5 Nov 2019

New Caledonia's referendum date confirmed

1:01 pm on 5 November 2019

The next referendum on New Caledonia's independence from France will be held on 6 September.

Ballot box used for New Caledonia's independence referendum

Ballot box used for New Caledonia's independence referendum Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel

The date has been confirmed after a Paris meeting with the French prime minister last month, which also considered holding the plebiscite in August.

The pro-independence side had wanted the vote to held as close as possible to the cut-off date of 4 November while a leading anti-independence politician wanted it brought forward to July.

In last year's vote, just under 57 percent voted for the status quo.

Should voters again reject independence next year, another referendum can be called by New Caledonia's Congress within the following two years.

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