia’s political negotiations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/26/french-pms-confidence-vote-hits-new-caledonias-political-negotiations/" aria-label="Read more about French PM’s confidence vote hits New Caledonia’s political negotiations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A newly established “drafting committee” held its inaugural meeting in Nouméa this week, aiming to translate the Bougival agreement — signed by New Caledonian political parties in Paris last month — into a legal and constitutional form. However, the first sitting of the committee on Thursday ... <a title="FLNKS snubs Nouméa constitutional reform talks for New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/24/flnks-snubs-noumea-constitutional-reform-talks-for-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS snubs Nouméa constitutional reform talks for New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 20, 2025
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls is once again in New Caledonia for a four-day visit aimed at maintaining dialogue, despite a strong rejection from a significant part of the pro-independence camp. He touched down at the Nouméa-La Tontouta Airport last night on his fourth trip to New Caledonia since he took office in late ... <a title="French Overseas Minister in New Caledonia in bid to ‘save’ Bougival deal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/20/french-overseas-minister-in-new-caledonia-in-bid-to-save-bougival-deal/" aria-label="Read more about French Overseas Minister in New Caledonia in bid to ‘save’ Bougival deal">Read more</a>
