Will this Pacific paradise get what it wants for Christmas?

Despite ongoing incidents in some areas of New Caledonia, officials in the French territory have announced the lifting of a curfew that was imposed following the violent riots in May.

The civil unrest resulted in 13 deaths, dozens injured, hundreds arrested, and caused severe economic damage estimated in the billions of dollars.

To restore order, more than 6000 French gendarmes and security personnel were deployed from Paris to resolve the clashes between indigenous Kanak pro-independence supporters and their opponents.

The French High Commissioner's Office in Noumēa said in a statement that the restrictions were lifted after increased security across the city.

New Caledonian was plunged into chaos when violent riots broke out in the capital Noumēa on 13 May. Photo/supplied

"Today, despite incidents that persist in some neighbourhoods, public order has been restored, and a return to normal life is underway."

This development follows two months after a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders' troika completed its fact-finding mission to the troubled region.

The deadly riots erupted on 13 May, just hours after French President Emmanuel Macron proposed changes to the electoral rules in New Caledonia that would allow new arrivals to vote.

Macron has since abandoned his electoral reforms for New Caledonia, leading France's New Popular Front party to call for his resignation.

Located some 2400 kilometres north of Aotearoa, New Zealand, New Caledonia has a population of around 270,000.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters recently returned from Noumēa after postponing a planned visit in May.

Pacific Islands Forum Troika visited New Caledonia in October. From left, New Caledonia President Louis Mapou, PIF chair and Tonga Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, French envoy to New Caledonia Louis Le Franc, Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown, PIF secretary-general Baron Waqa, and France's special envoy to the Pacific Vēronique Roger-Lacan.

“Over the last few days, we have listened to and learned from a wide range of people in New Caledonia – so that we can better understand the acute challenges it faces," Peters, 79, told journalists.

“This was a great opportunity to hear a rich set of perspectives about New Caledonia’s path forward and how New Zealand can make a constructive contribution to that future.

“We were deeply saddened by the loss of life, violence and destruction that occurred in New Caledonia earlier this year – and want to ensure that New Zealand and the Pacific region are doing our bit to aid the recovery.”

However, for residents of New Caledonia, last week's collapse of the government in Paris has sent shockwaves through the territory.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government was ousted by a no-confidence motion in the French National Assembly, the first of its kind in more than 60 years.

Macron appointed the 73-year-old member of the Rassemblement Party in September following the defeat of his presidential majority in July's snap elections.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters returned from Noumēa last week after postponing a planned visit in May. Photo/supplied

Macron, 46, delayed appointing a new prime minister because his Ensemble alliance needed more numbers to maintain a governing majority in the French legislature.

Political analysts suggest that Macron's refusal to appoint a candidate from the Left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), the largest parliamentary group, has backfired. Instead, he insisted on Barnier, whose party came in fourth during the elections.

Barnier had sent several diplomatic missions to Noumēa, including Overseas Minister François-Noël Buffet, President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet, and Senate President Gérard Larcher.

While anti-independence supporters in New Caledonia welcomed Barnier's appointment, business leaders and politicians in Noumēa have since expressed concerns about his leadership.

A priority for the government in New Caledonia is securing new funding in the Paris 2025 budget to support the Pacific Island nation's economic reconstruction.

Although Barnier committed financial assistance for New Caledonia until the end of 2024, he could not finalise a national budget for 2025 due to his government's insufficient numbers to pass legislation.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, and ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Photo/French government

During a recent visit to New Zealand, Veylma Falaeo, President of the New Caledonia Congress and the first female to lead the legislative assembly, outlined her vision for the nation.

Falaeo, elected in August and of Wallis and Futuna heritage, said she was committed to uniting the territory, promoting peace, and creating a more inclusive and balanced approach to governance.

"Our main concern is to improve the daily life of New Caledonians and to work on reforms for the Oceanian people, and we want to work on reforms and political reforms. In particular, to reduce social inequalities,” she said.

“So the crisis that occurred on the 13th of May had a lot of negative impacts. We're talking about the economy. We're talking about social aspects. We're talking about human factors. So that was critical. So, 2.2 billion was the amount of damage that was caused as a result.

“May 13 created a gap between the citizens and the elected members of Congress - that the events of the 13th of May have opened a gap between the population and the MPs.

“I think only time can help us, the time to rebuild trust. And especially in our homes. The Caledonian people have shown a lot of resilience, and I put my hope in that.

Veylma Falaeo, President of the New Caledonia Congress, is from Wallis and Futuna, another French Pacific territory. Photo/supplied

“So, there have been many issues, and today everybody has lots of scars. But only time will help to heal these scars. And our job, our task today, is to rebuild confidence.”

Falaeo, a moderate candidate from the Ocean Awakening Party, says they are independent of the traditional factions involved in the conflict.

It remains to be seen whether she can work effectively with whoever takes over from Barnier in Paris, including New Caledonia's two deputies in the French National Assembly - Macron loyalist Nicolas Metzdorf and Emmanuel Tjibaou, the newly elected president of the largest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne (UC).

Tjibaou is the first pro-independence Kanak leader to serve in the National Assembly for 38 years. He has consistently advocated for a pathway to sovereign independence.

For New Caledonians, the urgency remains high, whether or not there is a prime minister in Paris, given the real risk that the political upheaval could escalate into an institutional crisis.

Completing a new budget before the year ends would be the perfect Christmas gift for the Pacific island nation.