South Pacific territory New Caledonia votes to remain part of France 

Pro-independence supporters in Noumea, New Caledonia

Credit: AP Photo/Mathurin Derel

The South Pacific territory of New Caledonia chose to remain French on Sunday, narrowly rejecting independence in a tightly-fought referendum marked by a high turnout.

The vote rejecting a breakaway from France after almost 170 years came in at 53.26 percent, according to final results, down from 56.7 percent in a referendum two years ago.

French President Emmanuel Macron — who had said previously that "France would be less beautiful without New Caledonia" — on Sunday said he was grateful to the archipelago’s voters.

"I welcome this sign of confidence in the republic with a profound sense of gratitude," Mr Macron said from his office.

He added that he also felt "humility" at the outcome which showed a clear progression of the pro-independence vote compared with the independence referendum in 2018.

Voters in New Caledonia, a French archipelago in the South Pacific, went to the polls on Sunday

Credit: AP Photo/Mathurin Derel

Sunday’s referendum was part of a carefully negotiated decolonisation plan agreed in 1998 which ended a deadly conflict between the mostly pro-independence indigenous Kanak population and the descendants of European settlers.

That violence culminated in a bloody, drawn-out hostage crisis in 1988 that saw 19 separatists killed, along with six police and special forces personnel.

Another referendum can be held by 2022 so long as the poll is requested by at least a third of the local legislature.

Most political observers had forecast a win for the no-vote as well as a narrower margin.

Turnout was 85.64 per cent, more than four points higher than last time, as the prospect of a tight race brought voters out in droves, patiently awaiting their turns at polling stations.

"I waited 45 minutes. It’s very important for me to vote," said retiree Germaine Le Demezet in the capital Noumea.