France has named its current representative in French Polynesia as its next high commissioner to New Caledonia.
The Council of Ministers in Paris says Michel Mathieu will replace Daniel Constantin.
However the Council didn't specify a date for the takeover.
Mr Mathieu has been the High Commissioner to French
Polynesia since October 2001 and he was nominated for the equivalent post in New Caledonia by the French interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy.