Patrick Decloitre

New Caledonia's pro-independence front on Wednesday confirmed its "block rejection" of the document outlining the French territory's political future.

The move by the pro-independence group has prompted France's Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls to travel to the French territory again next week.

Kainuu Temauri, 29, has been appointed to the role less than two years ahead of the 2027 Pacific Games to be hosted by French Polynesia.

The agreement was signed between Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson.

In addition to the narcotics worth €331 million street value, local authorities seized 11 Glock semi‑automatic pistols and 24 ammunition magazines.

New Caledonia's oldest pro-independence party has officially rejected a political agreement on the French territory's political future signed in Paris last month.

The drop in population to below 265,000 is due to net migration outflow, according to the French National Statistical Institute.

The French Minister for Overseas landed in French Polynesia on Wednesday (Tuesday local time) for his first official visit to the territory.

New Caledonian politicians who inked their commitment to a deal with France on 12 July will be offered special police protection, following threats uttered especially on social networks.

Pro-and-anti-independence parties committed to a deal regarding the future political status of the French Pacific territory on Saturday.

As part of a range of possible options, the French president reportedly put on the table an "associated State" status for the French territory, with a "strong link with France".

A delegation from political leaders as well as representatives from New Caledonia's economic and civil society have converged to Paris over the past few days.

The drugs were found in the Panama-flagged vessel named SM Dante, which had left Peru in May and was headed to Australia.

The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually to an undisclosed list of recipients.

A Court of Appeal in Paris on Thursday ruled for the release of Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin from custody, almost one year after his arrest in New Caledonia.

Macron dedicated a significant part of his address to the situation in New Caledonia.

A Parisian appellate court has delayed the release of New Caledonia's Kanak pro-independence leader, Christian Téin, from custody following an appeal by prosecutors.

One of seven people transferred to mainland France almost a year ago, following the May 2024 riots in New Caledonia, has been allowed to return home.

The latest round of discussions, earlier this month, ended in a stalemate.

Air New Zealand ceased flights between Auckland and the French territory's capital, Nouméa on 15 June 2024, at the height of violent civil unrest.

New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013.

This follows confrontations between law enforcement and violent groups last week, including incidents of arson, stone-throwing and vehicles being set on fire.

New Caledonia's political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory's future status.

Talks about New Caledonia's political future were progressing slowly between Manuel Valls and all sides of the political spectrum.

The New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister travels to Nouméa today, where he will hold talks with visiting French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls.