The political party largely representing the Kanaky independence movement has been fighting to gain greater accessibility to the ballot box ahead of the upcoming New Caledonian provincial elections on Sunday.

Key points:

• Indigenous voters are crucial to the New Caledonia election on Sunday
• Limited and expensive public transport could discourage people from voting
• The number of polling stations has been reduced, sparking concerns

Union Calédonienne has worked hard to mobilise Indigenous voters for the polls, including a demand to extend the Greater Nouméa bus network service ahead of the nationwide election day.

The network, which is operated by Tanéo buses and managed by the Mixed Syndicate of Urban Transport public authority, has been severely impacted following the violent political and social unrest back in May of 2024 where riots, protests and civil unrest broke out, leading to 13 deaths and a declaration of a state of emergency that resulted in the deployment of the French army into its Pacific territory.

Buses have resumed since the political turmoil albeit amid a restricted service that has included a reduction of the number of stops, which has affected many of Noumea's suburbs.

Tanéo clarified that on an "exceptional basis", its buses will operate on Sunday around the Greater Nouméa network from 8am to 6pm at a "pace of about one bus per hour" on election day, June 28.

It said this was a similar service that was "usually" practiced on Saturdays for Nouméa.

The price hike in the cost of a ticket to the equivalent of almost seven Australian dollars for a single one-way fare - a significant impost for many Kanaks, who generally have low incomes and high unemployment rates - has come under fire.

Tanéo also stated on Friday that passengers must buy their tickets in advance - or recharge their pass as "no ticket will be sold onboard".

Tanéo added that the decision to restore a minimum service on election day was implemented at its own cost, estimated at more than $A78,000.

Earlier this month, the company announced the introduction of new subscription charge, which included a monthly pass of around $A82 or $A205 quarterly.

Reacting to the Tanéo announcement, Union Calédonienne told supporters on social media networks that the availability of public transport was "an important step forward".

"It brings us closer to two fundamental principles in any democracy: voters' equality in front of the suffrage and the sincerity of the vote, regardless of (voters) social condition, their commune of residence or their transportation constraints," a statement said.

Transport is not the only factor that Union Calédonienne - the major component of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front - fears could undermine fair elections on Saturday.

The High Commission of the French Republic, which has authority to supervise elections in New Caledonia, decided that 56 previous polling stations in the south of Grand Terre - the country's main island - would merge into just nine voting centres.

A similar, though still larger, network of merged polling stations was also implemented ahead of the municipal elections in March of this year.

Union Calédonienne, as the peak pro-independence party, challenged the most recent decision in court, arguing that the reduction of polling stations effectively hindered and penalised Indigenous Kanaks as well other low-income New Caledonian citizens, who could not afford the extra effort of cost through travelling longer distances to vote.

The dilemma may force some registered voters to instead walk several kilometres just to reach the closest polling station, the party claims, and the turnout could favour non-Indigenous votes and its electorate of French loyalists.

However, Nouméa's administrative tribunal dismissed the Kanaky-driven case on June 12 and the polling booths will stand as they are.

Nouméa and the Greater Nouméa area make up for more than 65 percent of New Caledonia's total population of nearly 270,000 people and is expected to be influential in the outcome, which could set up the terms of conditions in the archipelago's push for greater self-determination from Paris.

The crucial poll will involve at least 190,000 voting adults as part of a recently revised, but still highly-restricted electoral roll.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu made a direct reference to New Caledonia's election last week during a media conference in Paris, warning against risks related to "foreign digital interference" after allegedly detecting earlier reported cases during the 2024 riots.

Mr Lecornu said there was a particular vulnerability related to New Caledonia's "situation in the Pacific".

"Foreign digital interference is a growing threat to democratic life and debate", he told reporters.