Résumé
This communication relies on quantitative data from two studies: RACINE (2019) and “Agriculture en tribu”(2011). Surveys were therefore conducted for the year 2018 among 119 kanak households living on customary land in the Northern Province of New Caledonia. 77 of the 119 households had already been surveyed in 2010. Theoretically, the evolution of incomes is examined according to the different capitals mobilised in "sustainable rural livelihoods" approach. In eight years, the average annual monetary income decreased from €29,400 to €26,000, and from €37,800 to €33,600 if non-monetary income is also taken into account. The decline in salary income explains for 80% of the variance in this decrease but the agriculture activity and income stay barely constant. The study area was very dynamic in the 2000s and 2010; but it was then marked by a sharp slowdown from 2014. The drop of nickel prices and its rapid effects on local development strongly impacted the labor market. We analyze the effects of variations in the different assets on livelihoods and incomes, in order to address the ability of kanak rural households to value their other endowments. Finally, we discuss the methodologies stakes of going back to see the same households and the difficulties of monitoring livelihoods.