Sharing a Christmas Tropical message with us all is our guest Mr. Phillip James Tuaeu - Te - Au Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Cook Islands.

Vodafone Cook Islands is the leading telecommunications services provider in the Cook Islands offering mobile, broadband, fixed line and a range of other telecommunications technology based services across all inhabited islands. The Company also provides these community services on behalf of the Government -  Pa Enua services, broadcasting support services, marine radio services and postal services.

"At Vodafone, we are known for our technology, but the truth is, it is humanity that drives our business forward. With the global pandemic raising so many questions for tech brands, it has highlighted the leading role that we need to play. Our new positioning – Together We Can – reflects our belief that, when working together, humanity and technology can find the answers and create a better future for all."

Late 2020 I approached Vodafone Cook Islands and requested if they would consider sponsoring the introduction audio segment of the Kia Orana Podcast show: 5k for 6 months of advertising. The CEO Mr. Phillip Henderson agreed to meet with me and let me ‘pitch’ to him. At the time the Cook Islands had been border shut for 6 months, revenues across all sectors reduced drastically.  Phillip said, “Chantal, in normal circumstances Vodafone would help but right now - Vodafone is financially unable to. What we can offer to help you is assistance with 25% sponsorship of your monthly telecommunications cost.” A privilege that I still appreciatively receive today, as at December 2021.
During our ‘pitch hour discussion’ there was a sentence that Phillip said to his Sales & Marketing assistant that day, of which I will not forget. “The more she reaches, the more valuable she will become”.
What Phillip didn't know at the time, I was trying to figure out how to continue paying the telecommunications side of running a podcast show. With an almost zero budget of revenue, due to Covid. I was on the verge of giving up the show…. I remember looking at Phillip and saying, “So I do have something of ‘value’ here with this podcast for the Cook Islands?” Phillip, “Absolutely, its just going to take time Chantal”.

16 months on from that ‘Pitch’ session, 21 months into the pandemic, 20 months into this show and still with our revenues reduced dramatically.  I am grateful to Phillip Henderson, because until yesterday when we caught up for our annual Christmas recording session for this podcast, “I reminded him of what he said to me, and that his words have helped me to carry on despite the challenges of producing this podcast during Covid.”

Merry Christmas from Kia Orana Podcast & Vodafone Cook Islands. 

Website for Vodafone Cook Islands: https://www.vodafone.co.ck/

Website for Chantal Napa is www.chantalsconcierge.com 

Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

This is how it began, I received an email…

Dear Chantal's Concierge, 

I have read that Lonely Planet labelled the Cook Islands as a must-visit destination in 2022. I am writing an article about tourism in the Cook Islands for a school assignment. Would you be willing to answer some questions about this? 

Thank you

Kind regards, 

Renske Van Hoof 

Student International Journalism

Thomas More University College, Belgium.

Kia Orana Everyone, 

When I received this email from Renske, who lives in Belgium. I curiously took to the net, to research.

Belgium, a country in Western Europe, is known for medieval towns, Renaissance architecture and as headquarters of the European Union and NATO. The country has distinctive regions including Dutch-speaking Flanders to the north, French-speaking Wallonia to the south and a German-speaking community to the east. The bilingual capital, Brussels, has ornate guildhalls at Grand-Place and elegant art-nouveau buildings. ― Google

From Belgium to Rarotonga, such a contrast to the Cook Islands! Renske is at the onset of her winter, and I am at the onset of Summer. She was speaking to me at 8pm and I was at 9am. (GMT-10). She has a population of 11 million, and on Rarotonga I have a population of 11 thousand. 

I found all these distinguishing differences in our cultures so interesting, and I know our local Cook Islands listeners will too.

Here were the questions that Renske pre emailed me. 

• Do you think The Cook Islands deserve to be placed first on the list of must-visit destinations for 2022?

• Are The Cook Islands open for travel at the moment?

• Where do most tourists you welcome on the islands come from?

• What makes the Cook Islands different from the other island nations in the area, such as Tonga, French Polynesia and Fiji?

• Is it easy to travel between the different islands?

• Does tourism have an impact on the locals? And how does tourism have an impact?

• Is sustainable travel something that is focussed on?

• As citizens of New Zealand, is it easy for you to travel to New Zealand and other self-governing territories?

• How did covid affect the travel industry? And the economy in general?

• Why should people travel to the Cook Islands?

Renske and I had a great chat together, recorded on the 25th of November 2021. Please enjoy.

Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 

Website is www.chantalsconcierge.com 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Teremoana Ropa-Ioakimo is a local massage therapist that I have personally known since 2002. He known to us all as Te Ropa. 
His business card says he is a Natural Healing Consultant: 
- Sports Injuries
- Circulation 
- Deep Tissue
- Reflexology
- Flexibility

I have had probably nearly 200 massages personally with Te Ropa since 2002! I trust him immensely, and am appreciative of his genuine concern for my human anatomy engine. 

I have described his massage session as a Warrant Of Fitness, for our health and physical wellbeing. 

A client of mine reviewed him as follows: “I just got a 4 hour massage and he was so proficient he even massaged my nostrils”.

Another of my clients reviewed him as follows: “I am not exaggerating when I say it is the best massage I’ve ever had. I’m someone who likes massage and I go for regular massages back home in Canada. I go weekly and see two different massage therapists. My point is I know massage. Te Ropa is worth every penny, his massage lasts 4 hours. Te Ropa is very, very good. Just can’t recommend him highly enough. You won’t regret it!”

Te Ropa is naturally a really quiet humble person and I appreciate him sitting down with me and allowing me to record his voice.

To book an appointment with Te Ropa, here’s his phone number (+682) 78102. 

Website is www.chantalsconcierge.com 
Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Kia Orana kia kotou katoatoa

Yesterday I was speaking to my client Max. He lives in New Zealand and we were on a consultation phone call planning their Honeymoon holiday here this coming January 2022. Very exciting!

I mentioned to Max that I would send him a copy of our concierge holiday suggestion check list, prior to coming.

Which prompted me to record verbally the contents of the list, for this episode as our boarders are reopening this coming January 13h, 2022. To New Zealand only for now.

A few edits now that I’ve had a double check on a couple of things.

I mentioned that Vodafone have a SIM card for visitors. I said they receive 3GB, they now receive 5GB. An extra 2GB. I forgot to mention the card is valid for 15 days. Also that even though you can only buy a SIM card at Vodafone premises, you can purchase WIFi almost at every village shop.

I’ve now realized that I could of gone into scooter licensing information a bit more….

Contact me here for more: website is chantalsconcierge.com

Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Bernadette King, is actually a very shy person - she says.

In 2019 she was trained as a tour guide with Ariki Adventures, and she mentions that you have to have a lot of energy speaking to tourists and visitors. She gives thanks to what she learned while working with this company.

Bernadette was born in Ōpōtiki, a town in the North Island of New Zealand, her mother of Ngāti Porou Māori descent met her Cook Islands descent father and they married. Eventually the family  emigrated to Rarotonga when she was 4 years old and she lived here until she was about 10 years old, attending primary schools Apii Avatea and Apii Te Uki Ou. Her dad has always worked in the environment service, which has contributed to her love of the outdoors. She mentioned that her family moved back to New Zealand around when she was age 10.

As an adult in 2018, Bernadette decided to move back home to Rarotonga, initially to help her younger sister Alex King with her local Cook Islands photography  business. Whilst also working part time with Ariki Adventures. One day her friend Oliver introduced her to the Marumaru Atua Voyaging Society. Her gut instinct took over and she was adamant that some how she was also going to qualify to, ‘Get on that Vaka’.

Bernadette, speaks about her training sessions that she received twice a week with the Marumaru Atua Vaka - Captain’s and senior Crew. Eventually being able to venture out on training overnight sessions. “Vaka life can be quite harsh, and its not for everyone”, she says.

With her Captain and crew, their Aituitaki voyage last month October 2021, (Sailing from Rarotonga to Aitutaki and back) included a few ‘nav’ sessions before they left. The local Cook Islands Newspaper story that covered this experience was titled, “No GPS, no compass, only traditional navigating”.

Listen into her star chart learning and Bernadette’s passion for our ocean and Vaka voyaging. 

Thank you Bernadette for sharing with me, I’ll pop in the show notes here, the link to the Marumaru Atua - Cook Islands Voyaging Society website here: https://www.cookislandsvoyaging.org/

Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Kia Orana Podcast is devoted to advocating what visitors will and will not find in the Cook Islands, and delving into all the aspects of local life.
Since starting we have covered a number of genres including current affairs, education, youth, agriculture, government departments, non-government organizations, society and culture, business, the creative arts, literature, artists, musicians, performers, sports, as well as our Pa Metua (elderly) community.
The Kia Orana Podcast is documented in one place, and available on 11 different platforms including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Overcast, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Castro, Castbox, Pockets Casts, Podfriend and RSS Feed. 

All in all, I love how the podcast show has enabled me to promote the Cook Islands and digitally document its magic.

Thank you everyone for listening. 
Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 
Email: [email protected]

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Welcome back and thank you for joining us today.

Our show today is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. That’s the key to the borders opening in the Cook Islands.

Currently our young people aged between 12 to 15 years in the Cook Islands have the opportunity to receive their first and second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, so too have a number of adults who missed out first time around. 

My (Chantal) 12 year old daughter, has just been vaccinated and tomorrow she will be receiving her second dose of the vaccine. I am grateful to the New Zealand and Cook Islands Governments for keeping us all safe in the Cook Islands.  

Haydn and I are not scientists and we are not doctors, however we do agree that a vaccine will help curb/restrain this pandemic and save lives! Haydn speaks from experience as he was diagnosed with Covid-19 in June 2020, as a survivor of this virus he shares with us his personal experience.

If you have more questions to ask, you can contact Chantal here:

Email address 👉 [email protected]

You enjoyed this episode? Share the episode to a friend or family member. 

———————————————————————

Support us today, enabling our Polynesian voices via digital media with Cook Islanders’ best interests at heart.

Make a sponsorship donation from as little as $5 and help support the Kia Orana Podcast.

https://kiaoranapodcast.com/donate/

Meitaki Maata (thank you very much),

Chantal Napa & Haydn Adams

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

These were my 3 reasons in April 2020 why I agreed to a podcast for the Cook Islands:

1. Was the knowledge that there was no other podcast channel digitally broadcasting out of the Cook Islands.
2. I knew that I had the skill set to story-tell and be an ethical influencer, seasoned to speak publicly. 
3. Through my previous business Chantal’s Concierge and Dawn Breaker Game Fishing, I knew intimately the details of every tour operator, restaurant and hotel accommodation in Rarotonga. 

Challenge accepted to trail-blaze and pioneer on behalf of our country, the Cook Islands.

Those of you who have been listening to me since the beginning of this show will know that initially, I haphazardly ummmed and ahhhhed my way through I would say the first 25 weekly episodes. What you won’t  know is that Haydn was constantly, educating me in the back ground of how to be better! There were some tears, and sullen looks displaying my inadequateness during his truthful mentoring. I appreciate Haydn not giving up on me. 

I am so grateful to my early on in the project guests - Fletcher Melvin, Daniel Forsyth, Gerard Field, Carey Winterflood, Puai Wichman, Vaine Nooana-Arioka, Phillip Henderson and our Prime Minister The Honorable Mark Brown. They all said YES to me to be podcasted and helped me to get the ball rolling. 

As I was recording, I was figuring out the framework, the branding and the voice of the podcast. What was the genre, what was the message and what was the purpose? 

75 weekly episodes later, 8,500 plus downloads later, and with just over 1/3 of the globe following our conversation, the ‘perseverance’ and persistence in doing this podcast despite the difficult challenges during the last 17 months we have all faced, is working. I appreciate you all listening. 

Where do you want to be 6 - 12 months from now?

Right now, what are your biggest business challenges?

Stay tuned for next week. As I’ll be discussing those biggest challenges I have faced in the last 17 months of this pandemic. 

If you have more questions to ask, you can contact Chantal here:

Email address 👉 [email protected]

You enjoyed this episode? Share the episode to a friend or family member. 

———————————————————————

Support us today, enabling our Polynesian voices via digital media with Cook Islanders’ best interests at heart.

Make a sponsorship donation from as little as $5 and help support the Kia Orana Podcast.

https://kiaoranapodcast.com/donate/

Meitaki Maata (thank you very much),

Chantal Napa

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Kia Orana kia kotou katoatoa.

Ko au teia ko Chantal Napa, no te Kuki Airani mai. 

Welcome back and thank you for joining me today.

The KIA ORANA Podcast is a weekly show devoted to highlighting what you will, and will not find in the COOK ISLANDS. We come to you from the 15 tiny islands, scattered like natures Crown Jewels, in the South Pacific.

Our guest today is Tapu Paitai, she has been teaching for 28 years. She has taught in both primary and secondary schools, in New Zealand and Rarotonga.

Tapu is very passionate in her mother tongue, Te Reo Māori Kuki Airani/Cook Islands Māori language. This is the theme for our podcast today. 

Tapu has indicated that she will be replying or speaking predominantly in Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani, to us today.

Tapu tells me true personal stories about memories that she has in the school yard or at home of herself and her journey of learning Te Reo Maori here in Rarotonga in the 1970’s?

Why she is so passionate about Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani?

Where she trained in Auckland New Zealand at university?

Why is it important and how would Tapu encourage students to enjoy their Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani?

Who is her target audience, and is she targeting the parents or the children?

Did her grass roots upbringing here in Rarotonga, nurture this passion of Tapu’s?

Her aim at school teaching Te Reo is what? She loves it when she hears our young people speaking Te Reo? Tapu is worried, that our language is in danger and that we are presently losing it?

Te Reo Kuki Airani knowledge can help us with Heritage and Culture, speak to our older people, translation. 

Mei kite koe i Tou reo me Pati koe i Tetai enua, really if you cant speak your own language. Te au uipanga enua ti roto i te reo Māori

Wouldn’t it be better to learn two languages together?

It comes with the customs, to tatou akonoanga. It incorporates everything, Kopu tangata, environment.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnels? Absolutely Tapu says!

Thank you, 
Chantal TD Napa: 
Concierge, Dawn Breaker Game Fishing & Kia Orana Podcast.

Kia Orana Podcast with your local host Chantal Napa, click here to listen. https://kiaoranapodcast.com 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

During our recent 3 months of boarders opened to New Zealand, mid May to mid August 2021. At my office Chantal’s Concierge, I met Christine & Dr Bryn Sparks from Christchurch, New Zealand. They were looking to hire some snorkeling equipment. Upon return of their rented gear, our conversation extended onwards, which then prompted me to request that they podcast record their holiday memories here in Rarotonga?

They were supposed to arrive 12th August and then a weather bomb turned the planes around back to Auckland. They were put up in a hotel in Auckland and returned back to Rarotonga the following day. Arrive Friday the 13th of August and then………… a covid case in Auckland happened. New Zealand shut down!

Recorded in August 2021, during level 2 covid status in the Cook Islands. A time when the boarders were open and then closed!

Bryn tells us about his ukulele rock rings. When he got his PHD, his wife Christine got a Jeweller in Christchurch to personalize him a white gold and red gold ring with 3 crosses to signify their Catholicity and their 3 daughters.

 On the two Sundays they were here they attended, Sacred Heart Church Mass in Rarotonga. “The singing is extraordinary here in the Cook Islands,” they said.

Staying at Ikurangi Eco Retreat, designed to impress and built to last tents. In amongst flora and fauna, nestled in the back road of Matavera village. Here for a yoga retreat with instructors. 

They spoke about being Covid tested in Rarotonga after arriving. 

Working in the health industry in New Zealand. Owning a Sleep well clinic based in Christchurch.

Christine, “It is truly the most beautiful place, I mean its winter here and I’m swimming, theres flowers everywhere, I’m in shorts and a t-shirt! I dont know why I waited so long to visit! The people are just so wonderful and friendly and fun. Just being here is wonderful . Captain Tama’s crew so much fun, first ever experience of snorkeling.”

Bryn, “Snorkeling here is similar to a religious experience for me, the fish are so beautiful and come right up to your mask”. 

Restaurants they ate at Sailing club dinner meal and Tamarind House.

Tours: Kitesup Paddleboard Yoga, unexpected fun!

Te Vara Nui, the over water night show. “It was beautiful and fun, staff were fabulous. Thoroughly enjoyed this.”

Private Turtle tour with Charlotte Piho!

High point of the trip would also be eating sugar cane straight out of the ground that my school friend Beryl Knowles-Powell planted for me in April 2020 at my concierge office. 

Listen out as Bryn played us out of the show with his brand new ukulele that he bought here.  

I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with Christine and Dr Bryn Sparks, watching them lovingly narrate and share their special Rarotonga holiday to us all. 

Thank you 
Chantal Napa

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.