[2][3] Pro-independence campaigners argued that the boycott was caused by the French authorities denying a request by indigenous leaders to postpone the referendum, as Kanak communities were disproportionately affected by the 280 deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many still observing mourning rituals, and accused the authorities of rushing through the referendum at a time in which pro-independence campaigners and voters were hindered.

French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the results of the referendum, adding that France "is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay part of it.

[8] The Matignon Agreements, signed on 26 June 1988 by Jean-Marie Tjibaou and Jacques Lafleur, set up a ten-year period of stability and made certain provisions for the Kanak population.

[22] A total of 260 New Caledonians had died of COVID-19 following the archipelago's first surge of cases in early September, which prompted the local government to vote unanimously for compulsory vaccination of the entire adult population.

[26] The FLNKS called for a boycott of the independence referendum and accused the French authorities and anti-independence forces of using the COVID-19 crisis to influence public opinion.

[32] Following this call, Faure announced on 26 October that 1,400 vaccinated police personnel, including 15 mobile units, would be dispatched from metropolitan France to ensure the security of the vote in December[33] amidst fears of violence.

[34] In November 2021, "a group of 64 Pacific experts from around the world" signed an opinion piece in Le Monde calling for the French government to postpone the referendum, suggesting that failure to include the Kanak population could lead to a repeat of the civil unrest of the 1980s.

[22] On 12 November, Faure confirmed that the independence referendum would still go ahead on 12 December considering the improvement of the epidemiological situation,[35] with daily new infections having fallen to 40 from a peak of 272.

[1] Caroline Gravelat from the University of New Caledonia claimed that this was a political problem but would not affect the result, "because the gap between the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ votes would probably not have narrowed to the point that the ‘yes’ side would have won.

"[1] Talking about the transition period now beginning, he described New Caledonia as being "free from the binary choice of 'Yes' or 'No'", and urged for its politicians to begin "building a common project, while recognising and respecting the dignity of everyone"[1] Independentist Roch Wamytan, who had signed the Nouméa accord as head of the FLNKS before later becoming President of the Congress of New Caledonia, declared the referendum non-existent, with only those held in 2018 and 2020 having juridical and political legitimacy.

Assuring that Independentists would participate in post-referendum discussion on the future status of New Caledonia, he, however, reiterated the refusal to do so before the end of the French presidential election of April 2022.

[45] President of independentist stronghold Loyalty Islands Province's assembly, Jacques Lalié, pointed out the persistence of two opposed blocs in New Caledonia, before calling for the population to understand future negotiations would now be centered on the relationship between the archipelago and France.

[51] Following the 2024 New Caledonia unrest, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters made remarks in July 2024 questioning the legitimacy of the 2021 independence referendum due to the low 44% turnout,[52] stating that "within the letter of the law ... but it was not within the spirit of it.