Tahiti, October 5, 2026 - A group of 40 representatives from French Polynesia traveled to New York to attend a meeting of the Fourth Committee, which handles issues related to special policies and decolonization. The group, made up of entrepreneurs, union members, religious leaders, and political figures, shared a common goal: they want the C24, a group of 24 countries that often discusses decolonization, to visit French Polynesia and talk about self-determination. They believe that the future of French Polynesia should be decided by the people who live there. The French government said it will handle discussions about increasing French Polynesia’s autonomy without involving the United Nations. These discussions will be led directly by the President of France. A senior French official at the United Nations said French Polynesia already has a wide range of self-governance, including its own government and control over many areas of life. However, the representatives from French Polynesia argued that the United Nations should be involved in any decolonization talks. The group’s unified message comes from a recent decision made by the assembly of French Polynesia, which asked for an official visit from the United Nations. The representatives wanted the United Nations to listen to their concerns rather than make decisions for them. Moetai Brotherson, who spoke first, said they are not looking for new talks with France but instead want the United Nations to be part of the process of decolonization. The group was described as calm in their political representation, with most of the representatives wearing a piece of white fabric to honor Léon Tefau, who had died just two days before the meeting. The only exceptions were members from A Fano Ti'a and the country’s president. This image of unity was highlighted as they asked for an independent United Nations mission to start a dialogue about self-determination. Representatives from different political groups shared their views with different focuses but all aimed for the same goal. Pastor François Phiaatae called the cause a "divine mission," while lawyer Philippe Neuffer said schools need to teach about decolonization, noting that France does not allow this in its textbooks. Tony Géros said the reality of self-determination should no longer be ignored and called for ways to make this right a reality. Maurea Maamaatuaiahutapu, speaking for the Tavini group, brought up a point that had been discussed and eventually removed from a recent assembly decision. She said, "We are a people, not a population," reinforcing the group's stance on self-determination.