Matthew Island and Hunter Island

Matthew and Hunter Islands

Disputed island
Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Matthew and Hunter Islands on the bottom right.
Other names	île Matthew, Umaenupne and île Hunter, Leka, Fern/Fearn Island (Hunter Island)
Geography
Coordinates	22°22′S 171°43′E / 22.367°S 171.717°E / -22.367; 171.717
Total islands	2
Area	1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi)
Highest elevation	242 m (794 ft)
Highest point	unnamed peak on Hunter Island
Administration
France
Collectivity	New Caledonia
Claimed by
France
Collectivity	New Caledonia
Vanuatu
Province	Tafea
Demographics
Population	0

Hunter Island and Matthew Island are two small and uninhabited volcanic islands in the South Pacific, located 300 kilometres (190 mi) east of New Caledonia and south-east of Vanuatu archipelago. Hunter Island and Matthew Island, 70 km (43 mi) apart, are claimed by Vanuatu as part of Tafea Province, and considered by the people of Aneityum part of their custom ownership, and as of 2007^[update] were claimed by France as part of New Caledonia.^[1]

Small, arid, without fresh water and not easily accessible, the islands had no interest for Britain or France during their colonisation of the Pacific in the course of the 18th and 19th centuries. France officially annexed both islands in 1929. In 1965, the United Kingdom also claimed the two islands, as part of the New Hebrides. France conducted a symbolic occupation in 1975. In 1980, on its independence, Vanuatu claimed sovereignty, but made no occupation of the islands. In 1979, Météo-France set up an automatic weather station on one of the islands, and the French Navy regularly visits both of them.