Edouard Philippe arrives in New Caledonia

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has arrived in New Caledonia just a day after a referendum vote rejected independence from France.

Philippe, accompanied by French Overseas Minister Brigitte Girardin, has begun talks with local leaders in the capital Noumea to discuss future plans, Radio New Zealand reported Monday.

The visit comes amid reports of unrest in Saint-Louis, east of the capital, where the main road was closed after people set cars and tyres on fire and gun shots were also heard.

Philippe flew in from Vietnam for the one-day visit just hours after it was confirmed that over 56 per cent of people voted to remain part of France.

The support for independence was higher than expected with official results showing 43.6 per cent of voters opting in favour, with 56.4 per cent opposed.

Turnout was a record at just over 80.6 per cent of the 174,995-strong electorate.

The referendum was mandated under a 1998 peace agreement which complemented a 1988 peace deal between pro-independence forces, mainly backed by the native Kanak community and pro-French forces largely supported by descendants of European settlers. 

The agreement allows for two more similar plebiscites by 2022.  

It is feared that Sunday's referendum could inflame tensions between the Kanaks and the white population.

Phillipe is scheduled to meet with Kanak leaders in Kone region late Monday. 

New Caledonia, which lies 1,200 kilometres east of Australia and 18,000 kilometres from Paris, has been inhabited by the first settlers for about 3,000 years.

The French colonized the south Pacific archipelago 165 years ago.