31 Aug 2018

Referendum rolls published in New Caledonia

3:19 pm on 31 August 2018

Town halls across New Caledonia are from today publishing the rolls for the November referendum on independence from France.

Kanak and French flags on Ouvea island.

Kanak and French flags on Ouvea island. Photo: AFP

Voting will be restricted to long-term residents who number about 173,000 while the general roll lists more than 210,000 voters.

Those registered are being urged to check that they are on the list.

At a recent meeting of pro- and anti-independence politicians, it was agreed that some registrations will still be possible up to the referendum date.

According to Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, this applies to possibly a further 3,000 people who the authorities had said could not be found.

The rolls were vetted by commissions appointed by the French state after a prolonged period of concern over their make-up.

The Labour Party, which won't take part in the referendum, maintains that the lists are flawed.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs