Listen
Veronique Roger-Lacan says "France is qualified in the UN as an administering power and New Caledonia as an administered territory". Photo: 123RF / RNZ Pacific
Plans for a high-level Pacific Islands Forum mission to New Caledonia have become messy with the French High Commission in Noumea and the local government at loggerheads over who should be organising the visit and welcoming the delegation.
New Caledonia President now want's the mission to be "deferred" while Paris is still prepared to receive the Prime Ministers of Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji.
RNZ Pacific's Lydia Lewis has the latest.