French President Emmanuel Macron visited New Caledonia for about 24 hours mid-week seeking an end to the violence that has gripped the territory.
He spoke with many of the stake holders, including some of the pro-independence activists, and has promised help, but is hinging this on the removal of the barricades.
Don Wiseman spoke with RNZ Pacific's former news editor Walter Zweifel - the only New Zealander journalist to cover the first referendum in 2018 about what Mr Macron had to say.