Banners supporting local journalist Thérèse Waia 24 April 2024 Photo: NC la 1ère
New Caledonia's women sit-in to support Kanak journalist
New Caledonia's UFFO-NC (Union of Francophone Women in Oceania) has this week staged a sit-in to support senior Kanak journalist Thérèse Waia (who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première).
The peaceful demonstration was held on Nouméa's Coconut Square to protest what violent critics posted against Waia on social networks, but also public comments made by local politicians, mostly pro-France.
Political leaders and social networks have criticised Waia for her coverage of the April 13 marches in the capital.
"We are here to sound the alarm bell and to remind our leaders not to cross the line regarding freedom of expression and freedom to exercise the profession of journalism in New Caledonia," UFFO-NC President Sonia Togna explained.
"We're going to go through very difficult months and we hope this kind of incident will not happen again, whatever the political party," she said.
HMNZS Canterbury on courtesy call in Nouméa
HMNZS Canterbury on a courtesy call in Nouméa Photo: Royal New Zealand Navy
New Zealand's Navy vessel HMNZS Canterbury is on a courtesy call in Nouméa.
The 131-metre-long ship is to stopover in New Caledonia's capital from 1 to 4 May.
It specialises in transport, and support and can also host helicopters.
New chairman for Air Tahiti Nui
Philippe Marie appointed as new chairman for Air Tahiti Nui Photo: LinkedIn
Air Tahiti Nui's board appointed Philippe Marie last month as its new Chairman and executive director.
He will take up his position on 1 July 2024 in replacement of Michel Monvoisin who had held the position since 2013.
Marie was until now the Chairman of Marama Paiements, a subsidiary of Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT). He also a former director of Banque de Tahiti.
He is well-introduced in the airline industry and Air Tahiti Nui as the company's Secretary General from June 2004 to March 2007.
He also joined ATN's Board of Directors in October 2023.
Marie's appointment is presented as a direct move to find a "new economic model" for ATN as the regional and world airline contexts have become more competitive.
Guillaume Kurek to replace Jérôme Fabre as General Manager of Société Le Nickel
Photo: Eramet
French mining company Société Le Nickel (SLN, a subsidiary of mining giant Eramet) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Guillaume Kurek to replace Jérôme Fabre (who held the position for only one year) as its General Manager.
Kurek, who was until now SLN's deputy director general (where he has been employed for the past 19 years), will take up his position on 1 June 2024, SLN said in a release.
The appointment comes as New Caledonia's nickel industry is currently experiencing a crisis due to the emergence of new players in Indonesia who produce much cheaper nickel.
Jérôme Fabre to be replaced by Guillaume Kurek as General Manager of Société Le Nickel Photo: rrb
SLN's trade unions, who were demanding and protesting for a change in leadership, have expressed frustration at the new appointment.
"Guillaume Kurek is one of those gentlemen who are responsible for the situation our nickel industry is going through. Eramet-SLN has put billions to save SLN, it is those leaders who have not been able to produce an appropriate plan," Sylvain Néa, Secretary General of CSTNC union, told local media.
Giant omelette festival in Dumbéa celebrates 40th anniversary
The giant omelette in Dumbéa celebrates 40 years Photo: rrb
The "Giant omelette" festival in Dumbéa (near Nouméa) has this year celebrated its 40th anniversary.
The festival involves cooking about nine thousand eggs.
This year, over twenty thousand visitors have taken part to taste a portion of the huge meal, mixed with deer sausage and green onion, cooked on a 4-meter diameter pan.
The two-day festival, which ended on Sunday 28 April, also traditionally invites artists to perform during the celebrations.