Lara Tetuanui, newly elected Senator Photo: AFP
There is surprise among French Polynesia's politicians that Paris failed to consult them over planned reforms aimed at instilling more confidence in public life.
The National Assembly is discussing tightening some senior politicians' rights to hire close relatives following concern in the lead-up to this year's elections which compromised several prominent figures in France.
The new provisions are also expected to apply to top political office holders in Tahiti as well as mayors and stop them from employing spouses, partners or children among the immediate staff.
The new rules would also remove the right of assembly members to also work as consultants for private companies.
According to Radio1 in Tahiti, a French Polynesian member of the French Senate Lana Tetuanui drew attention to the plans by contacting the president of French Polynesia's assembly Marcel Tuihani, who in turn has expressed his concerns to the French authorities.
Mr Tuihani said he had nobody of his family on his staff.
Before becoming a Senator, Mrs Teutanui was alleged to have had her husband on the payroll as her assistant while she was an assembly member.
She said she had done no wrong and adhered to the assembly rules.
