Nouméa

This is an article related to the Commonwealth of New Duveland

Nouméa
City
Clockwise from top: Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre, overview of Val Plaisance, Mount Koghi, Nouméa city centre and the Nouméa Cathedral.
Seal
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Country	New Duveland
Province	New Caledonia
Founded	1854
Population  (2020)
• Total	192,917
Demonym	Nouméan
Time zone	UTC+11 (NDST)
Postal Code	4000
Telephone Code	07
ISO 3166 code	NOU
Website	[1]

Nouméa (French pronunciation: ​[numea]) is the capital and largest city of New Caledonia, and the 13th largest city in New Duveland. The city is situated on a peninsula in the southern part of Grande Terre, which is the main island of New Caledonia. The peninsula is surrounded by the ocean, and the city has uninterrupted views of the sea.

The city is a melting pot of cultures and is home to a diverse population. The majority of the island's European, Polynesian (Wallisians, Futunians, Tahitians), Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations reside in Nouméa. Additionally, many Melanesians, Ni-Vanuatu and Kanaks work in the city, making it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the South Pacific.

Nouméa's deepwater harbor is one of its main features, and it serves as the chief port for New Caledonia. The harbor is protected, and it is one of the largest in the South Pacific. It is a significant economic center, and it is responsible for much of the country's trade.

As of the September 2019 census, the metropolitan area of Greater Nouméa had a population of 196,875 inhabitants, with 104,285 living in the city (commune) of Nouméa proper. Greater Nouméa covers the communes of Nouméa, Le Mont-Dore, Dumbéa and Païta. 67.2% of the population of New Caledonia lives in Greater Nouméa, making it the most populous urban area in the province.

Toponymy

Nouméa's toponymy has its roots in the city's colonial past. The city was founded by the French in the mid-19th century, and was initially called Port-de-France. In 1866, it was renamed Nouméa, which is believed to be derived from the name of a local Melanesian tribe, the Numee, who lived in the area prior to the arrival of Europeans.

Another theory suggests that the name Nouméa may have come from the term "la nouvelle mayonnaise," meaning "the new mayonnaise" in French. This is said to have been a reference to the fact that the city's founder, Admiral Febvrier-Despointes, was a keen gastronome and had a particular fondness for mayonnaise.

The name Nouméa is pronounced with a French accent, with the stress on the final syllable. In the local Caledonian dialects of French, the name is often pronounced as "Numéa", with the stress on the first syllable.

In addition to its official name, Nouméa has a number of other nicknames, reflecting its diverse history and culture. It is known as the "Harbour City," thanks to its deep-water port and maritime heritage. Finally, it is sometimes referred to simply as "Noumea," reflecting its status as a cultural and economic hub for the region.

History

Pre-European settlement

Clement Lindley Wragge photographed King Jacques and his Queen, who may have been Kwindo or one of his descendants, in a Melanesian village near Saint-Vincent in Païta in the late 1800s.

The pre-European history of Nouméa and New Caledonia is marked by the arrival of the first human settlers, the Lapita people, who arrived in the region around 1500 BCE. These people were skilled navigators and are believed to have come from the Bismarck Archipelago, located north of New Caledonia. The Lapita people are known for their distinctive pottery, which is found throughout the Pacific.

Over time, the Lapita culture gave way to a more complex society with a strong emphasis on social hierarchy and warfare. The people of New Caledonia developed a unique culture, which was based on agriculture, fishing, and hunting. They also developed a sophisticated system of trade, which allowed them to exchange goods with other cultures throughout the Pacific.

Numerous archaeological excavations have been conducted on the Nouméa peninsula, revealing a pre-European settlement. In his thesis titled "La Préhistoire de la New Caledonia," Christophe Sand, a New Caledonian archaeologist and former director of the Department of Archeology of the Territory, provides an exhaustive description of the various archaeological sites in New Caledonia, including those in Nouméa. Sand's thesis contributes to the study of how Oceanian societies adapted and evolved in the southern Melanesian archipelago.

Excavations in Nouméa have uncovered pre-European settlements, including habitats and various relics such as burnt stones, charcoal, and human remains. The remains have been found at different locations, including Anse Vata, Ouen Toro, Bay of the Orphanage, and Nouville, but none have been precisely dated. Excavations at Pointe Magnin in 1993 revealed postholes, utensils, and potsherds dating to the 1st millennium. Shards of ceramics, shells, and cut stones have also been found in other locations on the peninsula. The analysis of most of the pottery indicates a more recent period, perhaps even contemporary with the arrival of Europeans.

Early European settlement

View of Port-de-France in April 1857.

Europeans didn't arrive in the area of present-day Noumea until the 1840s, when James Paddon, an English sandalwood merchant, established himself in the region. Boulari Bay became important with the discovery of the Woodin Canal in 1847, and Paddon saw an opportunity to establish a trade route to Sydney and the New Hebrides via Île Nou, an island west of the Boulari Bay peninsula that he purchased from the chief of the Kambwa clan. Paddon's initial installation on the island was episodic in 1851, but it soon became a popular location for bartering goods. The establishment gradually grew into a village, with Paddon overseeing the construction of several stores, a shed with a steam engine, a forge, workbenches for carpenters, and even a lime kiln. The community consisted of eighty Europeans and two hundred natives, who were all housed on the island. Paddon also encouraged his European subordinates to marry women from the Melanesian tribes to maintain good relations with the local populations. This agreement would later facilitate the French installation. The French established their settlement, which was initially called Port-de-France, near Paddon's trading post, after moving from Balade in the north of the island. This settlement was renamed Nouméa in 1866, and it served as a Penal colony and a center for the exportation of nickel and gold mined nearby.

French soldiers decided to establish their new colony's capital, Port-de-France, on the peninsula opposite Paddon's counter on Nou Island. Paddon, realizing the advantage of the location, imported cattle and provided the French Imperial Navy with access to the island's source. He also established a postal service with Sydney, recruited indigenous labor for works in Port-de-France, improved relations with Melanesian chiefs, and revealed coal deposits at Boulari. In recognition of his services, Paddon obtained a concession for five years for the part of Nou Island he already occupied, which gave him a monopoly on New Caledonian trade. However, an anti-English sentiment developed in Port-de-France due to Sydney's hostility towards the French presence. As the French authorities sought a site for a prison, Paddon sold Nou Island to them in 1857 for 40,000 francs in cash. He later obtained 4,000 hectares of land for cultivation in the combined basins of the two Kari-Kouyé and Katiramona rivers with a narrow band of land extending to the bay of Dumbéa in exchange for the accelerated development of the area with the arrival of twenty-two settlers within five years. This contributed to the founding of the village of Païta.

Port-de-France, to New Caledonia: view taken from the interior, engraving, Évremond de Bérard , 1861.

Despite conflicting accounts, most British and French sources agree that the peninsula where Port de France was founded was uninhabited or sparsely inhabited when the settlement was established. This fact was actually one of the reasons why Tardy de Montravel chose the location, hoping to avoid conflicts with local populations. While it is possible that there were some Melanesian settlements on the peninsula before European arrival, it is unlikely that the settlers sought to downplay their presence. Some European military sources from the early days of colonisation, such as Navy surgeon Lucien Pénard, acknowledge earlier installations on the peninsula. This suggests that either the pre-European settlements were not sustainable or the peninsula was depopulated due to epidemics brought by early contact with Europeans, missionaries, sandalwood workers, or due to wars between clans.

However, while most British or French sources suggest that the peninsula where Port-de-France was founded was uninhabited or sparsely inhabited, it is believed that the surrounding tribes in Païta, Dumbéa, or Mont-Dore claimed the area as their own. According to oral traditions of the different clans in the Djubéa-Kaponé region, the peninsula was either used sporadically for seasonal activities or permanently inhabited in two locations. The Betoe clan claims Nou Island, which was reduced to a single member, and the Vata clan of fishermen was located at Anse Vata and Pointe Magnin, long before the arrival of Europeans. Today, a rivalry exists between two large antagonistic chiefdoms, the Kambwa of Païta and the Morari of Mont-Dore, who are still contesting for customary authority over the territory of Nouméa. This opposition is embodied by two great chiefs, Rock Wamytan for the Kambwa Ouétcho clan and Robert Moyatéa for the Morari, who have been political adversaries since the 1980s. Rock Wamytan is an independentist figure from the FLNKS, while Robert Moyatéa is a former anti-independenceist tenor from the RPCR.

Colonial period (1854-1945)

Convicts on the Conneau hill leveling site, circa 1875.

Founded as Port-de-France in 1854 after France claimed possession of the island, the city was established in a strategic location with a natural harbor and protected by Nou Island. It was renamed Nouméa in 1866 and remained a small town with limited growth until the Second World War due to the presence of a penal colony and nickel-related industries. Captain Tardy de Montravel sought to legitimise French control over the region by recognizing Kuindo, of the Kambwa clan, as "chief of the tribe of Numéa" in 1854, but tensions and conflicts with traditional customary authorities soon arose. The French declared ownership of all lands in 1855, leading to a military action by Kuindo against the French in 1856-1857. The garrison of Fort Constantine, the loyalty of certain chiefs, and restrictive measures towards the Melanesian presence in town helped make it an essentially European centre.

In the early years of Nouméa's establishment, French soldiers and civil servants were joined by British and German settlers who arrived individually or as part of free colonisation experiences. The colonial administration initiated a development and planning policy, and engineer battalion commander Paul Coffyn drew up an urban plan in 1855, which proposed flattening a hill to create space for port development and constructing the city based on a chequerboard plan. The plan was modified multiple times before being presented in 1860, and further revisions were made in 1864 and 1869 due to pre-existing buildings and new requirements linked to the choice of penal colonisation from the 1860s.

View of Noumea and its harbour, circa 1906.

In 1857, the first colonial infrastructure was constructed in Nouméa, starting with the building of embankments at Fort Constantine. A year later, it was decided to level the Conneau hillock and develop the site over nearly two decades, relying heavily on penal labour from 1869. The levelling of the Butte Conneau was completed between 1875 and 1877, and the area underwent extensive development, transforming into the city centre built around the central Place Napoléon III in a chequerboard pattern. However, the city faced challenges due to natural disasters and Melanesian raids, resulting in precarious and unsanitary living conditions, outbreaks of diseases, and sporadic presence of the plague around the turn of the 20th century.

The colonial authorities involved settlers in managing the city's development, and Port-de-France became a commune in 1859 with a mayor and 11 members appointed by the superior authority of the colony. It was dissolved in 1860 but reappeared in 1874 with a fully appointed municipal body of 12 members. In 1878, it became a municipal council elected in 1879, and the governor appointed the mayor until 1882. The town hall was set up in the premises of a former bank that had gone bankrupt in 1880, and political life was organised with the local Masonic lodge, the Caledonian Union, created in 1868. The Nouméa college was founded in 1881, followed by the first communal schools for boys in 1883 and for girls in 1891. The General Council of New Caledonia initially met at Nouméa's town hall until the former building of the colony's government printing office was permanently assigned to it from 1890.

The Second World War

Troops of Co. A, 182nd Infantry, embarking on a naval transport at the Grand Quay docks, Noumea, New Caledonia. 2 November, 1942.

In June 1940, the General and Privy Council voted in favor of continuing the war with Nazi Germany on the side of the British Empire. Some notables, led by Nouméa notary Michel Vergès, demanded reforms giving more power to elected settler institutions via a "Manifesto to the population." Governor Georges-Marc Pélicier, originally in favor of continuing the war, later published Vichy regime decisions in the official journal, leading to the General Council disapproving of him and getting in touch with General de Gaulle. On September 4, 1940, Pélicier was replaced by Colonel Denis, appointed by Vichy to maintain the colony's loyalty to France. On September 19, 1940, a rally organized by the De Gaulle Committee of Michel Vergès, Raymond Pognon, and Georges Dubois marched on Nouméa and took control of the city's strategic points. Henri Sautot was officially appointed governor and the colony rallied to Free France.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the US government decided to transform New Caledonia into a relay base for the Pacific War. On March 12, 1942, the first 17,000 US troops arrived in Nouméa, more than doubling the city's population. The headquarters of the 23rd Infantry Division of the US Army was installed at Anse Vata in a new building called the "Pentagon." The Americans brought modernity and had a profound effect on the city's inhabitants, developing the leisure economy and modernizing infrastructure. They employed a large workforce for equipment maintenance and recruited workers from the Indonesian "committed," Chân Dăng, and the "Indigenous," including many Kanaks from the Loyalty Islands. The city's port became the second-largest in the Pacific Ocean. Several districts still retain toponymic traces of this presence.

The nickel boom

Doniambo plant.

The US Army's presence in New Caledonia boosted the island's economy in the 1960s and 1970s during the "Nickel Boom," with the SLN factory in Doniambo and an industrial zone in Ducos contributing to Nouméa's economic growth. The population rapidly increased due to rural exodus and strong Tahitian immigration, as well as new arrivals of Metropolitans, multiplying the number of inhabitants from 10,605 to 56,078 in thirty years. The city rapidly expanded with the construction of towers and embankments, making the old island Nouan an artificial peninsula. The southern districts, including those formerly occupied by the Americans, became the new centre of concentration for leisure and night-life, with hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and sports facilities. The purchasing power of households increased, and a consumer society emerged, with supermarkets appearing and radiotelephony, television, and satellite transmission becoming available.

After the abolition of the indigénat in 1946, Noumea became more multi-ethnic as Kanaks and Polynesians came to the city for work. Despite this, minorities were marginalized both spatially and symbolically, with many concentrated in housing estates on the outskirts and European names remaining for streets and monuments. Large families, trading companies, and Le Nickel continued to dominate politically and economically, although unions were gaining visibility and organisation. Mayor Roger Laroque, who held the position from 1953 to 1985, was also a leader of the departmentalist right-wing opposition to the autonomist political line of the new Caledonian Union (UC) movement.

Starting in the late 1960s, a protest movement emerged, led by the first generation of Melanesians who had studied in Metropolitan France, including Nidoïsh Naisseline, Élie Poigoune, Jean-Marie Tjibaou, and Jacques Iekwé. They campaigned for recognition of Kanak culture and identity, with a focus on achieving greater symbolic representation of Kanaks in "Noumea the white." This movement eventually evolved towards nationalism and independence in the 1970s. To address these aspirations, the authorities began incorporating more Kanaks into the territorial public service and implementing financial measures to benefit the "Brousse" and the Islands. In 1975, Jean-Marie Tjibaou established the Melanesian arts festival Mélanésia 2000 on 1000 beach in the northeast of the peninsula. The state-funded cultural center, now known as the Ko We Kara center, was inaugurated in 1982 with the aim of serving as a "showcase" of Melanesian culture and a "cultural meeting place for the Kanaks of Grande-Terre and Islands." However, the centre was quickly taken over by the Kanaks from the loyalist party movement and boycotted by separatists.

The Events

Jacques Lafleur, the head of the non-independentist movement and member of a European family in Nouméa, became a symbol of the Matignon Accords of 1988 when he shook hands with Jean-Marie Tjibaou.

After New Caledonia narrowly deciding not to join into union with New Duveland alongside the Realm of Laperouse, (52-48%), Nouméa tipped slightly in favour (53-47%) of joining New Duveland. But as the city was out-voted by all other departments in the territory, it would not be until 2015 that New Caledonia would unite with New Duveland. After this period, and it's reliance on France and unresolved issues with other regional Kanak separatists, the city endured several years of demonstrations and even riots known simply as 'The Events'.

The political and ethnic tensions in New Caledonia were worsened by the global economic crisis brought about by the oil shock of 1973. This led to violent clashes in the 1980s between separatists from the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), headed by Jean-Marie Tjibaou's UC, and loyalists, including the main party, the Caledonian Union (Union calédonienne), led by Jacques Lafleur.

While Noumea was the stronghold of the anti-independence movement, the clashes mainly took place in Brousse (rural areas of Grande Terre. However, the city center was regularly the site of demonstrations from both sides, sometimes leading to confrontations in the streets. The RPCR organised several peaceful processions, such as the May 18, 1983, and the "freedom march" on February 26, 1985, which drew between 15,000 to 35,000 participants.

Nevertheless, the situation escalated after the killing of Yves Tual, a 17-year-old "Caldoche" in January 1985. This led to violent riots in Noumea, resulting in the looting and burning of the homes and businesses of separatist leaders or sympathizers. The state of emergency with curfew was then imposed by Edgard Pisani, but it was lifted in June. Anti-independence movements created their militias and carried out explosive attacks against public buildings or homes. The situation only calmed down after the signing of the Matignon Accords in 1988 and the establishment of new institutions. The agreement that defined the current status of the archipelago was signed in Noumea in 1998.

Transformation of the city

The Bernheim library is one of the examples of the historical heritage of the city renovated since the 1990s.

The application of the agreements resulting from the Nouméa accord has had a direct impact on the urban landscape. The archipelago's increased autonomy and new institutional organization have led to the creation of new institutions and administrations. The Territorial Assembly has been replaced by Congress, which still operates from the same building. However, the Hotel de la Province Sud, also known as the "Blue House," was built in Port Moselle at the foot of Pointe de l'Artillerie. The separatists' demands for greater visibility of Melanesian culture in the city have resulted in the establishment of the Kanak Culture Development Agency and the construction of the Tjibaou Cultural Center. Other monuments, institutions, and public spaces, such as the Customary Senate and the Mwâ kâ, were also created to promote the same goal.

Despite these Kanak "monuments," separatist leaders frequently criticise their placement on the outskirts and the lack of toponymy development. Conflicts regularly arise between clans in the South and with other stakeholders regarding customary land ownership in Nouméa. Since the 1990s, the Kanaks have also begun to appropriate urban spaces through the formation of "squats" with their own toponyms and social organisations modelled after the tribes.

Nouméa has undergone significant changes in recent years due to both political agreements and population growth. Mayor Jean Lèques implemented a policy of urban redevelopment in the 1990s, renovating abandoned neighborhoods like Rivière-Salée and Ducos, and completely renovating the Place des Cocotiers. The focus has been on developing tourism, with the transformation of the tourist centre in the south of the peninsula into a "New Caledonian Côte d'Azur" with luxury hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls. Strong economic growth in the late 2000s led to major projects, including regrouping university premises, constructing the Médipôle town of Koutio, expanding the international airport of Nouméa-La Tontouta, and building the South Arena of Païta.

View of the Nouméa conurbation from Malaoui peak in the Koghis mountains (Dumbéa), in 2009.

As the city expands, some heritage buildings have been lost or transformed into wasteland due to neglect or weather conditions. However, others have been rescued and rehabilitated, such as the former Marchand bank, which is now a museum, and the Théâtre de l'île, which has been modernised into a theatre. Colonial houses, such as Château Hagen and Maison Célières du Faubourg Blanchot, have also been restored and re purposed for cultural events. The city's population growth has led to the construction of new housing estates, including Tinato, Kaméré, and Logicoop, as well as spontaneous housing districts known as “squats,” which are predominantly populated by Oceanians.

Noumea's agglomeration, Grand Noumea, is spreading outwards, with Dumbéa's southern district integrating into the urban fabric. This has led to a negative migratory balance, with people moving from the city centre to the suburbs for cheaper land and real estate, among other reasons. However, job structures have not changed, and almost all jobs remain in or close to the city centre, causing transportation and spatial organisation issues. Inter-municipal cooperation has resulted in the creation of two structures, SIGN and SMTU, which initiate new projects such as waste storage and bus services. Noumea's transformation from a French military place to a growing city has made it a significant player in the archipelago's political and institutional life.

Since the union with New Duveland in 2015, the economic development of Nouméa has been on an upward trajectory. The national government's effort to rebuild the Nouméa-Païta railway as light rail has been a significant driver of economic growth. The modernization of the railway system has made transportation more accessible, reliable, and efficient for both locals and tourists, which has led to an increase in economic activity. The improved transportation infrastructure has also opened up new opportunities for investment, leading to the influx of investors from various parts of New Duveland. In addition to the growth in investment, the tourism sector has also benefited significantly from the union. Tourists from New Duveland have been attracted to Nouméa's stunning beaches, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. As a result, the city has become a popular tourist destination, boosting the local economy and creating new employment opportunities. The development of Nouméa has had a positive impact on the overall economic growth of the union, cementing its position as a significant player in the Pacific region.

Geography

Satellite view of Nouméa.

Nouméa 1930.

Nouméa is located on the southwest coast of Grande Terre the main island of New Caledonia. It overlooks the western lagoon and the Coral Sea in the South Pacific Ocean. The city is bordered by the communes of Mont-Dore to the northeast and east, and Dumbéa to the north and northwest, both of which are part of its agglomeration.

The coast where Nouméa is situated is bordered by the bays of Koutio-Kouéta to the northwest and Boulari to the northeast, and is characterised by a series of bays that offer various activities such as swimming (Anse Vata, Baie des Citrons, Baie de Magenta, Anse du Kuendu at the western end of Nouville), yachting and boating (Bay of Sainte-Marie, marinas in the bays of Orphelinat and Moselle), tourist port (small harbor and Jules-Ferry quay) or commercial and industrial (large harbor, Numbo bay). The western coast of Grande Terre was predominantly composed of mangroves, but urbanization has led to the destruction of 23 to 26% of the mangrove areas since 1960. Despite this, some mangrove areas still exist, such as the ones located at the bottom of the bay of Sainte-Marie to the southeast, at the back of the industrial zone in the bay of Koutio-Kouéta, at Rivière-Salée to the northwest, or at Tina.

The city has several distinct neighborhoods, including

• Rivière-Salée,
• 6e km, 7e km, Normandie, and Tina
• Ducos peninsula:
  • Ducos, Ducos industriel, Kaméré, Koumourou, Logicoop, Numbo, Tindu
• 4e Km, Aérodrome, Haut Magenta, Magenta, Ouémo, and Portes de fer
• Faubourg Blanchot and Vallée des Colons
• Doniambo, Montagne coupée, Montravel, and Vallée du tir
• Artillerie Nord, Centre Ville, Nouville, Quartier Latin, Vallée du Génie
• Anse Vata (Drubea: Ouata), Artillerie Sud, Baie des Citrons, Motor Pool, N'géa, Orphelinat, Receiving, Trianon, and Val Plaisance

Geology

The terrain is mostly made up of sedimentary flyschs dating back to thePriabonian to the Middle Eocene, with a few isolated allochthonous terrains, or klippes, consisting of siliceous rocks and limestones. Some older islets date back to the Senonian and therefore the Cretaceous, while most of the land of the communes of Grand Nouméa are of Senonian age. The relief is rugged, with several hills such as Ouen Toro, Montravel, Mont Coffyn, and Mont Vénus, with the highest point at Montravel standing at 167 meters above sea level. The city centre and some districts are built on embankments or polders, created after the sanitation of various coastal marshy areas in the 19th century, or reclaimed from the sea more recently. Nou Island, formerly a site of the penal colony of New Caledonia, was transformed into an artificial peninsula named Nouville after the construction of embankments and a bridge connecting the port to the island during the 1970s and the "nickel boom" period.

The Dumbéa Dam supplies all of Nouméa's freshwater.

Hydrography

Nouméa's hydrographic network is mostly absent, with water mainly found in the valleys of Yahoué in the south-east and Dumbéa and Tontouta in the northwest. To meet its water needs, Nouméa built a catchment on the Yahoué in 1875, followed by a dam upstream of the Dumbéa, which was completed in 1894. In 1971-1972, the dam was raised, and a second pipeline was installed in 1971. To address the city's expanding population and summer droughts, the Greater Nouméa municipalities built a 46 km long and 1 m diameter pipeline called the "Grand Pipe" in 1998, conveying water from pumping stations by drilling wells on the underground course of the Tontouta river.

These facilities have given Nouméa the highest rate of access to drinking water in New Caledonia, with 99.6% of households having an individual supply in 2004. However, Nouméa's water consumption remains high, with 12.307 billion L consumed in 2006, for 27,340 subscribers (i.e., consumption per subscriber of 450,000 L). The whole of Greater Nouméa consumed 18.365 billion L in the same year. The Dumbéa dam is currently managed under concession by Calédonienne des eaux, a subsidiary of the Suez group, while the "Grand Pipe" is managed by the Société anonyme des eaux de Tontouta, also a subsidiary of the Calédonienne des eaux and the Suez group.

Climate

The city averages over 100 rainy days a year.

Nouméa, like the rest of New Caledonia, has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) that is influenced by oceanic factors and is periodically impacted by the phenomena El Niño or La Niña. The climate is characterised by dry winters and warm temperatures throughout the year, with average temperatures hovering around 23.5 °C. The humidity is relatively high, with an annual average air humidity rate fluctuating between 74% and 84%. The year is divided into two seasons separated by two inter-seasons, with a hot and humid season (known as summer or cyclone season) from mid-November to mid-April and a cool season (known as winter) from mid-May to mid-September. There are also two off-seasons: one with a gradual decrease in the number of low pressures, precipitation, and temperatures from mid-April to mid-May, and the other (known as the dry season) from mid-September to mid-November. While Nouméa is exposed to significant amounts of sunshine, it receives an average of 1,070 mm of rainfall per year, with the rainiest months being January, February, March, and to a lesser extent, April.

Despite its tropical climate, several factors temper its effects, including oceanic influences and protection from prevailing winds. As a result, Nouméa does not experience the highest minimum or maximum temperatures in New Caledonia. The average maximum temperature is 26.6 °C, with the hottest months being December to March, where temperatures can reach around 30 °C. In contrast, the cool season months from June to September see temperatures drop to between 23 °C and 25 °C. The average minimum temperature is 20.5 °C, and it remains almost always above 23 °C during the hot season and drops to 17 °C during the cool season. The temperature records recorded in Nouméa were 36.8 °C on January 25, 1986, for the maximum and 13.2 °C on August 10, 1961, for the minimums. Despite its lower annual sunshine duration than some Mediterranean coasts, Nouméa still experiences significant amounts of sunshine, with a normal annual sunshine duration of 2,548.7 hours.

Nouméa is prone to tropical storms that range from depression to cyclones, which can cause significant damage. In 2003, Cyclone Erica hit the city with winds reaching up to 200 km/h, causing trees to uproot and extensive damage to buildings, including the university. Despite this, no human lives were lost in Noumea, and it was the only town in the archipelago that did not suffer from a drinking water cut. Cyclone Vania also caused extensive damage and set a record for maximum daily rainfall in Noumea in 2011.

Climate data for Nouméa Magenta Airport (1995–2013)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	36.8 (98.2)	35.4 (95.7)	35.7 (96.3)	34.1 (93.4)	32.4 (90.3)	30.8 (87.4)	32.0 (89.6)	31.7 (89.1)	32.6 (90.7)	31.9 (89.4)	35.7 (96.3)	35.5 (95.9)	36.8 (98.2)
Average high °C (°F)	29.1 (84.4)	29.6 (85.3)	28.8 (83.8)	27.4 (81.3)	25.7 (78.3)	24.3 (75.7)	23.4 (74.1)	23.3 (73.9)	24.5 (76.1)	25.8 (78.4)	27.1 (80.8)	28.5 (83.3)	26.5 (79.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26.4 (79.5)	26.9 (80.4)	26.2 (79.2)	24.7 (76.5)	22.7 (72.9)	21.3 (70.3)	20.2 (68.4)	20.1 (68.2)	21.1 (70.0)	22.6 (72.7)	24.0 (75.2)	25.6 (78.1)	23.5 (74.3)
Average low °C (°F)	23.7 (74.7)	24.2 (75.6)	23.7 (74.7)	22.1 (71.8)	19.8 (67.6)	18.4 (65.1)	17.0 (62.6)	16.8 (62.2)	17.8 (64.0)	19.5 (67.1)	21.0 (69.8)	22.7 (72.9)	20.6 (69.1)
Record low °C (°F)	17.5 (63.5)	17.9 (64.2)	14.5 (58.1)	14.6 (58.3)	12.0 (53.6)	10.8 (51.4)	8.9 (48.0)	9.9 (49.8)	9.9 (49.8)	10.8 (51.4)	13.2 (55.8)	16.0 (60.8)	8.9 (48.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	107.9 (4.25)	134.0 (5.28)	167.7 (6.60)	124.2 (4.89)	86.0 (3.39)	82.1 (3.23)	71.8 (2.83)	70.3 (2.77)	38.4 (1.51)	39.1 (1.54)	44.4 (1.75)	68.4 (2.69)	1,034.3 (40.72)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	9.7	10.8	12.2	12.0	11.0	9.5	9.2	8.5	5.5	5.1	6.1	6.9	106.4
Source: Bureau of Meteorology New Duveland (temperature, precipitation, humidity) (1997-2016)

Governance

The new Parliament House Building, has been the home of the New Caledonian government since 2018.

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia, operates under a unique system of governance that is divided between the New Caledonian provincial government and the four communes that form the metropolitan area. The Lord Mayor of Nouméa serves as the ceremonial and political head of the city. The four communes have a significant degree of autonomy and are responsible for providing various services under the Local Government Act 2015, such as urban planning and waste management. The New Caledonian provincial government oversees most other government services, including public transport, main roads, traffic control, policing, education above preschool level, health, and major infrastructure projects. The provincial government operates from Parliament House, located in King Street, Tasbury.

As the provincial capital, Tasbury is home to all of the major government institutions of New Caledonia. The city's government is responsible for governing and overseeing the entire province, with a focus on promoting economic growth, maintaining social and cultural harmony, and preserving the natural beauty and resources of the region. The Government moved into the new Parliament House Building in 2018, three years after New Caledonia joined New Duveland in Union and outgrew the old Congress Building.

The Nouméa Metropolitan Region is made up of four communes that have experienced boundary adjustments, renamings, and changes to respond to the city's growth and evolution. Nevertheless, the local government areas remain an essential part of the local government system, providing essential services and infrastructure to the people of Nouméa and the wider province.

The governance of Nouméa is dominated by the All Caledonians and the Caledonian Union political parties, which alternate in representing the city nationally. The city's government operates on a democratic system, with regular elections held to elect members to the Provincial Legislature of All Caledonia and the various local government councils. This ensures that the people of Nouméa and the wider province have a say in the running of their government and that their voices are heard. The New Caledonian provincial government and the local councils work together to provide the necessary services and infrastructure to the people of Nouméa and the wider province while preserving and promoting the region's natural and cultural heritage.

Demographics

Young people holding a stall at the Nouméa market in 2018.

The history of the population of Nouméa, New Caledonia can be divided into several distinct phases. The installation phase from 1854 to 1864 saw the arrival of the first "pioneer" settlers and the population remained small. The prison period from 1864 to 1891 brought a significant increase in population due to the arrival of convicts, but this slowed down towards the end of the period as some convicts left the colony. The end of the penal colony and the Feillet colonization period from 1891 to 1921 saw a decline in the population as the penal colony closed and the new wave of colonization mostly occurred in the bush. The 1920s marked a revival in the population as bush dwellers moved to the capital, and the 1930s saw a decline due to the economic crisis. The American presence from 1936 to 1946 brought new life and economic activity, and the post-war period from 1946 to 1969 saw a rise in population due to the abolition of the code of indigénat and an international context of demographic increase and urban development. The nickel boom from 1969 to 1974 caused a significant increase in population and urban expansion, while the first oil shock from 1974 to 1976 led to a temporary depopulation. The period from 1976 to 1989 saw a slow increase in population, and the new demographic boom and urban sprawl from 1989 to 2014 occurred due to political and social stability and a new nickel boom. Finally, when joining New Duveland in 2015 the city saw never before seen growth in the city centre and surrounding suburbs.

Kanak women in the Magenta air terminal.

By the beginning of the 21st century, buildings covered more than 80% of Nouméa's municipality and extended to the north-west of Mont-Dore and the south of Dumbéa. Together, the three municipalities have a population of around 196,875 in 2019. The continuous built-up area had 138,239 residents in 2019, covering approximately 70.5 km² with a density of 1,961 inhab./km². This "space of continuous habitat in Nouméa" was estimated to be around the 50th French rank in terms of population density.

Although the proportion of individuals under 30 has been decreasing, the population in the commune remains youthful. In 1996, individuals under 30 accounted for over half of the population (52.7%), with those under 20 representing over one-third (33.7%). However, in subsequent years, the proportion of individuals under 30 decreased, with only 48.1% of residents being under 30 in 2004 (and those under 20 accounting for 30% of the population). This trend continued with 46.3% in 2009 (with age groups 0-20 years remaining at 30.9%), 43.35% in 2014 (with under-20s accounting for 28.35%), and 39.91% in 2019 (with 26.42% aged 19 or under). Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals over sixty increased, reaching 10.4% in 2004, 12.74% in 2009 (11.6% in Greater Nouméa), 14.35% in 2014, and 17.05% in 2019. The average age also increased from 31.9 years in 2004 to 33.3 years in 2009 and over 35 years in 2014, which is higher than the territorial average and that of the three other municipalities in Greater Nouméa (31 years in 2009). The northern neighborhoods and suburbs have a younger population, with an average age of 25 in 2009 in Kaméré on the Ducos peninsula or the Scheffleras in Païta. In contrast, the inner city and southern neighborhoods have an older population, with an average age of 42 in 2009 in Orphelinat or Baie des Citrons.

The Greater Nouméa urban area (French: agglomération du Grand Nouméa) had a total population of 196,875 inhabitants at the September 2019 census, 104,285 whom lived in the commune of Nouméa proper. The Greater Nouméa urban area is made up of four communes:

• Nouméa (104,285 inh.)
• Dumbéa (35,873 inh.), to the north-west of Nouméa
• Le Mont-Dore (29,887 inh.), to the north-east of Nouméa
• Païta (26,830 inh.), a suburb to the west of Dumbéa and the site of La Tontouta International Airport

View of the city centre, the port and the harbor in 1942.

Since the 1960s and 1970s , Nouméa has mainly developed towards the north (view of the district of Ducos and, in the distance, the suburbs of Dumbéa).

Migrations

Wallisians and Futunians performing a dance on the port, in 2013.

Although Nouméa was historically populated mainly by descendants of Europeans, it is now a cosmopolitan city with significant ethnic mixing. Ghettoization is rare, although certain districts like Montravel or Rivière-Salée are predominantly Melanesian, while others like Tina, Val Plaisance, and Faubourg-Blanchot are more European. The city was once called "Nouméa la Blanche" due to its high proportion of European residents, but this has decreased in recent years, mainly due to Melanesian migration. In 1996, almost half of Noumeans (49.9%) were of European descent, but this fell to 43.4% in 2009, 43.23% in 2014, and 39.15% in 2019. However, the European community remains concentrated in Noumea, with 56.7% of the European population of the archipelago residing there in 1996, and 59.1% in 2009, 59.02% in 2014, and 56.36% in 2019, and respectively 80.9%, then 85.1%, 84.55%, and 85.33% in its agglomeration. In addition, the mixed-race population, a new category introduced in the 2009 census, represented 7.96% of Noumea's residents and 9.96% in its agglomeration in 2009, then 7.87% and 10.05% in 2014, as well as 10.22% and 12.59% in 2019.

The Melanesian population in Nouméa has increased due to a significant migratory movement from the Bush and tribes towards the city. In recent years, approximately two-fifths of Kanaks (39.02% in 2009, 40.08% in 2014, and 42.98% in 2019) now reside in Greater Nouméa, compared to 29.51% in 1996. However, the Melanesian majority in the central city has become less clear, decreasing from 63.62% in 2009 to 52.22% in 2019. Melanesians now represent around a quarter of the population in Nouméa (25.21% in 2009, 23.79% in 2014, and 26.62% in 2019), as well as in Greater Nouméa (23.43% in 2014 and 26.36% in 2019).

The entrance to the Asian district , known as “Chinatown”, in the city center . .

The population of Wallisians and Futunians is concentrated in Greater Nouméa, where it is larger than in Wallis-and-Futuna. They represent not only 7.66% of the population in the city itself in 2009, which decreased to 6.67% in 2014 and 6.1% in 2019, but also 19.12% of the inhabitants in suburban municipalities in 2009, decreasing to 17.62% in 2014 and remaining at 17.6% in 2019. In 1996, they were the second-largest community in Païta, almost equaling the Europeans, but they became the third group behind the Kanaks in 2009 and 2014 before regaining the second place, still behind the Melanesians, with 19.83% of the population of this municipality in 2019. Additionally, Tahitians make up 2.06% of the Noumean population and 2.77% of the Greater Noumea population in 2009.

There is a significant Asian population in Nouméa and Greater Nouméa, consisting mainly of Indonesians and Vietnamese, as well as some Chinese. They operate most of the convenience, food, and grocery stores, which are commonly referred to as "Chez le Chinois" in everyday language. The area in the city center, where many of these businesses are concentrated, is known as "Chinatown." In 2014 and 2019, the category of "Other and undeclared" included various communities such as Tahitians, Ni-Vanuatu, and Asians, as well as those who preferred to identify themselves as "Caledonians" instead of identifying with a specific ethnic group. This category represented a significant portion of the population in both the city and the agglomeration. In 2014, they accounted for 18.44% of the city's population and 20.51% of the agglomeration, and in 2019, they accounted for 22.4% and 18.75%, respectively.

The places of birth of the 196,875 residents in the Greater Nouméa urban area at the 2014 census were the following:

• 66.7% were born in New Caledonia
• 21.2% in Metropolitan France
• 6.3% in foreign countries (notably Indonesia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Algeria)
• 5.8% in Wallis and Futuna (essentially) and French Polynesia (to a lesser extent)

Ethnic communities

A majority of the Caldoche are of French descent and have their origins as free colonial or penal settlers.

The self-reported ethnic communities of the 182,341 residents in the Greater Nouméa urban area at the 2019 census were as follows:

• 30.65% Europeans
• 26.36% Kanaks (original Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia)
• 11.66% Wallisians and Futunians
• 12.59% mixed ethnicity
• 18.75% other communities (this group includes in particular the White people of New Caledonia who refused to self-identify as "Europeans")

Languages

According to the 2009 census, French was the predominant language spoken in the Greater Nouméa urban area, with 98.7% of the population aged 15 years and older reporting proficiency in the language. In addition to speaking French, 97.1% of the population reported that they could also read and write the language. This highlights the importance of French as the official language of New Caledonia.

The census also revealed that a significant proportion of the population in Greater Nouméa had knowledge of at least one Kanak languages, which are indigenous languages of New Caledonia. Specifically, 20.8% of the population aged 15 years and older reported being able to speak at least one Kanak language. A further 4.3% reported that they could understand a Kanak language, but not speak it. This suggests that while French is the predominant language, there is still a strong connection to traditional indigenous languages in the region.

Despite the relatively high proportion of the population with knowledge of a Kanak language, the majority of residents in the Greater Nouméa urban area had no knowledge of any Kanak language. Specifically, 74.9% of the population aged 15 years and older reported having no knowledge of any Kanak language. This highlights the challenge of maintaining traditional indigenous languages in a rapidly urbanizing and Francophone society.

Religion

The eastern facade of St. Joseph's Cathedral.

The Church of Saint John the Baptist in the Valley of the Settlers, 2013.

Christianity, including Catholicism and Protestantism, is the dominant religion in Nouméa, established by French settlers upon their arrival. The city is home to several churches and six parishes, with the Cathedral of Nouméa being the seat of the diocese established in 1847. The archbishop of Nouméa is Mgr Michel Calvet. The Melanesian population is more divided, with the Tahitian community mostly reformed. The main Protestant cult is that of the Protestant Church of Kanaky New Caledonia (ÉPKNC), while the European population and Wallisians and Futunians are mainly Catholic. The Old Temple, next to the cathedral and inaugurated in 1893, dominates the Place des Cocotiers, and the ÉÉLNC, historically established outside the city, has become the center and temple Néwéré in the district of Rivière-Salée.

Private schools in New Caledonia operate under denominational contracts, including Catholic schools such as Champagnat and Saint-Joseph de Cluny, and the Protestant high school Do Kamo. Many other Protestant churches, including those from the United States, are present in Nouméa, with followers of Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostals, Adventists, Mormons, and members of the Community of Christ. These churches are located throughout the city, with assembly halls in the Normandy district, and churches in various neighborhoods such as Septième Kilometer, Faubourg Blanchot, Logicoop, and the Latin Quarter.

The Muslim community in Nouméa consists of 3,000 believers, mostly native Indonesians. Their Islamic Center, built in 1986, includes a prayer room, a library, classrooms, and dining areas, and organizes events on Islamic calendar holidays. The Vietnamese community, practicing Mahāyāna Buddhism, has the Nam Hai Pho Da pagoda as a place of meditation, while the Kailash Center of the New Kadampa Tradition is located in the north of the city center. A small Sephardic Jewish community of around 50 members has a synagogue in the Valley of the Settlers and a Jewish community center in Tina. The Baha'i faith has around 800 followers in the area. A Masonic lodge was established in Nouméa in 1868, and a Masonic temple was built on the hill of the semaphore but was destroyed in 1963.

Economy

Rue de l'Alma, in the city centre, is one of the main shopping streets of the agglomeration.

Nouméa remains the primary economic and industrial hub, and it is also the largest port in the archipelago. As of 2019, the city had an active population of 48,432 individuals, including 4,810 who were unemployed, resulting in an unemployment rate of 9.9%. According to the Directory for the Identification of Companies and Establishments (RIDET), as of December 31, 2021, there were 29,434 establishments (i.e. places where companies conduct their activities) registered in Nouméa, which accounts for 44.88% of the total establishments in New Caledonia (45.3% for businesses), out of 28,708 companies.

As of 2019, the secondary sector comprised 6,908 workers, accounting for 14.26% of Nouméa's active population. According to the RIDET registry as of December 31, 2021, there were 4,582 establishments, including extractive industries, which is the same number of businesses registered, representing 15.57% of establishments and 15.96% of businesses in Nouméa. Additionally, these establishments make up 43.91% of all establishments in the secondary sector in New Caledonia, with companies accounting for 44.34% of this figure.

Industry

The SLN plant in Doniambo, in 2021.

The Ducos peninsula is the primary industrial hub of Nouméa and New Caledonia as a whole, housing the Doniambo district, which contains the SLN metallurgical plant and its port, as well as the industrial Ducos district and the bays of Numbo and Dames. Other business parks are situated in the northern districts of Nouméa, such as at the Sixth kilometre along the Voie de Clearance Est (VDE). In 2019, the industrial sector, excluding construction, employed 3,638 people, equivalent to 7.51% of the Nouméa working population. As of December 31, 2021, there were 16 extractive industry establishments (23 companies) and 1,431 manufacturing industries (1,407 companies) in Nouméa, including the Eramet-SLN plant, located on the Doniambo peninsula. This plant has long been the sole facility for processing and transforming nickel ore (saprolite) in New Caledonia, producing 54,359 tonnes of processed ore in 2011. The company has undergone modernisation efforts since 2003 to increase production capacity from 60,000 to 75,000 tonnes, with peak production reaching 62,383 tonnes in 2006. In 2010, the SLN plant was the only company in the New Caledonian merchant sector to employ over 1,000 workers, with 1,382 employees in 2004.

Although there are other industrial activities in Nouméa, nickel processing is still the most important and the only one that exports. The production of intermediate goods is also dominant, which includes metallurgical activity and employs 2,193 individuals in 2009, making up 47.97% of the active industrial population. If we exclude metallurgy, companies specialising in intermediate goods have around 800 workers. Examples of other intermediate goods produced in the city include plastic or rubber products like Cellocal for packaging, Saint-Quentin ESQ Establishments for plastic tubes, and the HolcimNouvelle-Calédonie cement plant (previously known as "Ciments de Numbo").

The food industry in Nouméa includes beverage production plants like Société Le Froid and Grande Brasserie de Nouvelle-Calédonie, dairy products by the Calonne Group, and industrial confectionery-chocolate by Biscochoc. In 2009, the industry employed 722 people and represented 152 establishments. Additionally, the production of capital goods has 675 workers, mainly in mechanical products and shipbuilding. Consumer goods include printing press and clothing with 204 and 139 establishments respectively.

Tourism

View of the city centre and the port of Nouméa with a liner at the quay.

Despite being a struggling sector, tourism in Noumea benefited from the record year for tourism in 2015, and has been on an upward trend ever since. As the capital of New Caledonia, Noumea has become a passage for tourists staying in Caledonia and boasts two of the three five-star hotels and three of the four four-star hotels in the province. Additionally, Noumea offers many tourist attractions, including natural panoramas and man-made monuments, and is oriented towards sea-related leisure activities. The beaches of Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons are popular with young people, while paved pedestrian walks and tourist trains offer a more leisurely way to explore the city.

Nouméa's tourism industry received a boost when the maritime transport company "P&O" decided to create a cruise route that departs from several cities, including Espérance, Tasbury, Sydney, and Auckland, and visits various sites in New Caledonia, including Nouméa. Additionally, because of the concentration of economic and cultural activities in the capital city, Nouméa has become a stopover destination for all tourists visiting Caledonia.

Culture

The Nouméa carnival in 2014.

The city is a fusion of different cultures, influenced by the Kanak people, Polynesians, Europeans, Asians, and Australians, among others. The result is a unique blend of traditions, customs, and lifestyles that reflect the city's cultural identity.

One of the most prominent cultural events in Nouméa is the annual "Festival of Pacific Arts," a celebration of the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Islands that takes place every four years. During the festival, visitors can witness traditional dance performances, music, storytelling, and crafts from various Pacific Islands. This event not only promotes cultural exchange but also showcases the diversity of the Pacific region.

Nouméa is also home to several museums that showcase the city's cultural heritage. The "Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre," located on the outskirts of the city, is a must-visit. This center is dedicated to promoting and preserving Kanak culture, and visitors can explore traditional Kanak architecture, art, and music.

In addition to the cultural center, Nouméa has several art galleries and performance spaces that offer a glimpse into the city's contemporary arts scene. The "Centre Culturel Tjibaou" hosts exhibitions, concerts, and theater performances that feature local and international artists.

Moreover, the city is known for its culinary traditions, and visitors can explore Nouméa's unique gastronomy by visiting local markets, tasting traditional dishes, and learning about the different cooking methods and ingredients used in the city's cuisine.

Events

Dance performed by Wallisians and Futunians during “Town Center Thursdays” in 2016.

A number of annual festivals take place. One of the most notable is the Live music festival in August, which began in 1991 as Jazz in August before being renamed in 1998. The festival features rock, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, funk, and even Irish folk groups from Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the Pacific, and performances take place in theaters and bars with an Anglo-Saxon atmosphere. Another popular festival is the Biennale Équinoxe, which occurs every two years in October and features street performances, circus acts, cinema, theater, dance, and music, all centered around a different theme for each edition. The Women Funk Festival, started by the Towanda Prod association in 1997, is also a major event, taking place for three days at the end of September or beginning of October in Noumea or Greater Noumea, and featuring open and closed concerts with local, regional, and international artists, as well as food stands, traditional craft workshops, and a children's village.

The Place des Cocotiers hosts the "Thursdays of the Town Center" every week, featuring a different theme each time and allowing visitors to discover typical Caledonian products through several stands, as well as enjoy various cultural activities such as songs, dances, street theater, circus, and games.

Noumea also hosts a carnival every year, which has been held since 1987 without interruption. Originally located along Anse Vata until 1991, the carnival is now held around the town center and attracts up to 1,500 revelers from 23 groups, as well as nearly 25,000 spectators each year. The event used to take place in April, but has since been moved to August or the beginning of September, in the middle of the cool season.

Finally, the town hall organizes a "regatta of touques" every year at Anse Vata, which is an informal race of decorated boats with floats and no engine, typically participated in by pupils, students, companies, and administrations. The event takes place in October or November since 2011 and attracts more than 10,000 people, as well as up to 15,000 spectators, who can enjoy markets, shows, and entertainment on the beach.

Sports

Le stade Numa-Daly, is the largest stadium in the city.

Nouméa offers a variety of sports and outdoor activities due to its stunning natural environment. The city has several beaches where residents and visitors can swim, sunbathe, and engage in water sports such as windsurfing, kiteboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding. The Anse Vata Beach is especially popular among windsurfers and kitesurfers, thanks to the strong trade winds that blow in the area.

For those who enjoy hiking, the mountainous areas surrounding Nouméa provide excellent trails with beautiful views. One of the most popular hikes is the Mont Koghi trail, which is a challenging 5-hour trek that rewards hikers with panoramic views of the lagoon and the mountains.

Golf enthusiasts will find several courses in Nouméa, including the Tina Golf Course, located 20 minutes outside of the city. This 18-hole course is surrounded by lush greenery and offers challenging holes that are suitable for golfers of all levels.

Nouméa has six football clubs, including four in the first division or Super League: AS Magenta, Gaïtcha FCN, AS Lössi, and AS Wetr. AS Magenta is the most successful of the clubs and reached the OFC Champions League final in 2005. They won the championship several times and the Cup multiple times between 2003 and 2018. Gaïtcha FCN won the championship four times and the Super League once in 2013, as well as the Cup in 2010. AS Lössi won the Cup three times, but never the Super League title. AS Wetr competes in the Super League but has never won either competition. The Numa-Daly stadium hosts training sessions and events, including finals of the New Caledonia Cup and championship. AS Mont-Dore is another important club in the Caledonian football federation.

Basketball, rugby, and volleyball are also popular in Nouméa, and the city hosts several tournaments and championships throughout the year. The New Caledonia national basketball team and the New Caledonia national rugby union team are also based in Nouméa.

In addition to traditional sports, Nouméa also offers more unconventional options such as petanque, a French game similar to bocce ball, and "le parcours," an obstacle course through the forest that challenges participants' strength and agility.

Noumea has been selected multiple times to host the South Pacific Games (now called the Pacific Games from 2011), which can be regarded as the equivalent of the Olympic Games on a Pacific island level. The city was the host in 1966 and 1987 and was once again chosen to organize the games in 2011. These games have been instrumental in the development of several sports facilities in the city, including the Numa-Daly Stadium, Ouen-Toro Olympic Swimming Pool, Anse Vata Sports Hall, and Vallée du Tir Sports Hall (known as the "Firefly" due to its distinctive shape), among others.

Architecture

Nouméa's architecture is a mix of traditional Pacific Islander, French colonial, and contemporary styles. The city's historic center features many colonial buildings, including the iconic Place des Cocotiers, which is surrounded by grand colonial mansions and palm trees. The central market, which dates back to 1882, is another important historic building and a popular tourist attraction.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Nouméa underwent significant urban development, resulting in the construction of many modernist buildings. The city's skyline is now dominated by high-rise buildings, which offer stunning views of the lagoon and the mountains. Many of these buildings were designed by renowned architects and are considered to be important examples of modernist architecture in the Pacific region.

Nouméa's contemporary architecture also includes several noteworthy cultural institutions, such as the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center, which was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. This building, which is located on a peninsula just outside the city center, is dedicated to the culture and history of the Kanak people and is considered to be a masterpiece of contemporary architecture.

"Colonial houses" are a significant architectural style in New Caledonia, developed in the 19th century and now a key element of local identity. However, many have been lost due to weather and development. Notable restored examples include the former Banque Marchand, Maison Célières, and Château Hagen, while private examples such as Clinique Magnin and DZ gallery can be visited. The "Little train" tour and a brochure by the association “Témoignage d'un Passé” offer access to many of these houses in the Faubourg Blanchot.

• 
  An example of a colonial house: Château Hagen in the Vallée des Colons district, 1888 and restored in 2010.
• 
  The Amédée lighthouse off Nouméa, 1865.
• 
  The City Museum, which was a former Merchant Bank, and before that was a former Town Hall.
• 
  The "Immeuble Cheval", 1927, and restored in 2020. Image was prior to restoration.
• 
  The Tjibaou Cultural Center, 1998.
• 
  The Gally-Passebosc barracks and Place Bir Hakeim.
• 
  The Bernheim library in Nouméa, 1905.
• 
  Saint-Joseph Cathedral, 1897.

Cuisine

An Asian "trailer" food truck from Port Moselle.

Nouméa's cuisine is a unique fusion of French, Melanesian, and Pacific Island influences. Bougna is a must-try dish that exemplifies this blending of cultures. It is a traditional Melanesian dish made with a combination of root vegetables such as yams, taro, and sweet potatoes, as well as chicken and coconut milk. The ingredients are then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over hot rocks for several hours, resulting in a savory and tender meal with a distinctive smoky flavor. Bougna is often served during special occasions, such as weddings and cultural ceremonies.

Another popular dish in Nouméa is Poisson cru, which is a raw fish salad similar to ceviche. The fish is marinated in coconut milk, lime juice, and vegetables such as tomato, cucumber, and onion, resulting in a fresh and flavorful dish. It is typically served as an appetizer or light meal and can be found in many restaurants throughout the city.

Due to its French influence, Nouméa is also home to a range of French-inspired dishes and pastries. Croissants, pain au chocolat, and tarts are just a few of the French delicacies that can be found in the city's many bakeries and cafes. These pastries are often made with locally sourced ingredients, such as butter and flour from New Caledonia, giving them a unique twist.

Seafood is another highlight of Nouméa's cuisine. Fresh fish, lobster, and prawns are plentiful in the surrounding waters and are often served grilled or in a creamy sauce. Many restaurants in Nouméa offer seafood dishes that incorporate local ingredients and cooking techniques, providing a truly authentic dining experience.

Finally, for drinks, visitors should try Number One, the local beer brewed in Nouméa. It is a light and refreshing lager that is popular among locals and visitors alike. Another must-try drink is Kava, which is a traditional drink made from the root of a plant. It is believed to have relaxing properties and is often consumed during cultural ceremonies, making it an essential part of New Caledonian culture.

Transport

Nouméa Magenta Airport connect the city to other islands of New Caledonia.

Nouméa has several modes of transportation available to residents and visitors. The most common form of public transportation is the bus system, which is operated by the company Carsud. The bus system is affordable and covers much of the city, making it an excellent option for getting around. There are also several different types of buses, including regular buses, express buses, and night buses.

For those who prefer to drive themselves, there are several car rental agencies in Nouméa, including international chains such as Avis and Hertz. Visitors can also rent scooters or motorcycles, which are a popular way to explore the city and surrounding areas.

Taxis are another option for getting around Nouméa. There are several taxi companies operating in the city, and taxis can be hailed on the street or ordered by phone. Taxis in Nouméa are metered, and fares are regulated by the government to ensure that they are affordable for residents and visitors alike.

There are several ferry services operating in Nouméa. The ferries connect the city to the nearby islands and are a popular way for visitors to explore the region. The ferries are operated by several different companies, including Betico and Mary D, and tickets can be purchased at the ferry terminals. An overnight ferry also operates from Valéry, allowing residents to bring their car to mainland New Duveland. Noumea's port frequently receives large luxury liners such as Pacific Sky, Pacific Sun (previously Pacific Princess), etc., mostly carrying Australian tourists for short stays. Additionally, Noumea used to be the home port of Club Med 2 before the luxury tall ship moved to the West Indies. Two ships, namely Betico 2 for passengers and Havannah for freight, depart from the port of Noumea to the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands.

La Tontouta Airport, located approximately 50 km north of Nouméa, provides international air connections from all other capital cities in New Duveland as well as Loisieux and Valéry, with international connections to Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland. On the other hand, Magenta Airport, situated in Nouméa, offers flights to neighbouring islands such as the Loyalty Islands and the Isle of Pines, as well as to destinations within Grande Terre, including Koné, Koumac, and Touho, and also serves Bélep via Koumac.

Education

University of New Caledonia, Nouville campus.

Education is an important aspect of life in Nouméa, with a range of institutions catering to different levels of learning. The education system in New Caledonia is based on the French model, with a focus on providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for further studies or work.

One of the most well-known public schools in Nouméa is Lycée Jules Garnier, which offers both general and technical education for students aged 15 to 18. The school is named after the French engineer who designed many of the public buildings in Nouméa, and it has a strong reputation for academic excellence. Students can choose from a range of subjects, including science, humanities, and technology, and there are also vocational courses available for those who want to gain practical skills in areas like hospitality or mechanics.

Another public school in Nouméa is Collège de Magenta, which is a middle school that serves students aged 11 to 15. The school is known for its strong focus on language learning, with students encouraged to learn both French and English.

For younger students, there are several private and international schools in Nouméa. The École Française de Nouvelle-Calédonie is one such school, which follows the French national curriculum for students aged 3 to 18. The school is located in a beautiful setting surrounded by gardens and has a strong emphasis on environmental education. The school's programs are designed to prepare students for the French baccalaureate exam, which is the equivalent of the high school diploma in other countries.

Another international school in Nouméa is the International Bilingual School of Provence, which offers education in both English and French for students aged 3 to 18. The school is known for its multicultural environment and strong focus on developing students' critical thinking skills.

In addition to these schools, Nouméa is also home to several higher education institutions. The University of New Caledonia is the most well-known of these, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields. The university has a strong research focus, with a particular emphasis on environmental science, marine biology, and Pacific studies. Since 2020, the University of New Duveland has also opened a campus in Nouméa, offering further opportunities for higher education in the city.

Services

Electricity is provided by Électricité de Nouvelle-Calédonie (EDNC), which is the main electricity provider in the country. They generate electricity from a variety of sources, including hydroelectric, thermal, and solar power. The power supply is generally reliable in Nouméa, although occasional outages do occur.

Water supply is managed by the Société Calédonienne des Eaux (SCE), which is responsible for providing clean and safe drinking water to the city's residents. The water supply comes from several sources, including the Dumbea River and the Yaté Lake. While the water quality is generally good, it is recommended to filter or boil tap water before drinking.

Natural gas is not widely used in Nouméa, as most households and businesses rely on electricity for heating and cooking. However, there is a small network of gas pipelines that supply gas to some industrial and commercial users.

Waste management is handled by the city's waste collection service, which is responsible for collecting and disposing of household and commercial waste. There are several recycling centers located throughout the city where residents can drop off recyclable materials.

Telecommunications services in Nouméa are provided by a variety of companies, including OPT-NC (Office des Postes et Télécommunications de Nouvelle-Calédonie) and mobile providers such as Orange and SFR. Internet access is widely available, with several internet service providers offering high-speed internet services.

Health

Nouméa has several hospitals and clinics that offer medical services to its residents. These hospitals and clinics were merged into single sites in the 2010s for better efficiency and coordination of medical services.

The public sector of the healthcare system in Nouméa is made up of two establishments: the Territorial Hospital Center (CHT) and the specialized hospital center (CHS) Albert-Bousquet. The CHT brings together the Gaston-Bourret Hospital, which is the oldest and largest hospital in the territory, and the Magenta Hospital, which provides pediatric services, gynecology, obstetrics, and neonatal resuscitation. The CHT's services have been consolidated on the same site at the "Médipôle de Koutio" in the municipality of Dumbéa since 2016. On the other hand, the CHS Albert-Bousquet specializes in psychiatric and geriatric care.

In addition to the public sector, there are also three private clinics in Nouméa, namely the Magnin clinic in the Vallée des Colons, the Anse Vata polyclinic, and the Baie des Citrons clinic. These clinics merged in 2011 to form a single clinic, the Kuindo-Magnin clinic, which was inaugurated in Nouville in 2018. This consolidation of private clinics aims to provide better healthcare services and to compete with the larger public hospitals.

Twin towns – sister cities

Country	City	Date
Australia	Gold Coast	1992
French Polynesia	Papeete	1990
France	Nice	1987
New Zealand	Taupo	1995