New Caledonia, the closest neighbour to Australia and New Zealand, has been French-owned since 1853. But this may change
at the weekend.
On Sunday, November 4, those eligible among its 270,000 residents will go to the polls to answer “yes” or “no” to one question: “Do you want New Caledonia to accede to full sovereignty and become
independent?”
If the vote is no, up to two further referendums will be held in 2020 and 2023.
Asia Pacific Report coverage of the lead-up to the election and the aftermath is here: