Plant workers repairing a motor at the nickel processing plant at Prony Resources nickel mine.

Plant workers load sacks of processed nickel into containers prior to shipping at the Prony Resources nickel mine plant.

Plant workers load sacks of processed nickel into containers prior to shipping at the Prony Resources nickel mine plant.

A plant worker takes a sample of processed nickel before the bag is sealed and shipped worldwide via container, at the Prony Resources nickel mine plant.

Sacks of processed nickel loaded into containers prior to shipping at the Prony Resources nickel mine plant.

Antonin Beurrier, chief executive officer of Prony Resources, drinks a coffee at his desk in the Prony Resources nickel mine site office.

Rusting and abandoned infrastructure for offloading nickel onto ships on the palm ranged coast near Goro.

A burned out, abandoned car, which was used to form a blockade of a road during the 'nickel mine conflict' in 2020, now discarded by the side of the road.

Antonin Beurrier, chief executive officer of Prony Resources, with a coffee at his desk in the Prony Resources nickel mine site office.

A truck drives through the mine site at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

A truck drives through the mine site at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

A truck loaded with nickel ore driving through the mine site, seen from a pickup truck driven by a mine supervisor at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

Mechanics work on mining vehicles in a garage at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

Workers dismantle French tricolour flags and displays after Patrice Faure, High Commissioner to the Republic of France in New Caledonia, presided over a ceremony to commemorate the dead in the Algeria...

Albert Ouetcho, the Touaourou Kanak Clan Chief, rests in bed at home near Goro as his daughter, Joan of Arc, watches over him.

Trucks transport ore at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

Truck drivers walk to their vehicles at the beginning of their shift at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

A 'Kanak' truck driver prepares his vehicle at the beginning of his shift at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

Truck drivers walk to their vehicles at the beginning of their shift at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

A man hands out a pro-independence newsletter calling for people to boycott the independence referendum vote due on 12 December 2021. Pro-independence leaders called for followers to boycott the vote...

Trucks transport ore at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

Aerial overview of the mine site where mine trucks load with ore at the Prony Resources nickel mine.

The wet tailings (waste from the mining process) at the Prony Resources nickel mine.

Truck drivers listen during their pre-shift briefing at Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

The Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

The Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

The wet tailings (waste from the mining process) at the Prony Resources nickel mine.

The wet tailings (waste from the mining process) at the Prony Resources nickel mine.

Marie Michele Robert-Agourere, a lab worker, tests samples of nickel at the Prony Resources nickel mine.

Sulphur, used to make sulphuric acid for the nickel extraction process, stored in front of the Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

Sulphur, used to make sulphuric acid for the nickel extraction process, stored in front of the Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

Trucks transport ore at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

The Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

The Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

The Prony Resources nickel mine processing plant.

Trucks transport ore at the Prony Resources Nickel Mine.

New Caledonia President Louis Mapou talks to his chief of staff after giving a policy speech at The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre.

Gendarmerie officers question and breathalyse drivers at a checkpoint during an anti-crime, drink-driving operation during a curfew just a week ahead of the independence referendum.

New Caledonia President Louis Mapou talks to guests and fellow politicians after giving a policy speech at The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre.

New Caledonia President Louis Mapou talks to guests and fellow politicians after giving a policy speech at The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre.

The sun sets behind the SLN Nickel processing factory in Noumea.

A father pushes his child on a swing in a playground in a poor neighbourhood of Noumea.

People queue up to vote in the 2021 independence referendum in an affluent area of Noumea popular with people of European ancestry.

People queue up to vote in the 2021 independence referendum in an affluent area of Noumea popular with people of European ancestry.

People queue up to vote in the 2021 independence referendum in an affluent area of Noumea popular with people of European ancestry.

Youths at the dilapidated Magenta housing estate smoke and sell cannabis.

Wallisian community members attend a meeting calling for a 'No' vote in the upcoming independence referendum.

A supporter of Christopher Gyges, an outspoken anti-independence politician with the Republicans Caledonians party, handing out leaflets calling for a 'No' vote in the upcoming independence referendum...

Volunteers hand out a pro-independence newsletter calling for people to boycott the Independence Referendum vote due on 12 December 2021. Pro-Independence leaders called for followers to boycott the v...

People gather in a market as Christopher Gyges, an outspoken anti-independence politician with the Republicans Caledonians party, leads a group of volunteers in handing out leaflets calling for a 'No'...

Youths at the dilapidated Magenta housing estate where they have gathered to smoke cannabis.

A young man lies on the ground at the dilapidated Magenta housing estate where a group of youths have gathered to smoke cannabis.

A young man lies on the ground at the dilapidated Magenta housing estate where a group of youths have gathered to smoke cannabis.

A woman from Ouvea who is registered to vote in Noumea, selects her voting choice in the 2021 independence referendum. Ouvea is largely pro-independence and was a flash point in the unrest in the eigh...

A young adult smokes marijuana outside at the Magenta housing estate. The high rise residential towers have a subsided rent but are also dilapidated.

Nurses treat a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care COVID ward of the Medipole Hospital. Many New Caledonians felt France's response to the COVID crisis highlighted the benefits of remaining part of...

Protesters against the mandatory vaccination and coronavirus passport vaccination schemes protest outside the New Caledonian government headquarters.

Patrice Faure, (white uniform) High Commissioner to the Republic of France in New Caledonia, presides over a ceremony to commemorate the dead in the Algerian war.

Patrice Faure, (2nd from right) High Commissioner to the Republic of France in New Caledonia, presides over a ceremony to commemorate the dead in the Algerian war.

'Kanak' families gather for a Sunday picnic at a beachside park popular with indigenous Melanesians.

Nurses treat a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care COVID ward of the Medipole Hospital. Many New Caledonians felt France's response to the COVID crisis highlighted the benefits of remaining part of...

Residents of the Magenta high rise housing project sit in a park in front of the estate.

Students play at James Cook International School. The school is the first private school in New Caledonia and is named after the British explorer who was the first European to discover New Caledonia i...

Students play at James Cook International School. The school is the first private school in New Caledonia and is named after the British explorer who was the first European to discover New Caledonia i...

Students play at James Cook International School. The school is the first private school in New Caledonia and is named after the British explorer who was the first European to discover New Caledonia i...

Volunteers from Action Solidaire hand out food packages of products close to their expiry date, donated by supermarkets to people living in slum neighbourhoods. There are over 64 slum areas in New Cal...

A couple living in slum housing unpack a food delivery from Action Solidaire including packages of products close to their expiry date donated by supermarkets. There are over 64 slum areas in New Cale...

Families living in slum housing unpack food boxes from Action Solidaire including packages of products close to their expiry date donated by supermarkets. There are over 64 slum areas in New Caledonia...

Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, after signing their marriage papers during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Both used to work at Prony Reso...

Andre Vama (63), an environmental activist who has campaigned against the nickel mine in Goro, at home with one of his granddaughters.

'Kanak' people watch a tribal dance at the traditional 'Kanak' wedding of Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, at their clan wedding in Goro. Both...

Photos from mine dispute protest encampments on the wall of the home of Andre Vama (63), an environmental activist who has campaigned against the nickel mine in Goro.

Dancers from Lifou perform a traditional dance at the wedding of Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Bo...

A burned out, abandoned car, which was used to form a blockade of a road during the 'nickel mine conflict' in 2020, now discarded by the side of the road.

'Kanak' women prepare a meal at the traditional 'Kanak' wedding of Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, at their clan wedding in Goro. Both used to...

Dancers from Lifou perform a traditional dance at the wedding of Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Bo...

Dancers from Lifou perform a traditional dance at the wedding of Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Bo...

Dancers from Lifou perform a traditional dance at the wedding of Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Bo...

Wallisian community members attend a meeting calling for a 'No' vote in the upcoming independence referendum.

The son in law of ranch owner, Nadia Baronnet, adjusts the saddle of a horse before corralling the 120 head of cattle on her 180ha farm for tick disinfecting. Nadia Baronnet's, great grandfather, And...

The son in law of ranch owner, Nadia Baronnet, adjusts the saddle of a horse before corralling the 120 head of cattle on her 180ha farm for tick disinfecting. Nadia Baronnet's, great grandfather, And...

Emmanuelle Pain Durand, a cattle ranch owner and settler, prepares to disinfect 120 head of cattle on her neighbour's 180ha farm. The neighbour, Nadia Baronnet's, great grandfather, Andre Baronnet,...

Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, after signing their marriage papers during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Both used to work at Prony Reso...

People cross a beach road in a wealthy neighbourhood popular with 'Metros', newly migrated metropolitan French citizens, and tourists.

Sonia Backes (left), leader of the Caledonian Republicans party, President of the Provincial Assembly of South Province and vocal anti-independence politician, leads a youth meeting to encourage votin...

Alexis Vandegou (55), a former worker at the Prony Nickel mine and now a fisherman sits at home in Goro.

Sonia Backes (3rd from left), leader of the Caledonian Republicans party, President of the Provincial Assembly of South Province and vocal anti-independence politician, leads a youth meeting to encour...

People walk past a political poster calling for people to vote 'No' to independence in the upcoming referendum, held on 12 December 2021.

Jacques Atti (42), from the Touaourou Tribe, and Sabrina Manique (42), from Lifou Island, after signing their marriage papers during their 'Kanak' clan wedding in Goro. Both used to work at Prony Reso...

A clad leader addresses guests at the traditional 'Kanak' wedding of Jacques Atti (42) from the Touaourou Tribe and his bride, Sabrina Manique (42) from Lifou Island.