Questions are being raised in New Caledonia about old Kanak artefacts due to be auctioned in Switzerland next week.
The newspaper, Les Nouvelles caledoniennes, says the items appear to be the same as the ones identified in press reports in 1974 as having been taken out of the territory illegally.
The artefacts were suspected to have been stolen and shipped out in a container by a collector at the time.
The newspaper says the government is aware of the issue and considering its options before Wednesday's auction in Basel.
