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Official Name: New Caledonia
Land Area: 19,103 sq km
Population: 240, 390 (January 2007 official estimate)
Capital City: Noumea
Religion: Catholic and Protestant
Language: French; 33 Melanesian languages also exist, although some are rarely spoken
Currency: French Pacific Franc (CFP)
Exchange Rate: CFP63.17 = NZ$1 (16 October 2007) EEZ 1.45 million sq km
Last elections:
August 2007 – Government (Ministerial Cabinet) elections
June 2007 – Legislative elections (representatives to the French National Assembly)
Next elections due:
Municipal – March 2008
Provincial (general election) – May 2009
Senatorial - 2010
Head of State:
President of France - HE Nicolas Sarkozy
Head of Government:
President of New Caledonia, responsible for Taxation and Mining - Harold Martin (Avenir Ensemble - AE)
Deputies representing New Caledonia in the French National Assembly:
Gaël Yanno, Pierre Frogier
Senator in the French Parliament:
Simon Loueckhote
President (Speaker) of the New Caledonian Congress:
Pierre Frogier
President of the Southern Province Assembly:
Philippe Gomès
President of the Northern Province Assembly:
Paul Néaoutyine
President of the Loyalty Islands Province Assembly:
Neko Hnepeune
Secretary-General of the High Commission:
Jean-Bernard Bobin
Secretary-General of the New Caledonian Government:
Alain Swetschkin
Commander of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC):
Brigadier-General Martial de Braquilanges
Vice-President of the Government;
Responsible for Culture, Women’s Affairs, Citizenship, Customary Affairs and Relations with the Customary Senate: Dewe Gorodey (Palika)
Minister for Finance and the Budget, also Audiovisual Communications and Relations with the Economic and Social Council:
Pascal Vittori (AE)
Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, also Sustainable Development:
Eric Babin (AE)
Minister for Health and the Disabled, Social Affairs and Social Welfare:
Sylvie Robineau (AE)
Minister for Economy, Labour and Public Service, External Trade, Customs, Monetary and Credit Issues:
Annie Beustes (Rassemblement-UMP)
Minister for Youth and Sport:
Maurice Ponga (R-UMP)
Minister for Education and Research:
Charles Washetine (Palika)
Minister for International Air Transport and Communications, Social Dialogue, French Language and Relations with Communes:
Jean-Claude Briault (R-UMP)
Minister for Land and Sea Transport, Road Safety, Infrastructure, Energy, Town Planning and Development:
Gérard Cortot (Union Calédonienne -UC)
Minister for Vocational Training and Domestic Air Transport:
Pierre Ngaiohni (UC)
GDP: CFPfr 647, 000 million (2006)
GDP breakdown:
Goods: nickel 10%, construction 8.6%, manufacturing (incl. food processing) 13%, agriculture 1.4%
Services ( incl. tourism): 65%
GDP per capita: CFPfr 2,713,000
Real GDP growth: 2005 6.5%, 2006 7.9% (in line with increasing nickel prices)
Exports ( FOB): US$1,464.8 million (2006 EIU estimate)
Imports (CIF): US$2,299.8 million (2006 EIU estimate)
Main exports (2006): Ferro-nickels: 757.3 ; Nickel & nickel products: 239.4 ; Nickel ore: 218.9 ; Fish & crustaceans: 29.9 US$ million
Export destinations (2006): France 20.6%, Japan 18.4%, EU (excl France) 17.8%, Taiwan 12.8%, China 11.3%
Main imports (2006): Electrical machinery: 491.3, Vehicles & spare parts: 375.7, Minerals incl. petroleum, products: 359.6, Foodstuffs: 282.9 US$ million
Import origins (2006): France 31.9%, EU (excl France) 15.6%, Singapore 14.4%, Australia 9.5%, New Zealand 4.7%
Consumer Price Inflation: 1.4% (2006 EIU estimate)
NZ Exports ( FOB): NZ$160,816,000 (for year ended June 2007)
Main Exports: Yachts & other vessels, Iron & Steel Products, Dairy & meat, Wood & wood products, Sugar products, Metal working machinery, Fruit & vegetables (especially apples)
NZ Imports (CIF): NZ$908,000 (for year ended June 2007)
Main Imports: Fruit & vegetables (especially citrus fruit), Copper (refined & alloys)
Services Trade: Provision of services to the mining industry, and to education
In November 1999 Air New Zealand increased its operations from one to two services a week. This brought weekly passenger services between Noumea and Auckland to four, including those of New Caledonia's airline, Aircalin. The two airlines agreed to code-share their four flights from April 2002. Aircalin operates a separate weekly airfreight flight.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) cooperate in a range of areas, including response to natural disasters and other emergencies such as search and rescue operations. There are regular senior-level reciprocal defence visits, including over the last three years by the New Zealand Chief of Defence Force, Chief of Air Staff, Maritime Commander and Deputy Chief of General Staff. FANC Commander Brigadier General Alain Daniel visited New Zealand in early 2005 for exchanges with senior New Zealand Defence and Foreign Affairs staff. Former Commander, Brigadier Robert, made a similar visit to New Zealand early 2007. In 2006, French Minister for Overseas France, François Baroin, made a four-day visit to New Zealand during which time he signed a tripartite Maritime Surveillance and Cooperation Agreement. Regular exercises are conducted between NZDF and FANC, particularly the Southern Cross Exercise which is held every two years, and ship visits in both directions are frequent. ANZAC commemorations are well-attended by both New Zealand, French and New Caledonian dignitaries, and the New Zealand war cemetery in Bourail provides testament to approximately 20,000 New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during the Second World War.
New Zealand is a popular destination for New Caledonian students wishing to learn English. They are able to undertake up to three months of study visa-free. As French citizens they also benefit from domestic fees at post-graduate level at New Zealand universities. The University of New Caledonia has signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Auckland, which includes provision for student exchanges, and also has research links with Massey University.
The Consulate General manages a modest pr ogramme of development assistance to New Caledonia, funded by NZAID, which provides short-term training for young people in New Zealand. These awards are aimed at enhancing equitable social and economic development programmes in the territories and are focused towards disadvantaged young indigenous people. They cover English language training, technical courses and often include practical work attachments in priority development areas as chosen by the New Caledonian Provincial authorities.
Besides political, defence, and trade relations, other links are fostered under the aegis of the New Zealand/France Cultural Agreement and the Friendship Fund which has helped to improve contacts between New Zealand and New Caledonia. There are also increasing sporting, scientific and official exchanges. Taupo and Noumea are sister cities. In 2006, the New Caledonia Government, in association with France and New Zealand, announced a year-long “Season of New Caledonia” in New Zealand to promote understanding and foster greater cultural and sporting linkages between the two countries. top of page
The Kanaks, the indigenous Melanesian people of New Caledonia, originally settled New Caledonia over 6000 years ago. These first settlers probably migrated from New Guinea and Vanuatu. Polynesian groups added to the remarkable cultural diversity of New Caledonia by later settling in the Loyalty Islands. Kanak traditional society was based on subsistence agriculture and there are now 341 tribal groupings. Prior to European contact, the population was estimated at 60,000. According to the 1996 Census, there are 86,788 Kanaks living in New Caledonia.
Even though New Caledonia was "discovered" by Captain James Cook in 1774, France annexed New Caledonia on 24 September 1853. From 1863 New Caledonia was officially designated a penal colony until this was abolished by the first civil governor, Feuillet, in 1896. By this time over 20,000 convicts had been sent out to New Caledonia. Further European settlement on the main island of Grande Terre demanded the appropriation of Kanak land and fuelled the expansion of cattle farming. Large-scale land alienations and social discontent with successive colonial administrations led to two major Kanak uprisings in 1878-9 and 1917.
Gold, chrome, cobalt and nickel were discovered and mined from the 1870s. By the start of the twentieth century, New Caledonia was one of the world's major suppliers of nickel ore. During the Second World War, New Caledonia's strategic importance made it the ideal location for the United States to set up its military infrastructure to eliminate the Japanese threat from the South Pacific. Approximately 20,000 New Zealand soldiers were stationed in New Caledonia during WWII. In 1946 France made New Caledonia an "Overseas Territory of France" with limited autonomy. The Territory was allocated two seats in the French National Assembly and one in the Senate. After the war, France also introduced a series of political and social reforms to improve Kanak rights, significantly below those of the European population. For example, in 1946 Kanaks were allowed to leave their reservations and in 1951 they were granted voting rights and access to secondary education. top of page
New Caledonia is an overseas collectivity of France, with a unique constitutional arrangement. This is laid out in the Noumea Accord, which was signed in 1998, and is the “successor” of the 1988 Matignon Accords which followed a period of civil unrest between pro-independence and loyalist factions. The Noumea Accord sets out a process for France to hand over responsibilities in non-regalian sectors, with the possibility of an eventual referendum on independence in 2014 – 2018. Politics remain divided along pro-France vs pro-independence lines.
New Caledonia has a relatively high GDP per capita (comparable to New Zealand), but there are significant disparities in income distribution. Although New Caledonia has significant nickel resources, which account for 90% of its export earnings, it is still heavily reliant on financial transfers from France which account for approximately 25% of GDP.
New Caledonia increasingly looks to New Zealand (and Australia) for expertise and advice, and we enjoy a good bilateral relationship with regular exchange at both officials and Ministerial level across a wide range of sectors. New Caledonia is New Zealand’s third largest export destination in the Pacific at over NZ$160 million to June 2007. Over recent years New Caledonia has also begun to increase its engagement with the wider region, and in 2006 became an Associate Member of the Pacific Islands Forum.
top of pageIn response to the forces of decolonisation in Africa and increasing French migratory flows, the Kanak independence movement was launched in the 1970s. The movement drew steady support from other Melanesian countries in the region and gradually gained momentum in the 1980s. In 1984 the Kanak National Socialist Liberation Front (FLNKS) was founded as an umbrella organisation for the pro-independence parties, and later that year established a provisional independent government. This triggered violent confrontations between independentists and the loyalist settler community, which cost an estimated 80 lives from 1984-88. The escalating violence was eventually halted with the conclusion of the Matignon Accords on 26 June 1988 between the FLNKS, the loyalist RPCR, and the French Government.
The Matignon Accords provided for greater local autonomy (including provincial governments) and substantial aid designed to redress deep inequalities between the French and Kanak communities, while committing the Territory to a self-determination referendum ten years later. The Accords re-established peace in New Caledonia, but not before the assassination of FLNKS leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou and his deputy Yeiwene Yeiwene on 4 May 1989 by an independence extremist opposed to the Accords.
In April 1998 the three Matignon Accords partners (the French State, RPCR and FLNKS) agreed on a new statute defining the Territory's institutions and its relations with France. The agreement, termed the "Noumea Accord", steered a middle course between the respective political aspirations of the RPCR and FLNKS, and avoided the need for a divisive yes-no referendum on independence. It was signed on 5 May 1998 during a visit to New Caledonia by French Prime Minister Jospin, and approved by 72% of New Caledonians in a referendum on 8 November 1998. The Accord was subsequently ratified by the French National Assembly and Senate. As a result, New Caledonia is no longer a French Overseas Territory but has its own special status within the French Constitution, with enhanced autonomy. The country's statute also makes provision for New Caledonia eventually to change its name, flag and national anthem to express the territory’s unique cultural identity, notably its Kanak elements.
Over the next 15-20 years, the Accord commits France to transfer responsibility over all areas of government (except the "sovereign" powers of defence, justice, public order, money and some areas of external affairs) to New Caledonia's government, congress and provincial assemblies. Throughout the 20-year life of the Noumea Accord, France and New Caledonia will share responsibility for mining regulations, higher education and research, broadcasting, air services, immigration, regional relations and some international relations. Sometime between 2014 and 2018 a restricted electoral corps will vote on whether or not New Caledonia should acquire the remaining sovereign powers, which would effectively make the country independent. The restriction of New Caledonia's electoral corps based on residency qualifications - the final result of a political compromise - has proved to be a contentious issue and has only recently been confirmed, with ensuing changes to the French Constitution likely.
The elections in May 2004 were a turning point for New Caledonia. Jacques Lafleur’s RPCR party lost its majority after over 20 years in power. L’Avenir Ensemble (AE), a pro-France party formed by opponents of Lafleur and former President Pierre Frogier, won all the key presidential positions. However, there was no significant alteration in the balance of power between pro-France and pro-independence parties. Under principles of ‘collegial’ government as laid out in the Noumea Accord, AE held only 4 of the 11 seats in the Executive. RPCR also held 4 seats and the pro-independence parties 3 seats. Until her resignation on 23 July 2007, President Marie-Noëlle Themereau (AE) governed with the support of an alliance of the pro-independence Kanak parties and the pro-France National Front.
Following the election of Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP) as the new President of France in April 2007, New Caledonia underwent a significant political reshuffle. Gaël Yanno and Pierre Frogier were elected to become New Caledonia’s two Deputies to the French National Assembly. L’Avenir Ensemble’s failure to win a Deputy position precipitated the resignation of President Themereau, and the fall of the Government (Ministerial Cabinet). The Congress elected a new government of 11 members drawn from the pro-France AE and R-UMP parties (7), and the pro-independence FLNKS (4). National Assembly Deputy, Pierre Frogier, also took over the role of Speaker in the Congress. The present composition of Congress has AE holding 16 seats, the RPCR also holding 16 seats, National Front 4 seats, and pro-independence parties the remaining 18 seats.
The 1998 Noumea Accord defined New Caledonia as an “Overseas Country” of France. Following passage of the organic and ordinary laws of March 1999, New Caledonia has enhanced self-governing status within the French Constitution. The terms “collectivités territoriales” or “collectivités françaises du Pacifique” are accepted.
Since May 1999 New Caledonia's Government has consisted of an 11-member executive (Ministerial Cabinet) responsible to the 54-seat Congress of New Caledonia. The government is elected by Congress on a proportional ballot from party lists, and this ensures that it comprises more than one political party, as required under “collegial government” of the Noumea Accord. The President is elected by majority vote of all government members .
The Congress of New Caledonia is constituted of representatives from the three provincial assemblies (15 from Northern Province, 32 from Southern Province and 7 from Loyalty Islands). Members of the provincial assemblies are elected for terms of five years. Voting rights are restricted for elections during the remainder of the Noumea Accord term (to 2018) to those resident in New Caledonia for 10 years at the time of the Noumea Accord, and their descendants .
Political responsibility for New Caledonia lies with the French Minister for Overseas Departments and Territories, Michèle Alliot-Marie, and her Secretary of State Christian Estrosi . High Commissioner Yves Dassonville represents the French Government in New Caledonia.
The two main pro-France parties are L’Avenir Ensemble (AE) and the Rassemblement-Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (R-UMP). Following its defeat in the legislative elections of June 2007, Avenir Ensemble signed a framework agreement with Rassemblement-UMP to guarantee a pro-France majority and increased participation of the R-UMP in government.
The R-UMP is the New Caledonian branch of the French UMP ( President Sarkozy’s party). Under the leadership of Jacques Lafleur, the Rassemblement pour la Calédonie dans la République (RPCR) had been the dominant party in New Caledonia for over two decades. Pierre Frogier, former President of New Caledonia, took over the RPCR in 2005 at which point its name was changed to Rassemblement-UMP. In August 2006 Jacques Lafleur announced the establishment of a new party – the Rassemblement Pour la Calédonie (RPC).
The Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) is the pro-independence umbrella organisation. The two largest constituent parties are the Union Calédonienne (UC) and the Kanak Liberation Party (Palika).
Other parties include the Federation of Independence Coordination Committees (FCCI) and the right wing National Front (FN).
In relation to its population, New Caledonia has one of the largest economies in the Pacific Island region, boasting a slightly higher GDP per capita than New Zealand though there are significant disparities in income distribution. Large financial transfers from the French Government sustain the public sector. About half of this goes towards public service salaries, with the balance directed predominantly to health, education and special development projects, mostly in the Northern and Islands Provinces. New Caledonia applies a number of trade barriers to protect local industry and employment. A preferential tariff regime for the entry of EU-origin products remains. New Caledonia consistently runs a trade deficit.
New Caledonia is heavily reliant on one export commodity, nickel, which accounts for 90% of New Caledonia's export earnings. Behind Russia and Canada, New Caledonia is the world's third largest producer of nickel, with an estimated one quarter of the world's nickel reserves. Chrome and cobalt are also mined commercially, and deposits of iron, copper and gold have been found. The nickel industry remains cyclical, however, driven principally by demand from Japanese industry. With expansion plans for nickel mining in both the Southern and Northern Provinces (at Goro and Koniambo respectively) by a range of private and publicly-owned companies, the nickel industry will become even more important to New Caledonia's economy, significantly increasing its contribution to GDP.
Given the volatile nature of the nickel market, New Caledonia's economy is vulnerable to price fluctuations. As a result, there is some recognition that reducing economic uncertainty through the development of other income sources is needed.
The constructionsector is healthy, and accounts for roughly 8.6% of GDP, employing 9.6% of the salaried population in 2006. Manufacturing remains small scale and is largely focused on the transformation of foodstuffs, textiles and plastics. Nevertheless, the sector accounts for approximately 13% of GDP.
Tourism is another important sector, and is being actively promoted as a means of economic diversification and employment in coming years. After the record figure of 109,587 tourists in 2000, numbers dropped after 2001 to level around the 100,000 mark (100,491 in 2006). Cruise ship arrivals increased by a dramatic 46% to 118,898 in 2006. top of page
Agriculture officially employs only 5% of the population and makes up 1.4% of GDP, though it forms the basis of much of the indigenous population's subsistence economy. Production in most areas is heavily subsidised and prices controlled. Agricultural output is hampered by a number of factors including a scarcity of arable land. Tropical cyclones have also taken their toll on crops over recent years and there remains a heavy reliance on imports to meet demand.
Since 1998 New Caledonia has been gradually expanding its international and regional links to reflect its evolving constitutional relationship with France. Under the Noumea Accord, New Caledonia is allowed to establish diplomatic representation in the Pacific and the European Union, as well as conclude international agreements in its areas of competency. In 1999 New Caledonia became an observer of the Pacific Islands Forum, and achieved Associate membership in 2006. In April 2001, New Caledonia participated in the first Western Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC) preparatory conference held in New Zealand. In 2001, New Caledonia hosted for the first time the meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The Pacific's oldest regional organisation , the Secretariat of the Pacific Community ( SPC), is also based in Noumea. New Caledonia participates in the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), is a member of the Pacific Islands Development Programme, and an associate member of the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC).
At a bilateral level, New Caledonia has signed a cooperation agreement with Vanuatu, and holds regular trade talks with Australia. top of page
The relationship between New Zealand and New Caledonia has been developing strongly in recent years and now covers a wide range of issues of mutual interest. High-level political contact between New Zealand and New Caledonia has expanded in recent years. Most recently, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Phil Goff (now Minister of Trade and also of Defence) led a large delegation to New Caledonia and French Polynesia (March 2005). The Minister of Veterans’ Affairs also visited New Caledonia in August 2005 with a large delegation of WWII veterans to celebrate the end of the war in the Pacific. The President of the New Caledonia, Marie-Noelle Thèmereau visited New Zealand as a Guest of Government in 2005, and there have been a number of Ministerial visits to New Zealand for the New Caledonia Season in New Zealand in 2007.
We have also enjoyed a regular exchange at officials level and there have been frequent visits and exchanges in the areas of trade, defence, security, customs, education, youth, tourism, culture and sports. The New Caledonia Government financed the New Caledonia Season in New Zealand during 2007, and this has led to increasing sporting and cultural exchange between the two countries. New Zealand welcomed a New Caledonian delegation to its Youth Parliament in 2007.
New Caledonia is New Zealand's third largest export market in the Pacific. Total exports from New Zealand to New Caledonia in the year ending June 2007 were NZ$160.8 million - a year on year growth of 31%, with some 60% of this amount derived from just twenty export categories. New Caledonian exports are modest because of the Territory's overwhelming reliance on mineral exports, and because local production costs are high. Reduction of tariff barriers and liberalisation of quantitative restrictions in New Zealand have therefore had little impact on New Caledonian exports to date.
The last five years have seen a slow but steady growth in New Zealand tourist numbers as a result of the opening of a New Caledonia Tourism Promotion Office in Auckland. Alongside new and extensive promotional efforts by airlines, the number of New Zealand tourists travelling to New Caledonia is now on the rise (9% increase from 2005 to 2006).
As close neighbours, New Zealand and New Caledonia enjoy a good relationship. The New Zealand war cemetery in Bourail provides testament to approximately 20,000 New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during the Second World War.
In the 1980s, bilateral political relations revolved around the issue of the right of New Caledonians to self-determination and French Nuclear Testing. Since testing ended in 1996, bilateral relations have become increasing friendly, marked particularly by a high level of military cooperation between New Zealand and New Caledonia. France's policy of encouraging its Pacific territories to become more engaged in the region has also opened doors for cooperation with New Zealand on regional issues. New Zealand is also a donor to the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC).
New Caledonia is New Zealand's third largest market in the Pacific. New Zealand exports to New Caledonia have flourished since the introduction of trade liberalisation measures in 1992. Total exports from New Zealand to New Caledonia in the year ending December 2006 were NZ$134.4 million - a year on year growth of 10%. New Caledonian exports are modest because of the Territory's overwhelming reliance on mineral exports and because local production costs are high. Reduction of tariff barriers and liberalisation of quantitative restrictions in New Zealand have therefore had little impact on New Caledonian exports to date.
High-level political contact has expanded in recent years.
New Zealand is represented in New Caledonia by the New Zealand Consulate General in Noumea, New Caledonia
New Caledonia is represented in New Zealand by the New Zealand Embassy of France in Wellington, New Zealand
The Safetravel website also provides a travel advisory for travellers to New Caledonia [external link].
