WELLINGTON (Oceania Flash) — The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia has in recent days significantly raised its profile with its closest neighbors, as part of a bid to better integrate in the Pacific region.
Last week, a high-level delegation of Vanuatu government ministers was on an official visit in the French Pacific country to formalize some $400,000 of assistance package in the fields of education, health, vocational training and exchange of trade officials.
In Auckland, on Thursday last week, yet another initiative was launched, this time in New Zealand: dubbed the “New Caledonian season in New Zealand,” the exercise is a major attempt to increase awareness in New Zealand about one of its neighbors, which is however not a regular tourism and investment destination.
The “season” mainly consists in a series of showcase cultural and sport events that will involve the participation of some 150 New Caledonian athletes, musicians, craftsmen and other artists, taking part in high-profile happenings in New Zealand.
It is currently estimated that despite New Caledonia’s proximity to New Zealand, it only attracts about six thousand New Zealand tourists each year.
By contrast, over fifteen thousand New Caledonians whose to visit New Zealand each year, officials said
The expected outcomes of the current campaign would therefore be to increase New Caledonia’s visibility on the New Zealand market.
New Caledonia’s economy minister, Didier Leroux, who officially launched the 2007 Season in Auckland last week, also met New Zealand’s defense and trade minister, Phil Goff.
Leroux said he also took the opportunity to reaffirm the “stabilizing” role that France played in the Pacific, via its three countries and territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna).
“Everyone has understood that the presence of France in this area is to maintain stability in the region, because of what is happening in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Fiji. Obviously we don’t need more of that. So perhaps France can contribute to settling things and keeping a balance and stability in the region,” Leroux told Radio New Zealand International.
He also underlined some similarities between New Caledonia and New Zealand, especially in terms of ethnic and cultural diversity with, in each case, indigenous peoples (Kanaks in New Caledonia, Maori in New Zealand) with a strong and vibrant cultural history.
On Thursday last week, the official launch of the “Season” was also marked by a series of traditional ceremonies between Kanak and Maori leaders.
The Kanak council of Chiefs (known in New Caledonia as the “Customary Senate”) had also sent a high-level delegation to New Zealand for the occasion.