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Official Name - French Polynesia (la Polynésie Française)
Capital City - Papeete
Land Area - Total: 4,176 sq km (118 islands and atolls in five archipelagos) Land: 3,660 sq km
Water: 507 sq km
Population -
259,596
Religion -
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, Other 16%
Official Languages - French (official) and Tahitian (official)
Currency -
CFP (French Pacific franc) (XPF)
Exchange Rate -
XPF57 = NZ$1 (August 2009)
EEZ -
5.03 million sq km
Political system - French Polynesia has been an “Overseas Territory of France” since 1946. Following the passage of French Polynesia’s Statute of Autonomy in 1984, however, French Polynesia has enjoyed enhanced self-governing status within the French Republic. Under the March 2004 new autonomy statute, French Polynesia became an “overseas country” of France with increased domestic and international autonomy. The term “Pays d’Outre-Mer” is used.
National government - The Government of French Polynesia consists of a 16-member executive known as the Council of Ministers. This body is appointed by the President of the Government, who in turn is elected by a majority vote of all the councilors in the Assembly of French Polynesia. The President’s term of office is five years.
National legislature - The 57 councilors of the Assembly of French Polynesia are elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. They are elected by proportional representation from the five French Polynesian archipelagoes. Under the ‘majority bonus’ system, the party that secures the most votes in a particular electorate gets an extra 30 percent of the seats in that constituency. President of the Assembly (Speaker) is Philip Schyle. As it remains part of France, French Polynesia is also represented in the French National Assembly by two elected Deputies (Michel Buillard and Bruno Sandras) and by two Senators in the French Parliament (Gaston Flosse and Richard Tuheiava).
Last election -
General elections: 27 January 2008 (first round) & 10 February 2008 (second round)
Municipal elections: March 2008
Senatorial elections: 21 September 2008
Next election -
General elections: expected in 2013
Municipal elections: 2013
Head of State - President of the French Republic: HE Nicolas Sarkozy
Within the French Government, responsibility for French Polynesia lies with the Minister for Overseas Territories in Paris, Brice Hortefeux, and his Secretary of State Marie-Luce Penchard. France is represented in Papeete by High Commissioner, Mr Adolphe Colrat.
Head of Government - President of French Polynesia: HE Oscar Temaru
HE Oscar Temaru
President of French Polynesia, Minister responsible for relations with the institutions, the French State and Europe, Minister responsible for International Relations, International Transport, Communications and Administrative Decentralisation
Mr Antony Géros
Vice-President, Minister for Planning and Development of the Municipalities, Minister responsible for Land Affairs and Relations with the Assembly of French Polynesia and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council and Government Spokesperson
Ms Armelle Merceron
Minister for Solidarity, Housing, Family Affairs and Minister responsible for Social Welfare System Reform
Mr Tearii Alpha
Minister for Development, Town Planning and Land Transport
Mr Jacqui Drollet
Minister for Tourism and the Digital Economy
Mr James Salmon
Minister for Major Works, Energy & Mines, Minister responsible for the Port of Papeete and the Faa’a International Airport
Mr Nicolas Bertholon
Minister of Health
Mr Pierre Frébault
Minister for Labour, Employment & Vocational Training, Minister for Public Services
Mrs Sylviane Terooatea
Minister for the Development of the Outer Islands
Mr Teva Rohfritsch
Minister for Maritime Resources
Mr Georges Handerson
Minister for the Environment
Mr Jean-Marius Raapoto
Minister for Education, Higher Education, Research & Culture. Minister responsible for the Education Charter & the development of Communication Languages
Mr Joseph Kaiha
Minister for Crafts and Cultural Heritage
Mr Tauhiti Nena
Minister for Youth, Sports & Associations
Mr Moehau Teriitahi
Minister for Land and Air Transport and Island Ports and Airports
Mr Frédéric Riveta
Minister for the Rural Economy, Minister responsible for Agriculture, Farming & Forestry
Gaston Flosse
The two longstanding political parties in French Polynesia are:
Gaston Tong Sang formed a pro-autonomy political federation, To tatou ai’a, in August 2007 which enjoys increasing popularity.
In February 2008 an islands-based political federation, Te Mana o te Mau Motu (co-ordinated by Justine Teura and Michel Yip), emerged.
GDP - XPF 536 million
GDP per capita - XPF 1.6 million
Exports (FOB) - XPF 13,187.30 million
Main exports -
Pearls and pearl jewellery: 8,315.60 million XPF, Noni: 559.27 million XPF
Imports (CIF) -
XPF 175,869.70 million
Inflation -
3.43%
Budget balance -
XPF -159,679 billion
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$186.9 million
Main Exports
| NZ$000 | |
| Meat – fresh & frozen | 41,443 |
| Dairy products, including milk powder | 25,117 |
| Iron or steel products | 10,703 |
| Yachts & other vessels | 8,376 |
| Timber | 8,152 |
NZ Imports (CIF) -
NZ$2.3 million
Main Imports
| NZ$000 | |
| Natural or cultured pearls | 985 |
| Ferrous (waste or scrap) | 293 |
| Chemical residue products | 281 |
| Aluminium (waste or scrap) | 277 |
Services Trade -
Tourism
The earliest Polynesian settlers to what is now known as French Polynesia arrived in the Marquesas Islands in around AD300. By AD 800, Polynesian migration had led to settlement of the Society Islands. During the period before European contact, these groups established a structured hierarchy of hereditary tribal chiefs with no dominant tribal groups.
Spanish navigators were the first Europeans to explore the Marquesas Islands in 1595. However, it was not until the arrival of English explorer Samuel Wallis in 1767 that contact between Europeans and Polynesians was finally established in Tahiti. The following year the French navigator Louis-Antoine de Bougainville arrived in Tahiti and claimed it for France. For the next 70 years Great Britain and France vied for influence over the islands, sending in missionaries and exploring vessels. Eventually, Tahiti became the first island in the Pacific to come under the control of a foreign power and was made a French Protectorate in November 1842. The French Protectorate continued until 1880 when King Pomare V abdicated and the colony of French Polynesia was proclaimed. By 1901 the French colony in Tahiti incorporated all of the Society Islands as well as the Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago and the Gambier Islands.
Following the Second World War, indigenous nationalism began to develop under the leadership of Pouvana’a a Oopa. With the support of war veterans, Pouvana’a pressed for equal rights for Polynesians under French law. In 1945 all Tahitians were granted French citizenship. The French Government also established the first territorial assembly in 1946 with 30 elected members. In July 1957 the territory was reconstituted “French Polynesia”, broadening the assembly’s responsibilities and creating a government council of 6-8 ministers. Pouvana’a became vice-president and his party Comité Pouvana’a began campaigning for independence. With Charles de Gaulle’s accession to the French Presidency, a referendum on secession was held in all French territories in September 1958. The popular majority voted to remain with France. An edict passed by the French Parliament in December 1958 rolled back the autonomous powers granted to French Polynesia the previous year and restored full powers to the French Governor. Pouvana’a went to prison in exile.
Francis Sanford and John Teariki were the next major historical figures to demand greater autonomy and self-government for French Polynesia. They were also opposed to the French nuclear testing programme in the Pacific. Following a series of nationalist protests in the 1970s, the French Parliament approved a new statute in 1977 and returned French Polynesia to an organisational structure resembling that of 1957. The French Governor became a High Commissioner and Sanford became the vice-president of the new government council in July 1977. From the 1970s Oscar Temaru, leader of the Tavini Huira’atira Party, was the leading voice of the independence movement.
In 1984 French Polynesia’s powers of self-government were enhanced by the passage of the Statute of Autonomy. This allowed French Polynesia to have its own flag and anthem alongside the emblems of the French Republic. The President also acquired chief executive powers and new areas of responsibility. The regulatory powers of the Council of Ministers were extended as well. Since 1984 French Polynesia has celebrated Autonomy Day on 29 June, although the date is not without controversy, being also that of French Polynesia’s annexation by France.
Further revisions were made to the Statute in April 1996, transferring additional responsibilities over to French Polynesia (e.g. territorial budget, health, primary education, social welfare, public works, agriculture) as well as a greater say over external trade, international airline and shipping links, exploitation of lagoon and EEZ marine resources, and the possibility of negotiating specified regional or international agreements.
French President Jacques Chirac signed French Polynesia’s new autonomy statute on 27 February 2004. The Statute gave French Polynesia increased autonomy from France in a number of domestic government areas such as employment, some aspects of land ownership and commercial rights. It also granted more autonomy in the international arena. For example, French Polynesia can now open representational offices (without diplomatic status) in the Asia-Pacific region, and conduct economic negotiations, including international aviation agreements. France continues to control key state competencies such as law and order, security and defence, and finance. French Polynesia remains firmly within the French Republic. The new statute makes reference to French Polynesia as an “overseas country” of France as well as being a “territory” or a “collectivity” of France.
The May 2004 elections were a turning point for French Polynesian politics. Pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru’s Union for Democracy (UPD) formed a coalition with two pro-autonomy parties led by Philip Schyle and Nicole Bouteau. Temaru was elected President, ending former President Gaston Flosse’s nearly 20-year rule. Just four months later Flosse regained the presidency after two members of Temaru’s coalition switched their allegiance. Months of political upheaval and legal/constitutional wrangling followed, with both men claiming the presidency. Overseas Minister Brigette Giardin finally called the parties to France to hold talks aimed at resolving the impasse. The parties agreed to by-elections in the Windward Isles after the French Council of State upheld Flosse’s claim of election “irregularities” (Temaru’s colours adorned some voting stations). Temaru’s new UPLD coalition won the by-elections in the Windward Isles on 14 February - securing the same number of seats in the Assembly as Gaston Flosse’s Tahoera’a party. Temaru was elected President shortly afterwards by a one vote majority.
French Polynesia’s economy is characterised by a narrow export base and a dependency on French financial aid (of approximately 35% of GDP). The high reliance on France as a critical source of income has created a high cost of living (with a growing income disparity), an inflated public sector, high wage costs and a decline in primary production. In latter years, the French nuclear testing centre alone provided over 12% of local employment, 55% of the funding inflow, 28% of imports and 22% of GDP. However, with the end of nuclear testing in 1996, military transfer payments have declined gradually.
To ease the reduced inflow of French funds, France committed to providing a ten-year funding package of NZ$321 million a year until 2005, calculated to compensate the Territory for testing-related spending and targeted at encouraging greater economic self-sufficiency. This French aid package was in addition to the 1994-2006 Pact of Progress (NZ$1 billion in the first five years), designed to compensate for the earlier 1992-1995 testing moratorium. A renewed “Reconversion Fund” was signed in October 2002 by French Prime Minister Raffarin and President Flosse, continuing indefinitely the transfer of 150 million euros per annum to French Polynesia. Further significant development contracts were signed between the French Government and the French Polynesian Assembly in May 2008.
French Polynesia’s local productive capacity is small. As a result, French Polynesia imports approximately eight times as much as it exports (2005 figures) with over 52% of imports originating from France. Exports are made up by black pearls, fish, noni juice, fishing boats and coconut oil, with smaller quantities of shells, cosmetics, vanilla, and handicrafts.
The tourism industry is a significant source of revenue and employment for French Polynesia. However, French Polynesia’s tourist industry has been struggling for several years now. Compounded by the global economic crisis early 2009 has seen an overall reduction in visitors of 27%.
Following the end of nuclear testing in 1996 (see below), the Government implemented an economic development strategy designed to increase the country’s self-sufficiency focusing on tourism, pearl farming and fishing. French Polynesia’s economy enjoyed consistent growth from 1997 until the events of 11 September 2001. In 1999 a new value-added tax was introduced.,.
Since February 2009, the impact of the global economic crisis has begun to affect French Polynesia’s economy. Continuing political instability prompting a lack of investor confidence, compounded by rising unemployment and a high cost of living has caused the economy to stagnate. French State transfers continue to support the economy in the face of the global economic crisis, but without economic diversification and improved political stability, the French Polynesian economy will continue to struggle.
Under the French Constitution, France is responsible for conducting foreign relations on behalf of French Polynesia. France represents French Polynesia in international bodies such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
However French Polynesia’s regional links in the Pacific have been growing in recent years to reflect its constitutional status as an autonomous territory. French Polynesia has separate representation in the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), and in 1999 hosted the SPC Conference. It is an associate member of ESCAP and the Pacific Islands Forum (from 2006). It is also eligible for benefits under the EU/ACP successor agreement to Lome IV Convention signed in Cotonou, Benin in June 2000.
In June 1996, France ended thirty years of nuclear testing in the atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa. The testing sites have since been dismantled, the surrounding military structure disbanded, and only a small contingent remains stationed on Moruroa for purposes of radiological monitoring. In April 2009, an industrial relations tribunal in Pape’ete, for the first time, heard testimonies from veterans claiming compensation for French nuclear testing. This followed the announcement in March from French Minister of Defence Hervé Morin, of a proposed Bill to compensate victims of nuclear testing conducted by France both in Algeria (before its independence) and later in French Polynesia, between 1966 and 1996. The bill was passed in the French National Assembly, and is to be presented to the French Senate for a decision expected between July and September 2009.
New Zealand has close indigenous cultural links with French Polynesia. The French Polynesian island of Raiatea is considered by tradition to be one of the main islands from where the original Maori arrived in New Zealand. The area that is now French Polynesia is the wellspring of Maori language and possesses a close linguistic association with contemporary spoken Maori.
French Polynesia is currently New Zealand’s third highest value export market in the Pacific. Exports for the year ended June 2008 totalled more than NZ$187 million, made up mainly of a variety of agricultural and industrial products, as well as luxury boats. New Zealand imports from French Polynesia in the same period came to just over NZ$2.3 million consisting mainly of black pearls, aluminium products and chemical residue products. French Polynesian exports are modest because, despite New Zealand’s low tariff regime and free marketing advice available to French Polynesian exporters via the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission, high production costs and irregular, limited supply make them uncompetitive.
NZAID manages a modest programme of assistance to French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna focused on short term training awards. The programme provides short-term training in New Zealand with the objective of enhancing equitable social and economic development in the territories. The awards are focused towards disadvantaged young people living in the regions and provinces, and covers English language training, technical courses and/or work attachments.
Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui both fly to French Polynesia.
The French Naval Forces in the Pacific are based in Pape’ete. New Zealand and France co-operate through the France, Australia, New Zealand (FRANZ) alliance in the areas of maritime surveillance and emergency and disaster relief.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to French Polynesia [external link].
