Three Pacific prime ministers will lead a mission to New Caledonia in the coming weeks to help resolve a political stalemate in the troubled country.
New Caledonia was rocked by violence, including the death of 10 people and widespread destruction in the capital Noumea, in May following a contested referendum on voting rights.
The impasse has remained since then, with a pro-independence faction, led by the indigenous Kanak population, at loggerheads with France, the colonial power which still rules the territory.
A gathering of Pacific Island countries in Tokyo last week resolved to send a delegation to try and resolve issues.
On Tuesday, current Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown announced the PIF "troika" would head to New Caledonia.
The troika consists of the former, current and upcoming PIF chairs, which is currently Fjii Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Mr Brown, and Tonga Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
"New Caledonia is a PIF Member and we have a responsibility to take care of our family in a time of need," Mr Brown said.
"We wish to support the de-escalation of violence and promote understanding and dialogue between all parties.
"Our objective is to help all parties resolve this situation as peacefully and expeditiously as possible."
The two major PIF powers, Australia and New Zealand, have approached the New Caledonia question in differing fashion.
Australian leaders have deferred comment, leaving space for regional Melanesian and Pacific nations to try and resolve differences.
New Zealand has attempted more public diplomacy, with both Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters stepping into the breach.
Mr Luxon met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of this month's NATO Summit in Washington DC calling on PIF involvement.
Mr Peters gave a speech in Tokyo calling into question the referendum's legitimacy, which was boycotted by Kanaks, who were grieving pandemic deaths.
"The referendum was within the letter of the law ... but it was not within the spirit of it," he said in Wellington on Tuesday.
"You cannot have that number of non-voters in the circumstances where they were mourning
"New Zealand seeks to act as a bridge in any way we can help them reconcile that matter."
Mr Peters said it was a key moment for PIF - which has fractured in recent years following a walk-out by Micronesian nations - to prove itself.
"The situation in New Caledonia is a test of the effectiveness of our regional architecture in dealing with a crisis response," he said.
