Discussions for New Caledonia to potentially become an associated state is ‘progress’
10 July, 2025
Interview by Oto Sequiera, adapted by Alyssa Ramos
The University of Auckland’s Gordon Nanu hopes that talks between France and the French overseas territory, New Caledonia, is “for the good of New Caledonia”. Image: Canva (Paris, France)
In a conference earlier this week in Paris, French President, Emmanuel Macron, discussed the different options of statehood for the French overseas territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific with New Caledonian leaders.
This follows riots erupting in May 2024 over the planned controversial reform to expand the non-indigenous electorate, allowing residents living on the island for an uninterrupted ten years to vote in provincial elections.
Under the Nouméa accord, voting rights are only allocated to residents in New Caledonian residents residing on the archipelago before 1998, and their children. This was meant to allow the Indigenous Kanak population to have better representation in the voting system.
The proposed electoral reform was seen by many as a move by the French government to dilute the autonomy and power of the Kanak individuals on the island.
At last week's conference, Macron called for a discussion on the political future of New Caledonia, where a range of options were discussed. One of these options included an ‘associated state’ status that would still link the territory to France, but would grant New Caledonia more autonomy.
The other positions taken in the discussion included granting New Caledonia full independence and retaining New Caledonia as a French overseas territory.
Co-head of Maori and Pacific Studies at The University of Auckland, Gordon Nanau, told 95bFM’s The Wire that he sees this conversation as a positive.
“Seeing [France and New Caledonia] engaging in the discussion and talking about possibilities for the future is already progress from my point of view.”
Nanau compares New Caledonia’s potential to become an ‘associated state’ with the Cook Islands and Niue’s relationship with New Zealand.
Both the Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing countries in free association with New Zealand. This means New Zealand can step in on behalf of both countries regarding political and defence matters, but only with the consent of the Pacific nations’ local governments. Both Niueans and Cook Islanders are granted New Zealand citizenship.
Nanau says that despite the ultimate aim for Kanak people being full independence from France, he hopes that whatever is decided on is “feasible for all parties involved, and for the good of New Caledonia’s future”.
