Up to 2010 the only flag in official use in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France, was the French tricolor. However, with the official adoption of the Kanak flag alongside the French tricolor in July 2010, New Caledonia has become one of the few countries or territories in world with two official national flags.

In 2008 the government of New Caledonia debated the introduction of a regional official flag and anthem, as required by the Accord de Nouméa. A flag in fairly widespread unofficial use was the flag of the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), a political party favoring independence for New Caledonia, but the French tricolor would remain the only official flag for the next two years.

On 17 July 2010, French Prime minister François Fillon took part in a ceremony in Nouméa where the FLNKS flag was hoisted alongside the French tricoulour, giving both flags official status. Shortly before the visit the New Caledonia Congress voted overwhemingly to adopted the Kanak flag along side the French tricolor.

The adoption of the Kanak flag proved controversial. Some New Caledonians argued for a completely new flag for New Caledonia, which would incorporate designs from both the French tricolor and the Kanak flags. The goal of a new flag would be the promotion of a "common destiny" for ethnic Kanaks and ethnic French residents in New Caledonia (source: Wikipedia).