The pact will allow two adults living together to enter an agreement giving them social, tax and inheritance rights that are usually reserved for married couples.
It was first introduced in France 10 years ago and campaign has been running in New Caledonia to have it extended there. But despite it being a territory of France, family law contracts do not automatically apply in New Caledonia.
The pact could not be passed until both the territory’s local and metropolitan government agreed on it. According to official figures, there is now one civil relationship pact signed in France for every two marriages.
