Winston Peters speaks at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI) on 26 November 2024, Paris. Photo: IFRI
New Zealand's Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peter is expected to arrive in New Caledonia on Tuesday for a three-day visit.
His schedule in New Caledonia will include meetings with "a wide range of government, political, business and civil society leaders" from 3 to 5 December, Peters' office confirmed through a spokesperson.
It includes French High commissioner Louis Le Franc, who has just lifted the curfew in the French territory on Monday, French Ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan, New Caledonia's President Louis Mapou, New Caledonia's Congress President Veylma Falaéo, who was in New Zealand last week, as well as prominent political leaders such as Emmanuel Tjibaou, leader of pro-independence Union Calédonienne party, and Sonia Backès, leader of Les Loyalistes [pro-France] party and President of New Caledonia's Southern Province).
Peters is to be hosted at a special meeting of the Congress.
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He will also meet leaders of NZ-supported projects in New Caledonia and attend a ceremony to pay homage to NZ soldiers who were laid to rest at NZ World War military cemetery in Bourail (West Coast of the main island).
Peters' visit to New Caledonia was initially scheduled in May 2024, but had to be cancelled due to the insurrectional riots that broke out that same month.
Late October 2024, a Pacific Islands Forum leaders delegation, consisting of three serving Prime Ministers (Tonga, Cook Island and Fiji) and a minister of Foreign Affairs (Solomon Islands) travelled to New Caledonia on a fact-finding mission, five months after the violent riots that caused 13 deaths, hundreds injured, and total damage estimated at up to €2.2 billion, leaving the economy on its knees.
High-level talks in Paris
Peters' visit comes in the immediate footsteps of high-level talks he held last week in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot and other ministers, including François-Noël Buffet (minister for Overseas).
During a speech delivered at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) on 27 November, Peters notably stressed the importance of French-New Zealand relations, especially as "close neighbours" and encouraged France and New Caledonia to "walk the less travelled path" with regards to New Caledonia's political future.
"What happens in New Caledonia matters to New Zealand"
"New Caledonia is New Zealand's closest neighbour. What happens there matters to New Zealand. They are part of our Pacific family. So, we have fraternal bonds with New Caledonia. As we do with France."
On 22 November, Peters also appointed New Zealand's new Consul-General based in Nouméa with a jurisdiction for the whole French Pacific (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis-and-Futuna).
Based in Nouméa, she is career diplomat Mary Thurston.
Last week also, a group of thirty young New Caledonians flew to New Zealand as part of a working holiday regional mobility scheme involving employment in the agricultural sector.
The programme, funded by New Caledonia's government, is based on the notions of "regional integration" and "Pacific cultural insertion".
It also aims at fostering increased exchanges between New Caledonia and its regional neighbours.
The group of young professionals is this year once again working in the Otago region (Cromwell, South Island) on a cherry producing farm.