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Embassies and consular services for New Caledonia
| Location | Service areas |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Consulate-General, Noumea, New Caledonia | French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna |
About New Caledonia
About New Caledonia New Caledonia is a 'special collectivity' of France with the status of sui generis (latin for 'in a class by itself, unique'), a status enshrined in the French constitution.
New Zealand has a long-standing relationship with New Caledonia, our closest geographic neighbour in the Pacific. We have a strong friendship and share a vision for enhanced cooperation in trade, education, sport, health, the environment and research.
Find out more about New Caledonia.
Joint Cooperation Plan
The New Zealand-New Caledonia Joint Cooperation Plan sets out objectives and priority areas to strengthen bilateral co-operation and, in particular, enhance political, economic, trade and cultural links.
Trade
New Caledonia has one of the largest economies in the Pacific, boasting a similar GDP per capita to New Zealand, and is New Zealand’s fourth largest export destination in the Pacific. Food and fuel exports from New Zealand make up the bulk of goods traded. New Zealand also supplies services to New Caledonia’s mining industry.
New Zealand is a popular education destination for New Caledonians in both secondary and tertiary studies.
Tourists travel in both directions –21,000 New Caledonians visited New Zealand, and 10,553 New Zealanders visited New Caledonia in 2018.
Nickel remains the backbone of New Caledonia’s economy, accounting for more than 90% of its export earnings. However, weak global prices and high production costs have impacted the sector’s profitability in recent years.
Agriculture, hunting, fishing, ranching and forestry make up only 1.8% of GDP, although remain a key feature of the Kanak economy. Production in most areas is heavily subsidised and prices are controlled.
2018 statistics
| Two-way trade | NZD$234 million* | |
| Goods exports to New Caledonia | NZD$122.5 million* | Top exports: dairy products, beef, ships, and iron |
| Goods imports from New Caledonia | NZD$2 million* | Top imports: iron, vegetables, machinery and chemical products |
| GDP | USD$9,446 million^ | |
| GDP per capita | USD$34,641^ | NZ GDP per capita is USD$41,267# |
Sources: *NZ Trade Dashboard(external link) ^UNData 2019(external link) #IMF WEO April 2019(external link)
Development cooperation
As New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France, France is primarily responsible for its sustainable development. However as a Pacific neighbour, New Zealand still plays a role in development.
Our Consulate-General (which is based in Noumea and represents New Zealand throughout New Caledonia) administers a small fund for Short-Term Training Scholarships and our defence and armed forces regularly work together on disaster response, search and rescue, maritime surveillance and training exercises.
Find out more about our development cooperation in New Caledonia.
Embassies
- New Zealand is represented in New Caledonia by the New Zealand Consulate-General, Noumea
- The representation of New Caledonia is located inside the Embassy of France premises in Wellington. Ms Cécilia Madeleine is the Official Representative of New Caledonia to New Zealand and can be reached via the Embassy of France’s general phone number.
Recent official visits
New Zealand to New Caledonia
- June 2019: Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio, visited New Caledonia to represent New Zealand at the Pacific Community’s biennial conference
- May 2018: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters visited New Caledonia for the High Level Dialogue on Biodiversity and Climate Change, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, and French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian
- April 2013: Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse and a group of New Zealand veterans visited New Caledonia for commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of World War II in the Pacific
- July 2012: Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully visited New Caledonia with a delegation of MPs, business, NGO and media representatives as part of the Pacific Mission
- 2011: Special Envoy John Hayes MP attended the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Ministerial Meeting on Energy, ICT and Transport
- 2010: Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully visited New Caledonia to meet with the Acting President
New Caledonia to New Zealand
- March 2023: New Caledonia Member of Government responsible for the Economy and Trade Adolphe Digoué visited New Zealand to attend the French Pacific Business Forum and discuss trade opportunities between New Zealand and New Caledonia.
- July 2022: New Caledonia Member of Government responsible for housing and construction Vaimu’a Muliava visited New Zealand to study New Zealand’s approaches to public and community housing and particularly culturally appropriate housing that supports health and wellbeing.
- July 2018: A New Caledonia Customary Senate delegation, led by Minister for Customary Affairs, Didier Poidyaliwane, visited New Zealand to learn about the Rangatahi Court system, as well as the Drug and Alcohol Court
- June 2016: President Philippe Germain, Vice-President Jean-Louis d’Anglebermes, and Government Member responsible for health, youth and sports, Valentine Eurisouké, visited New Zealand for bilateral meetings with Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, as well as the Speaker, David Carter, and Ministers Simon Bridges and Jonathan Coleman. The delegation also participated in the Pacific Energy Conference and engaged with the business community.
- May 2016: President Philippe Germain visited New Zealand as part of French Prime Minister Manual Valls’ official delegation
- September 2013: Commander of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC), General Luc de Revel visited New Zealand
- March 2013: President Harold Martin, High Commissioner Jean-Jacques Brot, member of government Sonia Backes and a delegation of private sector representatives from the energy sector, participated in the Pacific Energy Summit in Auckland
- October/November 2011: FANC Commander Brigadier General Jean François Parlanti visited New Zealand
- September 2011: A New Caledonian delegation including President Harold Martin, President of Congress Roch Wamytan and Ministers and officials attended the Pacific Islands Forum meetings in Auckland