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French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with a traditional dancer during a visit to the Magenta suburb of Noumea. Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron visited New Caledonia for about 24 hours mid-week seeking an end to the violence that has gripped the territory.
He spoke with many of the stake holders, including some of the pro-independence activists, and has promised help, but is hinging this on the removal of the barricades.
Don Wiseman spoke with RNZ Pacific's former news editor Walter Zweifel - the only New Zealander journalist to cover the first referendum in 2018 about what Mr Macron had to say.