President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in riot-hit New Caledonia, having crossed the globe by plane in a high-profile show of support for the French Pacific archipelago wracked by deadly unrest and where Indigenous people have long sought independence from France.

Macron, who briefly spoke to reporters after his arrival at La Tontouta International Airport, about 50km from the New Caledonian capital Noumea, said he viewed a return to calm as the top priority.

-

Due to the immense volume of comments 1News videos attract, we've made the decision to hold all comments for review, and in some cases, turn them off entirely.

1News is a media outlet based in New Zealand, and could potentially be liable for any comments that defame others or breach New Zealand law. Our content receives thousands of comments each day, and we lack the capacity to moderate that volume without holding comments for review.

This decision ensures that our platform remains a safe and compliant space for all viewers. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

-

Subscribe to 1News: www.bit.ly/1NewsYouTube | For the latest news from Aotearoa and overseas: https://www.1News.co.nz

This is the official channel of TVNZ's 1News, where we deliver the latest news, in-depth journalism and expert analysis from reporters you can trust. Subscribe for news and current affairs reports from 1News, Seven Sharp, Breakfast, Q+A, and Fair Go.