Pearl industry updated
The Cook Islands Pearl Forum was held at the AOG in Takuvaine on Thursday.
Here from Brian Richardson Consultants in New Zealand is Mike Hodges a Brand Strategist and Marketing advisor.
“It was a great opportunity for all the pearl famers who came down here for the cultural event to attend this forum as it is very expensive for them to travel here to Rarotonga,” said Hodges.
The forum was attended by pearl farmers from Manihiki who came for Te Maeva Nui and the Trade Days and also pearl retailers and wholesalers.
Questions were answered by Hodges and George Ellis, Pearl Authority CEO on the marketing of the pearls under the Avaiki brand name.
“It is a opportunity for us pearl farmers, retailers and wholesalers to be brought up to date from the topics of the last forum to reassure us pearl farmers that things are happening, this business is really all about patience and hard work,” said Rangi Mitaera—Johnson, one of the larger pearl farmers in Manihiki.
The event was a one day forum with participants looking forward to the next one.

- Tiare Ponini

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