Cook Islands Nita Secures International Passport to NZ Market through a ‘Designer Heat Treatment Plant’
Competency in tailor made technologies that allow the Cook Islands to export local produce can only assist in widening and growing the Cook Islands economy. Tauei Napa is a man of competency, presently running the only heat treatment plant of the Cook Islands, which in turn enables Cook Islands Growers to export its produce overseas.

The Rarotonga Nita Growers Association has operated the only heat treatment plant in the Cook Islands. The heat treatment plant is specifically designed to eliminate two types of fruit flies present on our Nita. The removal of these two fruit flies through the heat treatment plant allows Cook Islands Nita to be sold in New Zealand. If it were not for the heat treatment plant, our Nita would not be able to enter into New Zealand.
Mastering the operations of the heat treatment plant has been in the hands of Tauei Napa. He is the only capable operator of the heat treatment plant we have in the Cook Islands. Although the heat treatment plant was funded jointly by various donors, it is owned by Government but operated and maintained by the Rarotonga Nita Growers Association. Without the commitment and dedication of heat treatment operator Tauei Napa, Cook Islands Nita would not be able to enter into the New Zealand market.
The Times asked Tauei Napa how they fund the operations and maintenance of the facility given that Government provides the facility but does not fund its operations and maintenance? Tauei Napa explained to the Times that each grower pays a treatment fee for the processing of their crops. These fees assist us to maintain the facility and keep the plant operating.
Dr Mike Williamson (Formerly Professor of Engineering, University of Hawaii) and President of Quarantine Technologies International (QTI) is here in the Cook Islands. He invented and installed the Cook Islands High Temperature Forced Air (HFTA) commercial treatment technology 16 years ago. Also present in the Cook Islands is Brendan McDonald, Senior Advisor of MAF Bio security in New Zealand. Together they are making appropriate adjustments and upgrades to the heat treatment plant while ensuring that MAF Bio security conditions are being carried out by the Cook Islands Bio security Team within the Ministry of Agriculture.
The role of the Cook Islands Bio security team, led by Director, Ngatoko Ngatoko is critical to Cook Islands Nita being able to enter into the New Zealand market. The Phytosanitary report that is produced by the heat treatment plant must be certified by the Cook Islands Bio security team. This is likened to an international passport for Cook Islands Nita leaving our shores for New Zealand. McDonald tells the Times that he is overall pleased with the work that Cook Islands Bio security team carry out, which in turn raises their confidence in Cook Islands Nita being fruit fly free.
Dr Williamson tells the Times that the potential for the Cook Islands Agriculture industry to reach the same levels of success as experienced in Fiji can be achieved. Today, Fiji growers own and operate their heat treatment plant. It operates 18 hours a day with a staff of 30 people. They presently export to Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand. The point of difference for the Fiji Growers is that it is a co-operative and they are meeting market demands with consistency. The Cook Islands can do the same, says Dr Williamson. However, reductions in transport, fuel and imported fertiliser costs should be explored, given the cost of doing business in the Cook Islands is high. By reducing such costs allows for Cook Islands Agriculture to participate effectively and efficiently in the export market.

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