While too far away for Americans to fly to for a weekend getaway, the Melanesian territory of New Caledonia is a popular vacation destination for Australians and New Zealanders.
As the collection of islands is also part of France’s overseas territories, many mainland French residents regularly go there as part of a larger journey to the South Pacific.
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But while the area is home to some of the world’s most remote and picturesque beaches, it is currently experiencing a wave of violence after lawmakers based in Paris voted in electoral changes that will allow more mainland French residents to vote in elections that affect the islands over 16,000 kilometres away. Riots broke out in multiple areas and, as of May 22, at least six people have been killed.
New Caledonia riots prompt evacuation efforts from multiple countries
Along with arriving to New Caledonia alongside the Defense Minister and several other high-ranking officials, French President Emmanuel Macron has sent military aircraft expected to evacuate at least 500 French tourists who ended up on the island during the unrest.
As many of their citizens come to New Caledonia for holidays, Australia and New Zealand have also begun evacuating their citizens on military aircraft. In an update posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Royal Australian Air Force said that it has sent a RAAF C-130J Hercules as one of two planes that will transport the 200 Australians currently on the island home.
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New Zealand’s Royal Defence Force sent a Hercules C-130H for the 50 citizens stranded on the island. Most have by now made it home and reported seeing barricades and burnt-out vehicles all throughout the two-hour ride to Nouméa International Airport (NOU).
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‘What is needed to ensure the safety of our people there’
Individual Americans, Canadians and citizens of other countries have been taken in on Australia’s military planes as consular staff work to determine the names and locations of any travelers registered with their foreign offices who may still be on the islands.
“The situation in New Caledonia remains dynamic, and New Zealand officials are continuing to work with French counterparts and other partners, especially Australia, to understand what is needed to ensure the safety of our people there," New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
The Royal Australian Airforce C-130 Hercules from the capital Noumea arrived in the East Coast Australian city of Brisbane on Tuesday, May 20. With the largest number of its citizens still in New Caledonia, the French High Commission in New Caledonia also said that it will continue sending military planes to rescue tourists in groups over the coming days.
But some travelers who are at resorts in remote parts of New Caledonia have faced additional challenges around getting out of the resort and traveling to areas where they can meet with the military through roads that may be blocked off.
“It’s now been 13 days here and all domestic travel is canceled, so we can’t get a boat or plane back to Noumea,” Sarah Melrose, a 35-year-old Sydney woman, described to Yahoo! Australia.
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