New Caledonia riots: Fourth repatriation flight bringing New Zealanders home

A third, earlier New Zealand Defence Force flight evacuates 49 more Kiwis from war-torn New Caledonia. Photo / New Zealand Defence Force

By RNZ

A fourth flight taking New Zealanders out of riot-torn New Caledonia has departed from Noumea and is on its way back to Auckland.

The Defence Force Hercules has about 57 people on board with another 110 New Zealanders still in New Caledonia waiting to go home.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters confirmed the flight on X (formerly Twitter), saying the plane was scheduled to land in Auckland later on Saturday.

We’re pleased a further flight from Nouméa to Auckland by a NZ Govt plane will take place today to bring more NZers home. The plane left Auckland this morning & is scheduled to return later today.

Our consular teams continue to work with affected NZers in New Caledonia.

🇳🇿
🇳🇨🇫🇷

— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) May 24, 2024

It will be the fourth repatriation flight since fatal clashes broke out between pro-independence protesters and security forces.

In the latest developments, a police officer reportedly shot and killed a man after he and a colleague were attacked by a group of about 15 people.

It comes just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron visited the territory in a bid to calm tensions.

Meanwhile, a New Zealander evacuated from New Caledonia said parts of the capital were like a bomb site.

Andre Capiez was one of about 50 people who were on the third evacuation flight from Noumea, amid riots in the country.

Capiez, born in New Caledonia, said most of the damage in Noumea could not be seen from tourist areas.

“In parts of the city it’s like, amazing. I mean, you know [if you’ve seen] pictures of bombed areas, that’s what it looks like. Everything’s been burned down and looted...”

People on both sides of the civil unrest did not condone the violence, Capiez said.

The death toll from the civil unrest had risen to seven overnight.

- RNZ