New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters to Visit New Caledonia Amid Ongoing Tensions

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is expected to arrive in New Caledonia on Tuesday for a three-day visit, amidst ongoing tensions in the French territory. The trip comes after high-level talks between Peters and his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in Paris last week.

Peters’ Schedule in New Caledonia

Peters’ schedule in New Caledonia will include meetings with a wide range of government, political, business, and civil society leaders from 3 to 5 December. The list of attendees includes French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc, who has recently lifted the curfew in New Caledonia; French Ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan; New Caledonia’s President Louis Mapou; New Caledonia’s Congress President Veylma Falaéo; and prominent political leaders such as Emmanuel Tjibaou, leader of the pro-independence Union Calédonienne party, and Sonia Backès, leader of Les Loyalistes [pro-France] party and President of New Caledonia’s Southern Province.

Special Meeting of the Congress

Peters is to be hosted at a special meeting of the Congress, where he will engage with leaders on key issues affecting New Caledonia. The meeting is part of Peters’ efforts to strengthen ties between New Zealand and New Caledonia, particularly in light of the ongoing political crisis in the territory.

High-Level Talks in Paris

Prior to his visit to New Caledonia, Peters held high-level talks with French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot and other ministers in Paris. During a speech delivered at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) on 27 November, Peters stressed the importance of French-New Zealand relations, especially as “close neighbours” and encouraged France and New Caledonia to “walk the less travelled path” with regards to New Caledonia’s political future.

“I believe that what happens in New Caledonia matters to New Zealand,” Peters said. “New Caledonia is part of our Pacific family, and we have fraternal bonds with New Caledonia. As we do with France.”

New Consul-General Appointed

On 22 November, Peters appointed Mary Thurston as New Zealand’s new Consul-General based in Nouméa, with a jurisdiction for the whole French Pacific (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis-and-Futuna). Thurston is a career diplomat and will play a key role in strengthening diplomatic ties between New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Working Holiday Scheme

Last week, a group of thirty young New Caleodonians flew to New Zealand as part of a working holiday regional mobility scheme involving employment in the agricultural sector. The programme is funded by New Caledonia’s government and aims at fostering increased exchanges between New Caledonia and its regional neighbours.

Conclusion

Winston Peters’ visit to New Caledonia comes at a critical juncture in the territory’s political future. As the close neighbour of New Zealand, it is essential that the two countries work together to address the ongoing tensions in New Caledonia. With his emphasis on “walking the less travelled path” and strengthening ties between France and New Zealand, Peters’ visit holds promise for a more collaborative approach to addressing the challenges facing New Caledonia.