New Caledonia

A French diplomat in the Pacific has rejected claims there is a military operation in New Caledonia, saying "fake news portraying the riots as one community against another distort reality". Audio

There has been more burning and destruction in the French overseas territory.

Pro-independence leaders charged with allegedly organising protests that turned into violent unrest in New Caledonia have been transferred to mainland France.

New Caledonia will always get into trouble if the case of independence is not taken into consideration," New Caledonia government spokesperson Charles Wea says. Audio

The arrests come five weeks after pro-independence protests - against a proposed change to voter eligibility at local elections - degenerated into violence, looting and arson.

France's president Emmanuel Macron has written to New Caledonians, confirming he will not convene the Congress meeting on the controversial amendments.

The FLNKS is the pro-independence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front.

"We can no longer afford to ensure the smooth operation of New Caledonia due to substantial loss of tax revenues and social contributions."

Most of the incumbent MPs for the French Pacific have announced they will run again.

During a press conference in Paris, the French President mentioned all of the now-dissolved National Assembly's "pending projects".

A man in his thirties was allegedly shot by a gendarme who responded after being targeted, according to initial investigations, the public prosecutor said at the end of May.

The French Constitution says all pending bills left unvoted by the Lower House are cancelled because the dissolution signifies the end of the legislature and therefore of the current ordinary session.

A group of civil society organisations is writing to Emmanuel Macron calling on him to change his stance toward the indigenous people of New Caledonia.

Air New Zealand is pausing its Auckland to Nouméa service due to ongoing violent unrest in New Caledonia.