Administrative divisions of New Caledonia

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New Caledonia
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of New Caledonia

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New Caledonia is divided into three provinces: Islands Province (Province des Îles = Loyalty Islands), North Province (Province Nord = the northern mainland) and South Province (Province Sud = the southern mainland).

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, respectively. 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 and remains so 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 shifted between Nouméa and La Foa, whereas the Islands Province has its seat at Wé in the commune of Lifou.

[edit] Communes

Communal seats are shown in parentheses if different from the commune name.

¹Recently split off from Canala
²Located partly in two provinces

[edit] Tribal jurisdictions (aires coûtumières)

In addition, a parallel layer of administration exists for Kanak tribal affairs; these are called aires coutumières ("traditional spheres") and are eight in number (see map of the "aires coutumières"). Their jurisdiction does not encompass non-Kanaks living within these zones. The aires coutumières more or less correspond to the indigenous language areas and/or areas of pre-French tribal alliances.