High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia

High Commissioner of New Caledonia
since 3 May 2025
ResidenceHaut-Commissariat, Nouméa
AppointerPresident of France
Term lengthIndefinite
Inaugural holderAuguste Febvrier Despointes
Formation24 September 1853
Websitewww.nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr

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.[1]

List of officeholders

Term of office Name Title Notes
French colony
24 September 18531 January 1854Auguste Febvrier DespointesCommandant
1 January 185431 October 1854Louis-Marie-François Tardy de MontravelCommandant
18 January 185528 October 1856Joseph Fidèle Eugène du BouzetCommandant
18 January 185521 December 1856Jules Marcelin Albert Testardacting CommandantActing for Bouzet to 28 October 1856
25 May 18565 May 1857Le Brisacting CommandantActing for Testard to 21 December 1856
21 December 185820 March 1859RousselCommandant
20 March 18591 July 1860Jean Pierre Thomas DurandCommandant
22 May 18592 April 1860Jean-Marie Saissetacting CommandantActing for Durand
2 June 186213 March 1870Charles GuillainGovernor
13 March 187026 August 1870Jacques Eugène Barnabé RuillierGovernor
26 August 187025 September 1874Eugène Gaultier de la RicherieGovernor
25 September 187427 February 1875Louis Eugène AlleyronGovernor
27 February 187511 April 1878Léopold Eberhard Ludovic de PritzbuerGovernor
11 April 18788 August 1880Jean Baptiste Léon OlryGovernor
8 August 188029 September 1882Amédée CourbetGovernor
29 September 188222 July 1884Léopold Augustin Charles Pallu de la BarrièreGovernor
22 July 188413 May 1886Adolphe Le BoucherGovernor
13 May 18865 June 1886OriusGovernor
5 June 188630 July 1888Louis Hippolyte Marie NouetGovernor
30 July 188820 December 1888Delphino MoracchiniGovernor
20 December 188812 January 1889PonsGovernor
12 January 188914 April 1891Noël PardonGovernor
14 April 189116 December 1892Émile Gustave LaffonGovernor
16 December 189221 February 1894Albert Jean Georges Marie Louis PicquiéGovernor
21 February 189410 June 1894Gauharouinterim Governor
10 June 189418 October 1902Paul Théodore Ernest Marie FeilletGovernor
5 June 18962 June 1897Aristide Le Folacting GovernorActing for Feillet
10 February 190012 December 1900Colardeauacting GovernorActing for Feillet
13 December 19002 May 1901Édouard Émile Léon Telleacting Governor1st time, acting for Feillet
22 October 190214 November 1902Édouard Émile Léon TelleGovernor2nd time
14 November 190217 May 1905Édouard Picanonacting Governor
17 May 190517 September 1905Charles Amédée RognonGovernor
17 September 190518 March 1908Victor Théophile LiotardGovernor
18 March 190824 May 1908Pierre BrunGovernor
24 May 19086 June 1913RichardGovernor
16 September 19096 July 1910Adrien Jules Jean Bonhoureacting GovernorActing for Richard
6 June 191327 July 1914Auguste Charles Désiré Emmanuel BrunetGovernor
27 July 191415 August 1923Jules Vincent RepiquetGovernor
23 May 19196 January 1921Joseph Marie Eugène Jouliaacting GovernorActing for Repiquet
12 September 192314 March 1925Henri Joseph Marie d'ArboussierGovernor1st time
16 March 19252 July 1932Marie Casimir Joseph GuyonGovernor
29 May 192922 May 1930Henri Joseph Marie d'Arboussieracting Governor2nd time, acting for Guyon
23 May 193020 December 1930Gabriel Henri Joseph Thalyacting GovernorActing for Guyon
20 July 19326 April 1933Léonce Alphonse Noël Henri JoreGovernor1st time
3 May 19333 December 1936Bernard Jacques Victorin SiadousGovernor
6 December 1936July 1938Jean MarchessouGovernor
July 19387 August 1939Léonce Alphonse Noël Henri JoreGovernor2nd time
7 August 193920 September 1939René Victor Marie BarthesGovernor
20 October 19394 September 1940Marie Marc Georges PelicierGovernor
4 September 194019 September 1940Maurice Denisacting GovernorRemoved in Australian-backed coup d'état
19 September 19406 May 1942Henri SautotGovernor
29 July 194223 June 1943Marie Henri Ferdinand Auguste MontchampGovernor
15 September 194313 February 1944Christian Robert Roger LaigretGovernor
14 February 194427 October 1946Jacques Victor François TallecGovernor
French overseas territory
27 October 194628 January 1947Jacques Victor François TallecGovernor
29 January 194710 May 1948Georges Hubert ParisotGovernor
10 May 19485 July 1951Pierre Charles CournarieGovernor
5 July 195121 October 1951BordarierGovernor
21 October 195124 July 1954Raoul Eugène AngammareGovernor
30 September 19543 February 1956René HoffherrGovernor
2 March 19561 December 1958Aimé GrimaldGovernor
1 December 19589 January 1963Laurent Elisée PéchouxGovernor
18 March 196120 July 1961Georges Pouletacting GovernorActing for Pechoux
9 January 196314 February 1965Marc Casimir BirosGovernor
14 February 196516 October 1969Jean RisterucciGovernor
20 October 19691 December 1973Louis VergerGovernor
9 January 197416 December 1978Jean Gabriel ÉriauGovernor
16 December 197811 December 1981Claude CharbonniaudGovernor
19 December 198122 October 1982Christian Léon Colombo NucciHigh Commissioner
October 198223 November 1984Jacques RoynetteHigh Commissioner
Autonomy granted
23 November 19845 December 1984Jacques RoynetteHigh Commissioner
January 198522 May 1985Edgard PisaniHigh Commissioner
31 May 19851 August 1986Fernand WibauxHigh Commissioner
1 August 198612 August 1986Bernard Lemaireacting High Commissioner
12 August 198628 November 1987Jean MontpezatHigh Commissioner
1 December 198726 June 1988Clément BouhinHigh Commissioner
Matignon Accords increase territorial autonomy
26 June 198815 July 1988Clément BouhinHigh Commissioner
15 July 198811 January 1991Bernard GrassetHigh Commissioner
15 January 199129 July 1994Alain ChristnachtHigh Commissioner
29 July 199412 August 1994Thierry Latasteacting High Commissioner1st time
12 August 199416 August 1995Didier CultiauxHigh Commissioner
16 August 199518 August 1995Laurent Cayrelacting High Commissioner
18 August 199520 July 1998Dominique BurHigh Commissioner
French sui generis overseas collectivity
20 July 199815 July 1999Dominique BurHigh Commissioner
19 July 199929 July 2002Thierry LatasteHigh Commissioner2nd time
29 July 200231 July 2002Alain Triolleacting High Commissioner
31 July 20026 September 2005Daniel ConstantinHigh Commissioner
6 September 20059 September 2005Louis Le Francacting High Commissioner1st time
9 September 200515 October 2007Michel MathieuHigh Commissioner
15 October 200725 October 2007Jean-Bernard Bobinacting High Commissioner
25 October 200721 October 2010Yves DassonvilleHigh Commissioner
21 October 20102 November 2010Thierry Suquetacting High Commissioner1st time
2 November 20102 February 2013Albert DupuyHigh Commissioner
2 February 201327 February 2013Thierry Suquetacting High Commissioner2nd time
27 February 201323 July 2014Jean-Jacques BrotHigh Commissioner
23 July 201418 August 2014Pascal Gauciacting High Commissioner
18 August 20148? June 2016Vincent BouvierHigh Commissioner
8? June 201620 June 2016Laurent Cabreraacting High Commissioner
20 June 201610 July 2019Thierry LatasteHigh Commissioner3rd time
5 August 20196 June 2021Laurent PrévostHigh Commissioner
6 June 20216 February 2023Patrice FaureHigh Commissioner
6 February 20232 May 2025Louis Le FrancHigh Commissioner2nd time
3 May 2025IncumbentJacques BillantHigh Commissioner

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Le préfet Jacques Billant nommé haut-commissaire de la Nouvelle-Calédonie". Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère (in French). 10 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
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