* French Colonization: New Caledonia was claimed by France in 1853 and became a French colony in 1860. This marked the beginning of French influence and the introduction of the French language.
* Transportation of Convicts: From 1860 to 1897, France sent thousands of convicts to the island as a penal colony. These convicts, along with French administrators and military personnel, helped spread the French language.
* Immigration from France and Other French Colonies: Following colonization, France encouraged immigration from its own territory and other French colonies, further solidifying the French language.
* Assimilation Policies: For many years, French colonial policies aimed to assimilate the indigenous Kanak population into French culture, including language. This, however, was often met with resistance.
* Post-Independence Negotiations: While New Caledonia has had a referendum on independence, with the latest in 2021 rejecting independence, it retains a special status as a French territory with significant autonomy. This has led to a continued presence of French language and culture.
Today, French is an official language of New Caledonia alongside the local Kanak languages. However, there are ongoing debates and complexities regarding language use and cultural identity in the territory.