Australia and New Zealand to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia’s unrest

Smoke rises during protests in Noumea, New Caledonia (Nicolas Job, AP)

The Australian and New Zealand governments announced on Tuesday that they were sending planes to evacuate their nationals from violence-scorched New Caledonia.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong confirmed Australia had received clearance from French authorities for two flights to evacuate citizens and other tourists from New Caledonia amid violent unrest that has beset the French Pacific archipelago where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.