Economic reform French Polynesia's first need says Goff

PAPEETE - French Polynesia will inevitably become independent from France but it will require significant economic reform, says New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff.

In Papeete yesterday, Mr Goff met the newly elected President Oscar Temaru, a Polynesian Tahitian who favours independence.

It was the first formal visit of a foreign delegation since the February byelections that restored Mr Temaru to power.

In a surprise result in the general elections last year, Mr Temaru ousted long-term leader Gaston Flosse, but lasted only a few months before losing his majority in a vote of no confidence.

Mr Goff said he thought independence was achievable for the semi-autonomous archipelago but only after economic reform allowed the territory to become self-sufficient.

When asked how long that might take, he replied: "How long's a piece of string?"

French Polynesia is heavily dependent on France, which contributes about US$367 million ($516 million) a year in post-nuclear-testing funding, investments and operational budgets - 35 per cent of the GDP.

Mr Goff was careful to stress that New Zealand valued the French presence and assistance in the Pacific.

He was pleased that a non-violent democratic process had seen Mr Temaru gain leadership of the country.

Mr Temaru was reluctant to indicate how far away his dream of independence could be.

"I need the majority of the will of the people so it will not be immediate."

But he hoped it would be in his lifetime and believed the "huge challenges" of economic reform could be achieved within 15 years.

Mr Temaru was critical of Mr Flosse, whom he accused of still trying to destabilise the new Government, which has a majority of just one.

The national assembly's Speaker, Hiro Tefaarere, was optimistic.

"[The Government] will only succeed with the support of the French state ... the President has been invited to meet the Prime Minister of France ... it is a good sign."

The French High Commissioner, Michel Mathieu, said that although widely publicised criticism of Mr Flosse for alleged corruption was embarrassing for France, everyone was innocent unless proven guilty.

New Zealand consul-general Belinda Brown said there were still huge tensions in French Polynesia and some people feared change.