New Caledonia Electoral Roll Update: France’s Constitutional Council has validated a “partial unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s electoral restrictions for the 28 June 2026 provincial elections, allowing more than 10,000 additional voters—mainly people born after November 1998—to cast ballots, after amendments backed by the National Assembly and Senate. Health Sector Restructuring: New Caledonia’s health stakeholders met at Nouméa City Hall to tackle chronic disease costs, youth addictions, caregiver shortages and expensive medical evacuations, with a push to make professions more attractive, reorganise care delivery and restore financial sustainability. Competition Law Passes: Congress adopted a New Caledonia competition bill targeting abusive practices like excessive pricing and late payments, setting 30-day payment deadlines and creating late-payment compensation, while also scaling back some powers of the competition authority amid employer lobbying. Tourism Signal for Nouméa: The US State Department lowered its travel advisory for New Caledonia from Level 3 to Level 2, citing improved safety conditions after the 2024 unrest, though it still flags petty crime and limited help outside Nouméa. Kava Prices Bite: New Caledonia’s kava industry is warning of a sharp rise in imported Vanuatu root prices—up about 40% since early 2026—driven by fuel and freight costs and lower Vanuatu volumes, with job cuts a risk if prices don’t ease.