Kaala-Gomen

Kaala-Gomen is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is situated on RT1 and is approximately 18km south of Koumac, 50km north of Voh, and 365km from Nouméa.

Kaala-Gomen
Commune
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Location of Kaala-Gomen
Coordinates: 20°40′S 164°24′E
CountryFrance
Sui generis collectivityNew Caledonia
ProvinceProvince Nord
Government
 • Mayor (2014-2020) Hervé Magueï Tein-Taouva
Area
1
718.2 km2 (277.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
1,803
 • Density2.5/km2 (6.5/sq mi)
Ethnic distribution
 • 2014 censusKanaks 72.26%
Europeans 13.82%
Wallisians and Futunans 1.38%
Mixed 5.85%
Other 6.69%
Time zoneUTC+11:00
INSEE/Postal code
98810 /98817
Elevation0–1,090 m (0–3,576 ft)
(avg. 15 m or 49 ft)
1 New Caledonia Land Register (DITTT) data, which exclude lakes and ponds larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers.

The name of the city comes from that of a mountain and from the Gomen tribe. The city was founded on its present site in 1899, with a committee appointed by the municipal government, which became an elected municipal council in 1961 and a fully-fledged commune in 1969.

Kaala-Gomen is also home to the village of Ouaco, known for its beef cannery of the same name and the nickel mines operated by the Mining Society of the South Pacific. The village can be visited on annual heritage days.

It is located on the territory of the former mining village of Tiebaghi, which was the largest chromium mine in the world from 1902 to 1964.

The commune is part of the customary area of Hoot ma Waap.

Geography

The highest point in the commune is Ouazangou-Taom (1092 m).

Kaala-Gomen has a port, a lighthouse on the islet of Devered, an aerodrome, a television relay station in Wala and a racecourse in Ouaco.

The neighboring communes are:

Toponymy

The Kanak name for the commune is Bwapanu, but Gömé is also occasionally used.

Administrations
List of mayors
Term Name Party Status
1961-1971 Raymond Clavier Caledonian Union
1971-1983 Gaston Jizdny
1983-2014 Alain Levant Independent, then FCCI, then independent Honorary professor
2014-present Hervé Maguei Tein-Tauova FLNKS-UC

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
20041,881—    
20091,931+2.7%
20142,033+5.3%
20191,803−11.3%



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