The question for this November's independence referendum in New Caledonia has been agreed to in talks with the French prime minister.
France's newly appointed Prime Minister Edouard Philippe poses prior to taking part in the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1. Photo: AFP
Voters will be asked: "Do you want New Caledonia to accede to full sovereignty and become independent?"
The prime minister Edouard Philippe made the announcement in Paris after extended discussions with the signatories to the Noumea Accord which lasted until after midnight.
He said the wording is a compromise accommodating the wish of the pro-independence camp to include the term sovereignty.
The anti-independence camp wanted the question to include whether voters wanted to stay French.
The vote on 4 November will be restricted to long-term residents under a recently amended law.