Leaders in Paris and New Caledonia are pondering what's next for the territory after voters in a second referendum narrowly rejected independence and chose to stay with France.
Under the Noumea Accord, just a third of New Caledonia's Congress is needed to call for a third and final referendum to be held within two years.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, addressed New Caledonians late last night and called on each side to imagine their future with the other in mind.
RNZ Pacific's Walter Zweifel has been following the debate and spoke to Max Towle.
