Roy Kayara set the ball rolling for the New Caldeonians with a solo opening goal after 18 minutes before Kevin Nemia doubled the advantage shortly before the half-hour mark with a left-footed finish.

Kayara then bagged his second from distance before Cesar Zeoula converted from the penalty spot after Bertrand Kai was felled in the box.

It was 4-0 at the break but three further goals arrived after the interval in the one-sided contest, starting courtesy of  Jean-Brice Wadriako who netted on the rebound after the ball had struck the post.

Joerisse Cexome drove home a sixth before Jefferson Dahite completed the rout at Port Moresby's Sir John Guise Stadium with a second penalty.

It means New Caledonia top the group on goal difference, with Tahiti level with them on four points.

The surprise winners of the 2012 tournament fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Raymond Gunemba pounced following goalkeeper Mikael Roche failing to punch clear.

Things got worse for Tahiti when their captain Nicolas Vallar was shown a red card for a foul on Gunemba and they were quickly two goals behind.

Michael Foster provided a neat backheel and Guenemba was on hand to lash home his second of the match.

Tahiti responded when Alvin Tehau headed home and the ten-men equalised on 76 minutes when Alvin's cousin Teaonui Tehau netted after Papua New Guinea failed to deal with a corner.

The draw is a blow for the hosts who have now drawn both of their games and are stuck in third place on two points.

They will meet pointless Samoa - who were eliminated today - in their final Group A match.

New Caledonia and Tahiti will clash in the other fixture in pole position to grab the two places available in the semi-finals.

Winning the group, and avoiding big favourites New Zealand in the last four, will be a major aim.

The winners of the tournament will be crowned as continental champions and will earn a place at next year's FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.