What is he status of  New Caledonia? Is it a colony of France, an independent 
country in its own right or something else?

Cheers
Mongolia

Dear mongolia,

Since 16 February 1999, New Caledonia (Nouvelle-Calédonie) is a
so-called "collectivité sui generis" (sui generis collectivity) within
the French Republic, a unique status between an independent country
and a French Overseas Department.

Please refer to this Wikipedia article for more information on New
Caledonia's unusual political status:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caledonia#Politics

In case you read French, here is the French Overseas Ministry's
information text on New Caledonia's administrative status:
http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/outremer/front?id=outremer/decouvrir_outre_mer/nouvelle_caledonie#ancre6

I hope that this answers your question!
Regards,
Scriptor