Païta

Païta
An aerial view of Païta
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Coordinates: 22°08′01″S 166°21′02″E / 22.1337°S 166.3505°E / -22.1337; 166.3505Coordinates: 22°08′01″S 166°21′02″E / 22.1337°S 166.3505°E / -22.1337; 166.3505
Country	France
Sui generis collectivity	New Caledonia
Province	paita
Government
• Mayor	Harold Martin
Area1	699.7 km2 (270.2 sq mi)
Population (2014 census)2	20,616
• Density	29/km2 (76/sq mi)
Ethnic distribution
• 1996 census	Europeans 32.6% Polynesians 32.1% Kanaks 23.9% Other 11.4%
INSEE/Postal code	98821 / 98890
Elevation	0–1,618 m (0–5,308 ft) (avg. 30 m or 98 ft)
1 New Caledonia Land Register (DITTT) data, which exclude lakes and ponds larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ New Caledonia Land Register (DITTT) data, which exclude lakes and ponds larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers.

Païta (French pronunciation: ​[pajta]) is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. New Caledonia's international airport, La Tontouta International Airport, is located there.

The Catholic church in the centre of Paita was built in 1875. The modern Cultural Centre in the High Street is used for various exhibitions and cultural performances. The Town Hall (Mairie) is close by.

About one mile from the town centre to the north, is the former railway station of the Nouméa-Païta railway where a small locomotive which was used until 1940 can be seen.

In the southeast of Paita petroglyphs possibly dating from the 13th or 14th century B.C. can be seen on a rock at a small river. Some of the petroglyphs look similar to the sun or to flowers. From the road the place can be reached by cement stairs behind a wooden pavilion.