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People group profile · PG018344

The Kwenyi of New Caledonia

The Kwenyi of New Caledonia, numbering about 1,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a small community of the Isle of Pines at New Caledonia's southern tip, speaking the Kwenyi dialect of Numee, now taught in local kindergartens to counter the spread of French.

They are an indigenous people in the New Caledonia people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Numèè.

Pray for the KwenyiPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Kwenyi people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Kwenyi

Fast facts

Country
New Caledonia
Population
1,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
New Caledonia
Primary language
Numèè (kdk)
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC
No Evangelicals, Churches or Resources
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Melanesia, Oceania
Location
South province: Isle Ouen (Ouen dialect); Isle of Pines (Kwényi dialect); Touaouru, Goro, and Yate on south end of main island (Numèè dialect)

Where they live

Gospel status

The Kwenyi are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, there are no evangelical Christians or churches among this people group and there is no access to evangelical print, audio, visual or human resources.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Kwenyi

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Roman Catholicism · Christianity

88% adherents

Primary language

Numèè · Austronesian family

78% speak Numèè

Gospel resources in Numèè

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Kwenyi

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

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