Prime Minister Mark Brown is committed and looking forward to partake in the high-level Pacific Islands Forum Troika-led mission to New Caledonia.

Brown is in Tonga for the 53^rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit underway in Nuku’alofa. He handed over the Forum chairmanship to Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni at the Leaders’ Summit official opening yesterday.

However, PM Brown, one of the three Troika leaders as the outgoing Forum chair, stressed that he is ambitious about the mission moving forward to address the issues that have resulted in the escalation of violence in New Caledonia.

“I’m looking forward again to being part of that high level delegation to try and find a way forward and to address the issues that have resulted in this escalation of violence in New Caledonia,” he said.

“New Caledonia is a full forum member and they are entitled to certain responses from the Forum Secretariat.”

The mission, requested by New Caledonia’s President Louis Mapou, was proposed to assess the fallout from months of violence in the French territory after a law change in Paris extended voting eligibility to more island residents. The change was opposed by pro-independence groups, which claimed it would marginalise the indigenous Kanak population.

The protests led to 10 deaths, including eight civilians and two French military personnel. According to RNZ, it was estimated that more than 800 buildings and businesses had been looted and razed by rioters, with unrest still active in some spots.

The Pacific Islands Forum Troika-led mission was expected to take place last week.

However, on Wednesday, Forum chair PM Brown confirmed in a statement the mission had been postponed after Mapou and other New Caledonian leaders “identified a number of issues regarding due process and protocol”.

Brown told Cook Islands News that the mission would listen to various groups in New Caledonia on the issues they have and report back to the Forum members.

He is also enthusiastic about how the Forum could provide an avenue for dialogue for the members to come together and find a pathway forward that addresses the concerns raised by pro-independence groups in New Caledonia.

Asked whether he will still lead this mission despite passing on the chairmanship, Brown said they will determine with the new chair who will be leading the mission, as he will no longer be the chair.

• Talaia Mika/NZ Herald