The French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu is returning to New Caledonia and is likely to arrive after the territory's third and final referendum on independence from France, on Sunday.
The pro-independence parties have said they won't take part in the vote and won't recognise its result after Paris refused to postpone the referendum until the French presidential election being held in April 2022.
Mr Lecornu said he would soon outline details of the 18-month transition phase following the referendum as Paris plans to hold another vote in mid-2023 on a new statute for New Caledonia.
He said the talks would help break out of the "adversarial binary pattern" in which New Caledonia has been locked in for too long, and look at issues such as budget problems, the nickel industry and inequality.
Sebastien Lecornu Photo: AFP or licensors
The pro-independence side has said it won't enter any negotiations until after the French presidential election, and then it will be about the independence question.
Additional security measures
The French High Commission has said that during the referendum period it will be forbidden to carry arms and transport ammunition.
It also said it would also be forbidden to buy petrol that can be taken away in canisters, but motorists will be allowed to refuel their vehicles.
The measure is linked to fears that incendiary devices could be used.
A weekend ban on the sale of alcohol is expected to be announced as was in place for the previous referendums.
Anti-independence campaign drops videos
The anti-independence camp has withdrawn a set of campaign videos after a complaint was lodged with France's highest administrative court.
A group had objected to the videos, saying they dishonoured and humiliated Pacific people.
The group had taken issue with the mocking of their accents and denounced the clips as racism shrouded in condescending humour.
It said while it welcomes the withdrawal of the videos, it shows how dysfunctional the authorities are.
It said the clips had been approved as official campaign material by the local Audio-visual Council, French television and the Committee of Elders appointed by the French prime minister.
The group said in France such videos could never have been approved for broadcast.