Rakahanga rito hats destined for USA clients

The women of Rakahanga may soon have a contract in the bag to make 30 rito hats destined for clients in America. This and other orders will give Rakahanga’s economy a much welcomed boost and it’s all thanks to a TV programme on Rakahanga which aired on CITV recently.
It’s come about because Emile Kairua of the Edgewater Resort happened by chance to see the programme on CITV by Shona Pitt depicting Rakahanga women making rito hats. Emile already had an order from the USA and after viewing the programme decided to contact the women’s group in Rakahanga.
The Rakahanga contact is the women’s development officer Mama Tara Tuteru wife of Rakahanga’s Acting Island Secretary. She spoke with the Herald on Tuesday morning.
She advised she has forwarded a quote to Emile to consider and confirm. She says the landed costs in Rarotonga are $100 per hat which includes the hat band if delivered to Rarotonga by boat and $120 if air freighted.
In the meantime she says she has informed the women to prepare the rito.
Tuteru says that as a result of the programme, they have also received other orders for mats, hats and dried fish.
Perhaps BTIB should consider putting money into producing TV programmes on the outer islands which highlight those islands products.

By Charles Pitt

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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