Tahiti's EU election to be used for Maohi Nui cause

3:37 pm on 1 April 2019

French Polynesia's pro-independence party wants to turn next month's election of a new European parliament into a vote for an independent Maohi Nui.

Oscar Temaru

Oscar Temaru Photo: RNZI

At a weekend meeting in Tahiti, the Tavini Huiraatira party decided to call on its backers to slip a piece of paper into the ballot box which said 'Maohi Nui'.

Its leader Oscar Temaru said the idea is that the people express themselves democratically about the country's future.

The Tavini is fielding no candidate while rival parties stand candidates or support French political parties contesting the polls.

To date, no referendum has been held on whether French Polynesia should become independent despite it being on the UN decolonisation list.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs