The new French Polynesian government says it has studied all the conventions linking the territory to France and concluded that the French state owes it about 250 million US dollars.
The government's spokesperson, Vice-President Jacqui Drollet, says he expects France to honour its signature.
And he says the French Polynesian government will rely on the sense of responsibility of the French state.
Mr Drollet has told the Tahitipresse news agency that the arrears concern a lot of programmes, such as the conversion fund after the nuclear weapons test, several contracts for the Papeete port and Tahiti's major hospital project.
He says the new government has had difficulty in establishing contact with the ministry in charge of overseas territories in Paris and access has been given to only junior staff.
