AGP Executive Report

Electoral Roll Update: France’s Constitutional Council has validated a “partial unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s electoral restrictions for the 28 June provincial elections, letting over 10,000 more people vote—mainly those born after 1998 who were previously blocked under the Nouméa Accord rules. Competition Law Push: New Caledonia’s Congress adopted a competition bill targeting abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, while the government removed 10 articles that would have expanded the Competition Authority’s powers. Decolonisation Pressure: A UN CERD warning says Paris must not change New Caledonia’s political and constitutional arrangements without the free consent of Kanak people, after independence talks stalled. Travel Watch: The US lowered its travel advisory for New Caledonia to Level Two, citing improved safety but still warning about petty crime, demonstrations, and limited emergency help outside Nouméa. Kava Costs: Kava bar operators fear a price surge as the cost of imported Vanuatu kava chips reportedly jumped about 40% since early 2026, driven by freight and production pressures.

UN Pressure on France’s New Caledonia Policy: The UN CERD has renewed its warning to Paris, saying any constitutional or political changes must be made with the free, informed consent of Kanak people—after France’s independence talks failed to deliver real progress and tensions remain high since the 2024 unrest. Electoral Roll “Unfreezing”: France’s Constitutional Council approved amendments for the 28 June 2026 provincial elections, allowing over 10,000 more voters by easing restrictions tied to the Nouméa Accord era. Competition Law in Congress: New Caledonia’s Congress passed a competition bill targeting abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, while deleting some expanded powers for the Competition Authority after employer lobbying. Travel Advisory Update: The US State Department lowered its New Caledonia advisory to Level 2, citing generally improved safety, but still warning about petty crime and limited emergency help outside Nouméa. Kava Industry Alarm: Kava bars and producers fear a sharp rise in imported kava prices, driven by freight costs and supply changes, could force layoffs.

Decolonisation Pressure on France: The UN CERD has again urged Paris to stop changing New Caledonia’s political and constitutional arrangements without the free consent of Kanak people, as tensions remain high after the 2024 unrest. Elections Update: France’s Constitutional Council approved a partial “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s electoral roll for the 28 June 2026 provincial elections, allowing over 10,000 more people to vote. Competition Law: Congress passed a New Caledonia competition bill targeting abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, while deleting parts that would have expanded the Competition Authority’s powers. Tourism Safety Signal: The US State Department lowered its New Caledonia travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, citing generally improved safety but warning about petty crime and limited emergency help outside Nouméa. Kava Industry Worry: Kava bar operators fear a sharp rise in imported Vanuatu kava prices could force layoffs. Ocean & Food Security: A new look at Super El Niño highlights how extreme warming can disrupt marine ecosystems and fisheries, with knock-on effects for coastal livelihoods.

Electoral Roll Update: France’s Constitutional Council has validated changes to New Caledonia’s electoral roll for the 28 June 2026 provincial elections, effectively “unfreezing” voting access for more than 10,000 people born after the original Nouméa Accord restrictions. Competition Law: New Caledonia’s Congress passed a competition bill targeting abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, while also allowing deferred discounts between producers and distributors—plus creating a late-payment compensation framework. Travel & Safety: The U.S. has lowered its travel advisory for New Caledonia from Level 3 to Level 2, saying the territory is generally safe for tourism but warning about petty crime outside Nouméa and limited emergency support beyond the capital. Ocean Governance: The Pacific Tuna Initiative expanded to Palau, building on reforms already underway in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia to strengthen sustainable tuna fisheries and fairer ocean governance. Local Economy Pressure: New Caledonia’s kava sector is alarmed by a sharp rise in imported Vanuatu kava prices, with stakeholders warning of possible job cuts if costs keep climbing. Sport & Community: The region’s sailing calendar gets a boost as Oceania Championships in Tahiti include New Caledonia among competitors, while local fans also look ahead to major Pacific events.

Electoral Roll Update: France’s Constitutional Council has validated changes to New Caledonia’s electoral roll for the 28 June 2026 provincial elections, “partially unfreezing” voting rights for more than 10,000 people born after the 1998 restrictions tied to the Nouméa Accord. Competition Law: New Caledonia’s Congress passed a competition bill targeting abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, with tighter merger controls and new rules on payment deadlines—while some powers for the Competition Authority were scaled back after employer lobbying. Travel & Safety: The US State Department has lowered its New Caledonia travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, saying the territory is generally safe for tourism, but still warning about petty crime outside Nouméa and limited emergency support beyond the capital. Kava Prices: Kava bars and producers in New Caledonia fear a major hit as the imported root price jumps sharply since early 2026, driven by freight costs, Vanuatu supply changes, and rising global demand. Ocean Governance: The Pacific Tuna Initiative expands to Palau, building on progress in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia to push more sustainable, fair tuna fisheries management across the region.

US Travel Update: The U.S. State Department has lowered its New Caledonia advisory from Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) to Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), saying the territory is generally safe for tourists again, while still warning about petty crime outside Nouméa at night and limited emergency help beyond the capital. Competition Law: New Caledonia’s Congress passed a competition bill aimed at tackling abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, with tighter merger controls and new rules on payment deadlines and late-payment compensation—though 10 provisions expanding the Competition Authority’s powers were removed after employer lobbying. Ocean Governance: The Pacific Tuna Initiative is expanding to Palau, building on work already underway in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia to push sustainable tuna fisheries and stronger, fairer ocean governance. Kava Costs: New Caledonia’s kava industry is alarmed by a sharp rise in imported Vanuatu kava prices—up about 40% since the start of 2026—citing higher fuel and freight costs plus lower production volumes, with layoffs a risk if prices don’t ease. Sports & Youth Football: New Caledonia is listed in Group B for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, alongside Korea Republic and Ecuador (with CAF 1 as the other slot), as the tournament field of 48 teams is confirmed.

US travel update: The U.S. State Department has lowered its New Caledonia travel advisory from Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) to Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), saying the territory is generally safe again after the 2024 unrest, while still warning about petty crime outside Nouméa and limited emergency help beyond the capital. Local competition rules: New Caledonia’s Congress passed a competition law aimed at tackling abusive business practices, including excessive pricing and late payments, with some powers of the Competition Authority scaled back for review. Elections access: France approved an expansion of New Caledonia’s electoral rolls for the June provincial and Congress elections, adding thousands of locally born voters under new criteria. Kava price pressure: Nouméa’s kava industry is alarmed by a sharp rise in imported Vanuatu kava prices, with stakeholders warning of possible layoffs if costs keep climbing. Ocean governance push: The Pacific Tuna Initiative has expanded to Palau, building on reforms already underway in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia to improve tuna fisheries management and ocean governance. Regional diplomacy: Papua New Guinea’s PM James Marape announced a new PNG embassy in Paris, highlighting climate, trade and regional cooperation that could also touch French Pacific ties.

New Caledonia Competition Law: Congress passed a competition bill to curb abusive business practices, including punishable excessive pricing and late payments, while allowing deferred discounts between producers and distributors to help lower costs; the government also removed 10 articles that would have expanded the Competition Authority’s powers after lobbying from employers’ groups. US Travel Update: The US State Department downgraded its New Caledonia advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, saying the territory is generally safe for tourism but warning about petty crime outside Nouméa and limited emergency support. French Electoral Roll Changes: France’s National Assembly approved expanding New Caledonia’s electoral rolls for the June provincial and Congress elections, adding thousands of locally born voters, after a push that would also include spouses/partners was narrowly rejected. Ocean Governance Push: The Pacific Tuna Initiative expanded to Palau, building on work in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia to strengthen tuna fisheries management and more equitable ocean governance. Regional Tourism: Fiji won the bid to host the South Pacific Tourism Exchange in 2027, reinforcing its role as a regional tourism hub.

New Caledonia Competition Law: The Congress has passed a new competition bill aimed at cracking down on abusive business practices, including excessive pricing and late payments, with tougher merger controls and a controversial shift that allows deferred producer–distributor discounts again to help ease high costs. Regulator Power Row: The government pulled 10 articles that would have expanded the Competition Authority’s powers, citing a review ahead of its 10th anniversary—though employers’ group FEINC has pushed hard for the authority to be scaled back. US Travel Update: The US has downgraded its New Caledonia travel advisory to Level 2, saying the territory is generally safe again after the 2024 unrest, while still warning about petty crime and limited emergency help outside Nouméa. Regional Watch: Fiji has been chosen to host the Pacific’s top tourism trade event, SPTE 2027, in Nadi.

Energy Expansion: TVA’s board backed a major long-term buildout, with 3,770MW of new generation capacity under construction across the region—enough for more than 2.1 million homes—highlighting projects including a 500MW site in New Caledonia. Travel Update: The U.S. has lowered its New Caledonia travel advisory from “Reconsider Travel” to “Exercise Increased Caution,” easing concerns more than a year after the 2024 unrest, while still warning about petty crime and limited emergency help outside Nouméa. Ocean Governance: The Pacific Tuna Initiative is expanding to Palau, building on work already underway in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia to push sustainable tuna management and fairer ocean governance. Elections Watch: France has moved to expand New Caledonia’s provincial voting rolls for June elections, a politically sensitive step that follows earlier attempts and remains tied to legal review.

Rolex Sydney Hobart: Entries for the 2026 “Great Race South” open today, with the CYCA and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania gearing up for the 81st running of the 628-nautical-mile offshore classic. Pacific Tuna Initiative: Conservation International expands its tuna sustainability push to Palau, building on reforms already underway in Fiji, Samoa and New Caledonia, with a regional meeting in Apia. Health Watch: The Cook Islands has declared dengue-free after 26 days without a case, but Tonga reports new hospitalisations and other Pacific areas—including New Caledonia and Samoa—still see cases. New Caledonia Politics: France has expanded New Caledonia’s electoral rolls for June provincial elections, adding about 10,569 “native” voters while a bid to include spouses was rejected. US Travel Update: The US State Department downgraded its New Caledonia advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, citing restored stability after the 2024 unrest. Diplomacy: PNG PM James Marape announces a new embassy in Paris during talks with President Macron.

US travel update: The U.S. State Department has downgraded its New Caledonia advisory from Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) to Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), saying the territory is generally safe for tourism again after the deadly 2024 unrest—while still warning visitors about petty crime outside Nouméa and the limited help the U.S. can provide. French Pacific focus: France used the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby to reaffirm a major Pacific push, tying investment to ocean protection, fisheries and the “blue economy.” Elections on the horizon: In Paris, the National Assembly backed a partial “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s electoral roll for the June 28 provincial vote, expanding eligibility for about 10,500 “native” voters—without adding spouses/partners—pending a Constitutional Council ruling. Solidarity week: May 25-31 marks the UN’s International Week of Solidarity with non-self-governing territories, with New Caledonia among those listed.

US Travel Update: The U.S. State Department has downgraded its New Caledonia travel advisory from Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) to Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), citing the territory’s return to general safety after the 2024 unrest, while still warning visitors about petty crime outside Nouméa and the limited ability to provide emergency help beyond the capital. French Pacific Push: France used the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby to reaffirm a long-term €5 billion Pacific commitment, linking ocean protection, fisheries and the “blue economy” to the UNOC3 “Nice Ocean Action Plan.” Elections Watch: In the run-up to June provincial elections, France’s National Assembly has voted to expand New Caledonia’s electoral rolls for “native” voters, but a bid to include spouses/partners was rejected, keeping legal and political tensions very much alive. Regional Context: The same week also brought fresh Pacific security focus, with Fiji and the AFP launching a transnational crime summit to tackle illicit drug trafficking.

French Pacific Diplomacy: Overseas Minister Manuel Valls has begun his first official visit to French Polynesia, with the trip coming after a New Caledonia political deal that has sparked debate across the territory—though New Caledonia is not listed on his agenda. Elections in New Caledonia: France’s National Assembly has approved expanding the electoral rolls for June provincial elections, adding about 10,569 “native” voters, but a bid to include their spouses was rejected, leaving the change subject to France’s Constitutional Council. U-17 World Cup (Africa): CAF confirmed Africa’s 10 qualifiers for Qatar 2026 after Uganda beat Ghana on penalties, completing the continent’s line-up for the expanded 48-team tournament. Travel Advisory: The U.S. has removed its “Reconsider Travel” advisory for New Caledonia, downgrading it to Level 2 with caution mainly for crime outside Nouméa at night.

Travel Update: The U.S. State Department has dropped New Caledonia from its “Reconsider Travel” warning, lowering it to Level 2 and saying the territory is generally safe again, with extra caution urged for crime—especially outside Nouméa at night. Elections & Voting Rights: In France, lawmakers have moved to expand New Caledonia’s electoral rolls for the June 28 provincial elections, adding about 10,569 “locally born” voters—while a push to include their spouses was rejected, keeping tensions high after the 2024 unrest. Sport Spotlight: New Caledonia’s U-17 men’s World Cup debut is set after the FIFA draw placed them in Group B alongside Korea Republic and Ecuador. Regional Security: Fiji and the AFP launched a Pacific transnational crime summit targeting illicit drug trafficking, with Pacific police ministers meeting in the same push.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Draw: Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba now know their groups after Thursday’s FIFA draw in Zurich, with the Caribbean facing a tough road in the expanded 48-team Qatar 2026 tournament. Jamaica were placed in Group E with Italy, Côte d’Ivoire and Uzbekistan—an unforgiving mix of tactics, athletic power and upset-ready danger—while Haiti land in Group D with France, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, and Cuba join Senegal, Croatia and Tajikistan in Group F. New Caledonia Elections: In the home stretch before June 28 provincial polls, France has pushed through a partial “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s electoral roll, expanding voting access for around 10,569 locally born people, but a bid to include their spouses was rejected by a single vote—keeping the electoral fight highly charged. Pacific Watch: Fiji is also moving on security, launching a regional push against illicit drugs as Pacific police leaders meet in Fiji.