The high commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia is the representative of the French Republic in New Caledonia, with the rank of prefect. The high commissioner is generally referred to locally in the media as "Haussaire". Its competences since the Nouméa Accord of 1998 and the organic law on New Caledonia of 1999 have been reduced. The part of the organic law which regulates the position of high commissioner is Title VI.
The high commissioner is appointed by decree of the president of the French Republic deliberated in the Council of Ministers. They publishes the laws of the country with the countersignature of the president of the Government of New Caledonia. They ensures their publication, as well as any administrative regulations, in the official journal. He chairs the Mining Council. They are responsible for the organization of services falling within the regal powers of the State: in particular security and justice. They also manage the crisis cells linked to climatic events, such as cyclones. They attend by right the Committee of signatories of the Nouméa Accord and acts as the guarantor.
The position has been known by other titles since New Caledonia was taken over by France in 1853, first by the title of Commander from 1853 to 1860, then by Governor from 1860 to 1981 (who also bore the title of Commissioner General of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean from 28 February 1901 and High Commissioner of France for the New Hebrides Archipelago from 11 January 1907, these two positions being held by the Governor until 1981. Jacques Billant is the current High Commissioner since 9 April 2025.
List of officeholders Term of officeNameTitleNotesFrench colony24 September 18531 January 1854Auguste Febvrier DespointesCommandant1 January 185431 October 1854Louis-Marie-François Tardy de MontravelCommandant18 January 185528 October 1856Joseph Fidèle Eugène du BouzetCommandant18 January 185521 December 1856Jules Marcelin Albert Testardacting CommandantActing for Bouzet to 28 October 185625 May 18565 May 1857Le Brisacting CommandantActing for Testard to 21 December 185621 December 185820 March 1859RousselCommandant20 March 18591 July 1860Jean Pierre Thomas DurandCommandant22 May 18592 April 1860Jean-Marie Saissetacting CommandantActing for Durand2 June 186213 March 1870Charles GuillainGovernor13 March 187026 August 1870Jacques Eugène Barnabé RuillierGovernor26 August 187025 September 1874Eugène Gaultier de la RicherieGovernor25 September 187427 February 1875Louis Eugène AlleyronGovernor27 February 187511 April 1878Léopold Eberhard Ludovic de PritzbuerGovernor11 April 18788 August 1880Jean Baptiste Léon OlryGovernor8 August 188029 September 1882Amédée CourbetGovernor29 September 188222 July 1884Léopold Augustin Charles Pallu de la BarrièreGovernor22 July 188413 May 1886Adolphe Le BoucherGovernor13 May 18865 June 1886OriusGovernor5 June 188630 July 1888Louis Hippolyte Marie NouetGovernor30 July 188820 December 1888Delphino MoracchiniGovernor20 December 188812 January 1889PonsGovernor12 January 188914 April 1891Noël PardonGovernor14 April 189116 December 1892Émile Gustave LaffonGovernor16 December 189221 February 1894Albert Jean Georges Marie Louis PicquiéGovernor21 February 189410 June 1894Gauharouinterim Governor10 June 189418 October 1902Paul Théodore Ernest Marie FeilletGovernor5 June 18962 June 1897Aristide Le Folacting GovernorActing for Feillet10 February 190012 December 1900Colardeauacting GovernorActing for Feillet13 December 19002 May 1901Édouard Émile Léon Telleacting Governor1st time, acting for Feillet22 October 190214 November 1902Édouard Émile Léon TelleGovernor2nd time14 November 190217 May 1905Édouard Picanonacting Governor17 May 190517 September 1905Charles Amédée RognonGovernor17 September 190518 March 1908Victor Théophile LiotardGovernor18 March 190824 May 1908Pierre BrunGovernor24 May 19086 June 1913RichardGovernor16 September 19096 July 1910Adrien Jules Jean Bonhoureacting GovernorActing for Richard6 June 191327 July 1914Auguste Charles Désiré Emmanuel BrunetGovernor27 July 191415 August 1923Jules Vincent RepiquetGovernor23 May 19196 January 1921Joseph Marie Eugène Jouliaacting GovernorActing for Repiquet12 September 192314 March 1925Henri Joseph Marie d'ArboussierGovernor1st time16 March 19252 July 1932Marie Casimir Joseph GuyonGovernor29 May 192922 May 1930Henri Joseph Marie d'Arboussieracting Governor2nd time, acting for Guyon23 May 193020 December 1930Gabriel Henri Joseph Thalyacting GovernorActing for Guyon20 July 19326 April 1933Léonce Alphonse Noël Henri JoreGovernor1st time3 May 19333 December 1936Bernard Jacques Victorin SiadousGovernor6 December 1936July 1938Jean MarchessouGovernorJuly 19387 August 1939Léonce Alphonse Noël Henri JoreGovernor2nd time7 August 193920 September 1939René Victor Marie BarthesGovernor20 October 19394 September 1940Marie Marc Georges PelicierGovernor4 September 194019 September 1940Maurice Denisacting GovernorRemoved in Australian-backed coup d'état19 September 19406 May 1942Henri SautotGovernor29 July 194223 June 1943Marie Henri Ferdinand Auguste MontchampGovernor15 September 194313 February 1944Christian Robert Roger LaigretGovernor14 February 194427 October 1946Jacques Victor François TallecGovernorFrench overseas territory27 October 194628 January 1947Jacques Victor François TallecGovernor29 January 194710 May 1948Georges Hubert ParisotGovernor10 May 19485 July 1951Pierre Charles CournarieGovernor5 July 195121 October 1951BordarierGovernor21 October 195124 July 1954Raoul Eugène AngammareGovernor30 September 19543 February 1956René HoffherrGovernor2 March 19561 December 1958Aimé GrimaldGovernor1 December 19589 January 1963Laurent Elisée PéchouxGovernor18 March 196120 July 1961Georges Pouletacting GovernorActing for Pechoux9 January 196314 February 1965Marc Casimir BirosGovernor14 February 196516 October 1969Jean RisterucciGovernor20 October 19691 December 1973Louis VergerGovernor9 January 197416 December 1978Jean Gabriel ÉriauGovernor16 December 197811 December 1981Claude CharbonniaudGovernor19 December 198122 October 1982Christian Léon Colombo NucciHigh CommissionerOctober 198223 November 1984Jacques RoynetteHigh CommissionerAutonomy granted23 November 19845 December 1984Jacques RoynetteHigh CommissionerJanuary 198522 May 1985Edgard PisaniHigh Commissioner31 May 19851 August 1986Fernand WibauxHigh Commissioner1 August 198612 August 1986Bernard Lemaireacting High Commissioner12 August 198628 November 1987Jean MontpezatHigh Commissioner1 December 198726 June 1988Clément BouhinHigh CommissionerMatignon Accords increase territorial autonomy26 June 198815 July 1988Clément BouhinHigh Commissioner15 July 198811 January 1991Bernard GrassetHigh Commissioner15 January 199129 July 1994Alain ChristnachtHigh Commissioner29 July 199412 August 1994Thierry Latasteacting High Commissioner1st time12 August 199416 August 1995Didier CultiauxHigh Commissioner16 August 199518 August 1995Laurent Cayrelacting High Commissioner18 August 199520 July 1998Dominique BurHigh CommissionerFrench sui generis overseas collectivity20 July 199815 July 1999Dominique BurHigh Commissioner19 July 199929 July 2002Thierry LatasteHigh Commissioner2nd time29 July 200231 July 2002Alain Triolleacting High Commissioner31 July 20026 September 2005Daniel ConstantinHigh Commissioner6 September 20059 September 2005Louis Le Francacting High Commissioner1st time9 September 200515 October 2007Michel MathieuHigh Commissioner15 October 200725 October 2007Jean-Bernard Bobinacting High Commissioner25 October 200721 October 2010Yves DassonvilleHigh Commissioner21 October 20102 November 2010Thierry Suquetacting High Commissioner1st time2 November 20102 February 2013Albert DupuyHigh Commissioner2 February 201327 February 2013Thierry Suquetacting High Commissioner2nd time27 February 201323 July 2014Jean-Jacques BrotHigh Commissioner23 July 201418 August 2014Pascal Gauciacting High Commissioner18 August 20148? June 2016Vincent BouvierHigh Commissioner8? June 201620 June 2016Laurent Cabreraacting High Commissioner20 June 201610 July 2019Thierry LatasteHigh Commissioner3rd time5 August 20196 June 2021Laurent PrévostHigh Commissioner6 June 20216 February 2023Patrice FaureHigh Commissioner6 February 20232 May 2025Louis Le FrancHigh Commissioner2nd time3 May 2025IncumbentJacques BillantHigh Commissioner
See also
Politics of New Caledonia History of New Caledonia
References
External links World Statesmen.org: New Caledonia