15 Mar 2022

La Depeche de Tahiti newspaper faces liquidation

3:00 pm on 15 March 2022

The fate of French Polynesia's oldest newspaper, La Depeche de Tahiti, is expected to be decided in the court of appeal next month as it faces liquidation.

La Depeche has been the only local daily newspaper for sale since 2014 when the territory's oldest newspaper Nouvelles de Tahiti ceased publication after 57 years.

La Depeche has been the only local daily newspaper for sale since 2014 when the territory's oldest newspaper Nouvelles de Tahiti ceased publication after 57 years. Photo: Tahiti Infos

Its publisher has failed to meet the terms of a rescue plan put in place after it went into receivership in 2018.

The company is said to be $US1 million behind in its 10-year schedule to settle its commitments.

Its lawyers favour liquidation when the court meets on 27 April.

However, unpaid former employees want the liquidation to be averted, saying the accounts are not transparent and that subsidies have been received in the meantime.

The media business also publishes three magazines Tiki Mag, Fenua'Orama and Maisons du fenua.

La Depeche, which was established in 1964, lost its own printing shop in 2018 when it was liquidated following prolonged financial difficulties.

La Depeche has been the only local daily newspaper for sale since 2014.