Changes

Catholic and Protestant missionaries first arrived in the nineteenth century. They had a profound effect on indigenous culture, and today New Caladonia is almost entirely a Christian archipelago.

Catholic and Protestant missionaries first arrived in the nineteenth century. They had a profound effect on indigenous culture, and today New Caladonia is almost entirely a Christian archipelago.

In the mid 80s, the indigenous Kanak organisation FLNKS launched a campaign of direct action on Grande Terre against the French administration. As a result, New Caledonia was gradually granted more autonomy, moving from the status of overseas territory to the status of "Specialist Collectivity", being granted its own co-official flag and citizenship status in 1998. Between 2015 and 2019 a referendum will be held to determine the future status of New Caledonia, either as becoming an independent soverign state, or remaining as an autonomous region of France.  

In the mid 80s, the indigenous Kanak organisation FLNKS launched a campaign of direct action on Grande Terre against the French administration. As a result, New Caledonia was gradually granted more autonomy, moving from the status of overseas territory to the status of "Specialist Collectivity", being granted its own co-official flag and citizenship status in 1998. Between 2015 and 2019 a referendum will be held to determine the future status of New Caledonia, either as becoming an independent sovereign state, or remaining as an autonomous region of France.  

This has led to calls for increased autonomy in other French regions, most notably in French Polynesia, French East Indies and the remote Neu Rousellion islands.

This has led to calls for increased autonomy in other French regions, most notably in French Polynesia, French East Indies and the remote Neu Rousellion islands.