Pacific / New Caledonia

New Caledonia readies for referendum

13:44 pm on 3 October 2020

Further restrictions are coming into force in New Caledonia because of Sunday's referendum on independence from France.

From midday today until midday Monday it is forbidden to carry arms and transport ammunition.

The sale of alcohol is already heavily restricted until Monday midday because of the referendum.

Drinking alcohol within half a kilometre of a polling station is prohibited.

No campaigning is permitted today ahead of tomorrow's referendum on whether New Caledonia should accede to full sovereignty.

The restrictions are the same that were in place for the previous independence referendum two years ago when a majority voted against independence.

Polling in 2018 was peaceful and without incidents.

However, after voting ended the main road south of Noumea was closed by young men, triggering clashes with police who took more than a day to reopen it.

Beer in New Caledonia supermarket Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel