Administrative divisions of New Caledonia
Encyclopedia
New Caledonia
is divided
into three provinces:
Each of these provinces has its own flag and emblem and has considerable powers, including all powers that are not explicitly the prerogative of either the Territorial Congress in Nouméa
or the French Republic in Paris
. The provinces are further subdivided into communes (municipalities) which in fact in most cases predate the establishment of the provinces, whose borders and powers were outlined in 1988 (see Matignon Accords
). One commune, Poya
, was then divided between the two mainland provinces. This state of affairs continues to this day. The provincial seat of the North Province is at Koné (although physically located closer to the town of Pouembout
). The South Province has its provincial seat at Nouméa
, although La Foa
also serves as the seat of some administrations (see Administrative subdivisions section below). The Loyalty Islands Province has its seat at Wé
in the commune of Lifou
.
¹Recently split off from Canala
²Located partly in two provinces
, with exactly the same names and same boundaries as the three provinces, except that the commune of Poya is entirely contained inside the North Subdivision. Contrary to the provinces, which are full political divisions with provincial assemblies and executives, the administrative subdivisions are merely deconcentrated
divisions of the French central state, akin to the arrondissements of metropolitan France
, with a Deputy Commissioner of the Republic (commissaire délégué de la République), akin to a subprefect
of metropolitan France, in residence in each subdivision's chief town.
The subdivision chief towns are the same as the provincial capitals except in the South Subdivision where the chief town is La Foa
, whereas the capital of the South Province is Nouméa. Thus, although the provincial assembly of the South Province sits in Nouméa, the South Subdivision's Deputy Commissioner of the Republic is in residence in La Foa. This was decided in order to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of Nouméa in New Caledonia.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
is divided
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
into three provinces:
- South ProvinceSouth Province, New CaledoniaThe South Province is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the southern and southwestern portion of the New Caledonian mainland. It is by far the most economically developed and most urbanized part of the archipelago and indeed in the entire Melanesian region...
(province Sud = the southern mainland). Provincial capital: NouméaNouméaNouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
. Population: 164,113 inhabitants (2004). - North ProvinceNorth Province, New CaledoniaThe North Province is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the northern and northeastern portion of the New Caledonian mainland.The provincial government seat is at Koné....
(province Nord = the northern mainland). Provincial capital: Koné. Population: 44,596 inhabitants (2004). - Loyalty Islands ProvinceLoyalty IslandsThe Loyalty Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific. They are part of the French territory of New Caledonia, whose mainland is away. They form the Loyalty Islands Province , one of the three provinces of New Caledonia...
(province des îles Loyauté). Provincial capital: LifouLifouLifou is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.-Geography:Lifou is made up of Lifou Island, the largest and most heavily populated of the Loyalty Islands, its smaller neighbour Tiga Island, and several uninhabited islets in between these two...
. Population: 22,080 inhabitants (2004).
Each of these provinces has its own flag and emblem and has considerable powers, including all powers that are not explicitly the prerogative of either the Territorial Congress in Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
or the French Republic in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The provinces are further subdivided into communes (municipalities) which in fact in most cases predate the establishment of the provinces, whose borders and powers were outlined in 1988 (see Matignon Accords
Matignon Agreements (1988)
Matignon Agreements refers to agreements signed in the Hotel Matignon by Jean-Marie Tjibaou and Jacques Lafleur on June 26, 1988, between loyalists, who wanted to keep New Caledonia as a part of the French Fifth Republic, and separatists, who did not...
). One commune, Poya
Poya, New Caledonia
Poya is a commune in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The largest part of the commune lies in the North Province of New Caledonia, and a smaller part of the commune lies in the South Province, an odd situation resulting from the creation of New Caledonia's...
, was then divided between the two mainland provinces. This state of affairs continues to this day. The provincial seat of the North Province is at Koné (although physically located closer to the town of Pouembout
Pouembout
Pouembout is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
). The South Province has its provincial seat at Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, although La Foa
La Foa
La Foa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.Although the provincial seat of the South Province is in Nouméa, La Foa was made the chief town of the administrative subdivision of the South in order to counterbalance the...
also serves as the seat of some administrations (see Administrative subdivisions section below). The Loyalty Islands Province has its seat at Wé
Wé
Wé is a small town in the commune of Lifou, in the Loyalty Islands Province, New Caledonia. It is located on the east coast of Lifou Island. Wé is the administrative centre of the commune of Lifou as well as the location of the provincial assembly of the Loyalty Islands....
in the commune of Lifou
Lifou
Lifou is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.-Geography:Lifou is made up of Lifou Island, the largest and most heavily populated of the Loyalty Islands, its smaller neighbour Tiga Island, and several uninhabited islets in between these two...
.
Communes
Communal seats are shown in parentheses if different from the commune name.- BelepBelepBelep is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
(Waala) - BouloupariBouloupariBouloupari is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- BourailBourailBourail is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.- Geography :This is a rural town of Grande Terre . The municipality is located in both the mountains and along the sea beaches are tourist but remain wild, they are a place popular...
- CanalaCanalaCanala is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.-History:On 25 April 1995 about 47% of the territory of Canala was detached and became the commune of Kouaoua....
- DumbéaDumbéaDumbéa is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.-Twin towns: Fréjus, France, since 1985 Punaauia, France, since 1991 Bessières, France Lifou, New Caledonia...
- FarinoFarinoFarino is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- HienghèneHienghèneHienghène is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- HouaïlouHouaïlouHouaïlou is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- L'Île-des-PinsL'Île-des-PinsL'Île-des-Pins is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. L'Île-des-Pins is made up of the Isle of Pines, the smaller Kôtomo Island, and several islets around these two, as well as the distant island of Walpole, which is located almost...
(Vao) - Kaala-GomenKaala-GomenKaala-Gomen is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.The city was founded on its present site in 1899, with a committee appointed by the municipal government...
- Koné
- KouaouaKouaouaKouaoua is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Nickel mining is operated in Kouaoua.-History:...
¹ - KoumacKoumacKoumac is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.-History:On 5 January 1977 about 46% of the territory of Koumac was detached and became the commune of Poum. Residents are famous for their technological contribution to the wmirchi.com...
- La FoaLa FoaLa Foa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.Although the provincial seat of the South Province is in Nouméa, La Foa was made the chief town of the administrative subdivision of the South in order to counterbalance the...
- LifouLifouLifou is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.-Geography:Lifou is made up of Lifou Island, the largest and most heavily populated of the Loyalty Islands, its smaller neighbour Tiga Island, and several uninhabited islets in between these two...
(WéWéWé is a small town in the commune of Lifou, in the Loyalty Islands Province, New Caledonia. It is located on the east coast of Lifou Island. Wé is the administrative centre of the commune of Lifou as well as the location of the provincial assembly of the Loyalty Islands....
) - MaréMaréMaré is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.The commune of Maré is made up of Maré Island and the much smaller Dudun Island, which lie among the Loyalty Islands, to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland. The settlement...
(Tadin) - MoindouMoindouMoindou is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- Le Mont-Dore
- NouméaNouméaNouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
- OuégoaOuégoaOuégoa is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- OuvéaOuvéaOuvéa is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The settlement of Fayaoué , on Ouvéa Island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Ouvéa. -Geography:...
(Fayaoué) - PaïtaPaïtaPaïta is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. New Caledonia's international airport, La Tontouta International Airport, is located there....
- PoindimiéPoindimiéPoindimié is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- PonérihouenPonérihouenPonérihouen is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- PouéboPouéboPouébo is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- PouemboutPouemboutPouembout is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- PoumPoumPoum is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The town of Poum is located in the far northwest, located on the southern part of Banare Bay, with Mouac Island just offshore....
- PoyaPoya, New CaledoniaPoya is a commune in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The largest part of the commune lies in the North Province of New Caledonia, and a smaller part of the commune lies in the South Province, an odd situation resulting from the creation of New Caledonia's...
² - SarraméaSarraméaSarraméa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
- ThioThio, New CaledoniaThio is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.A novel Aerial tramway existed here at the start of the 20th century to facilitate loading ore ships offshore...
- TouhoTouhoTouho is a municipality in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Touho lies on the east coast of the main island and is served by a road and an airfield....
- VohVohVoh is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.It has become famous for the aerial photography known as The Heart of Voh, a large formation of vegetation that resembles a heart seen from above...
- YatéYatéYaté is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
¹Recently split off from Canala
Canala
Canala is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.-History:On 25 April 1995 about 47% of the territory of Canala was detached and became the commune of Kouaoua....
²Located partly in two provinces
Administrative subdivisions
There also exist three administrative subdivisions, simply known as subdivisions in FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, with exactly the same names and same boundaries as the three provinces, except that the commune of Poya is entirely contained inside the North Subdivision. Contrary to the provinces, which are full political divisions with provincial assemblies and executives, the administrative subdivisions are merely deconcentrated
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
divisions of the French central state, akin to the arrondissements of metropolitan France
Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica...
, with a Deputy Commissioner of the Republic (commissaire délégué de la République), akin to a subprefect
Subprefecture
Subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province.-Albania:There are twelve Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is subdivided into several districts, sometimes translated as subprefectures.-Brazil:...
of metropolitan France, in residence in each subdivision's chief town.
The subdivision chief towns are the same as the provincial capitals except in the South Subdivision where the chief town is La Foa
La Foa
La Foa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.Although the provincial seat of the South Province is in Nouméa, La Foa was made the chief town of the administrative subdivision of the South in order to counterbalance the...
, whereas the capital of the South Province is Nouméa. Thus, although the provincial assembly of the South Province sits in Nouméa, the South Subdivision's Deputy Commissioner of the Republic is in residence in La Foa. This was decided in order to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of Nouméa in New Caledonia.
Tribal areas (aires coûtumières)
In addition, a parallel layer of administration exists for Kanak tribal affairs; these are called aires coutumières ("tribal areas") and are eight in number (see map of the tribal areas). Their jurisdiction does not encompass non-Kanaks living within these zones. The tribal areas more or less correspond to the indigenous language areas and/or areas of pre-French tribal alliances.
See also
- Politics of New CaledoniaPolitics of New CaledoniaNew Caledonia is an French overseas country with a system of government based on parliamentarism and representative democracy. The President of the Government is the head of government, and there is a multi-party system, with Executive power being exercised by the government. Legislative power is...
- Administrative divisions of FranceAdministrative divisions of FranceThe administrative divisions of France are concerned with the institutional and territorial organization of French territory. There are many administrative divisions, which may have political , electoral , or administrative objectives.- Metropolitan France :As of January 1, 2008, metropolitan...
- Lists of communes of France