Mauke makes Forum ei

Mauke island businessman Taratoa Metuariki shows off the Tiare Maori and ara (pandanus fruit) ei his business Maire Akatoka is providing for VIPs attending the 43rd Pacific Leaders Forum.

Yesterday two boxes of 42 ei karaponga or ei kaki (neck ei) were flown in from the island of Mauke for guests at the Oceanscape dinner at Tamarind House.

Metuariki says today another shipment of the prized maire will arrive for the official opening of the Forum at the National Auditorium at 5pm.

Metuariki says that he has the contract to provide ei for the two events and knows that other small family businesses on Rarotonga have also been contracted to make ei for arriving dignitaries as well as to adorn leaders at the various functions and meetings throughout the week-long gathering of Pacific leaders and international observers.