French Polynesia affirms its right to control natural resources

The Assembly of French Polynesia (Maohi) has unanimously adopted a resolution affirming the country’s permanent sovereignty over all its natural resources, in what is described as an exceptional decision that could shape the people’s future.

TodayPress TV reports that the information was released by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG).

According to the statement, this historic document formally safeguards the indigenous people’s inalienable rights over their land and maritime territories, as well as across their vast 5.5-million-square-kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The achievement, resulting from years of political struggle by the Tavini Huiraatira movement, is described as one of the most significant steps towards the region’s economic and political independence.

BIG stressed that the resolution contains strategic provisions establishing the rights of the Polynesian people and providing a strong legal basis for the French Polynesian delegation to defend its resources at the UN General Assembly.

Under the document, the people’s right to own, control and manage all natural resources located on their lands, lagoons, airspace, seabed and ocean territories is reaffirmed. Full sovereignty is declared over seabed minerals, metals and biological resources within the region’s EEZ, while France’s claims to exploit these resources unilaterally are rejected.

The resolution also highlights the severe environmental and public health damage caused by France’s nuclear tests conducted in the region between 1966 and 1996, and calls on Paris to provide fair compensation.

France, as the administering power, is directly urged to cooperate with international missions in the region’s decolonisation process, in accordance with UN resolutions.

The Initiative Group noted that the resolution was proposed by Oscar Manutahi Temaru, leader of the Tavini Huiraatira movement and former president of French Polynesia.

“He submitted the relevant draft resolution to the Assembly of French Polynesia on December 3, 2025. On December 5, it was discussed by the Assembly’s Committee on Institutional Affairs, International Relations and Relations with Municipalities, where it received the support of the majority of members. Tevaipaea Hoiore and Allen Salmon served as rapporteurs of the document.

“Tavini Huiraatira expressed its gratitude to all lawmakers who supported the resolution, highly praised the agreement reached among political forces, and noted that the ocean and its resources are the historical heritage and future of the Maohi people. The right to make decisions concerning these resources should belong exclusively to the people themselves”,- the statement said.

BIG recalled that it consistently supports the international recognition and protection of the Maohi people’s right to self-determination and sovereignty over their natural resources. Through its cooperation with the Tavini Huiraatira movement, BIG has contributed to bringing these issues to international platforms, including the United Nations.