In the referendum to be held on 4 November 2018 on the future of New Caledonia and its relationship with France, “New Caledonians” will be asked “Do you want New Caledonia to accede to full sovereignty and become independent? Yes or No?” The referendum is the latest development in 165 years of France’s formal presence in New Caledonia, at least 50 years of the “Kanak” struggle for independence and 30 years of initiatives aimed at “rebalancing” and nation-building under the 1988 Matignon-Oudinot Accords and the 1998 Nouméa Accord. In this seminar I discuss the background and build up (thus far) to the referendum including the procedures put in place to determine the “New Caledonian” electorate, President Macron’s recent May visit, the positions taken by the major parties and the representation of the New Caledonia’s colonial history in the build up to the vote.
Dr. Adrian Muckle is a Senior Lecturer in the History Programme, Victoria University of Wellington.
Venue: Old Kirk 406 (F L Wood Seminar Room)
Date: Friday, 10 August 2018
Time: 12:10pm to 1:30pm
For more information: Contact Dr Adrian Muckle (adrian.muckle@vuw.ac.nz; 04 463 6773).
The New Zealand Historical Association 