Rarotonga Says: Get the Tourists

Tourists In First!

From a Rarotonga Correspondent When Mr. F. L. A. Gotz became New Zealand’s Minister sland Territories, in December, 1960, he quickly made it yn that he was interested in promoting the tourist trade for jtonga. Other people share this interest, among them the dent Commissioner, Mr. A. O. Dare, Cook Islands nessmen, and members of the Legislative Assembly.

subject was discussed at the ie meeting of the Legislative ly ( PIM, July, p. 139) and N. McKay, MP, one of the party from New Zealand, at lack of transport was one main problems, and that New I would be unable to vote a sum for the extension of iga’s airstrip because of il difficulties. The largest air lat can land at the airstrip at are piston-engined types such Hastings. mbly Member Makea Nui :?BE, said that the Rarotongan “did not entirely object to i”, but did not want Rarotonga ilamourised. her woman member of the ffy, Mrs. Poko Morgan, said e Cook Islands wanted to keep dentity. This can be taken n that they do not want Raro to become another Tahiti with hotels, night spots and res :s lining the Avarua waterfront. r want to keep Rarotonga quiet, ;ly uncommercialised —and yet tourists. )tonga, only 21 miles round the possesses great natural beauty, 'sically another Tahiti scaled to one-quarter size. There are , bush-covered volcanic peaks , a flat, fertile coastal belt and attractive lagoon beach where g, sailing and picnics can be d. more energetic can hike h native bush or climb the ft. high peaks. There is a club and a golf club. Rugby 11, cricket and basketball are layed. main settlement of Avarua has nemas where native style dances requently held, an unlicensed a market place, and several g stores stocking a wide range xls. New Zealand meats, fish egetables can be bought at the nment-run freezer, and spirits,

wines and beers at the Bond Store on a monthly ration system.

In the villages there are small stores and some rather primitive cinemas. There are also spots of historical interest, the marae, or open-air temples of heathen days where religious and state ceremonies were performed.

The population is friendly, happy natured and hospitable. Maori and European mix freely and there is no inter-racial strife.

The climate is tropical but healthy, and there is a definite cool season when cardigans and jackets become necessary.

In the recent past the visits of the luxury liner, Bergensfiord, have proved Rarotonga’s popularity with tourists. The passengers disembark about 7 a.m. and are driven round the island in a motorcade of private cars and decorated trucks.

During the leisurely scenic drive there is a half-hour break to watch native dancing in the picturesque locality of Muri lagoon, then the tourists return to Avarua where curios are inspected and bought before rejoining the ship. The consensus of passenger opinion was that Raro tonga was the most fascinating spot visited during the entire voyage.

At present, passenger shipping con nections which would allow tourists a few days or weeks at Rarotonga, are lacking. Rarotonga is hard to reach and sometimes just as hard to leave.

The NZ Government’s 40 passenger Moana Roa makes regular monthly voyages from Auckland, but is always overbooked. However, a limited number of berths from and to New Zealand in the winter months are now being reserved for bona fide tourists.

However, these will cater for only a small percentage of those who would like to go. If this bottleneck were overcome New Zealand tourists would be attracted.

The Matson luxury liners Monterey and Mariposa call at Rarotonga en

route from Tahiti to New Zealand.

They anchor in the roadstead for a few hours and parties of hula dancers visit the ships and entertain the pas sengers. Berths from Rarotonga to Auckland are usually available.

Locally manufactured curios taken on board find a ready sale and pas sengers show great interest in Raro tonga. They bombard the dancers with questions about themselves, their islands and their way of life.

Cook Islanders emigrating to New Zealand fill the vacant berths offered by these ships, and in this way the Matson Line makes worthwhile sums in a few hours and without the ex pense of harbour dues.

More shipping calls at Rarotonga are needed to boost a tourist trade, but the attempts by the Rarotonga Chamber of Commerce to interest shipping companies in this have been mainly unsuccessful due to un developed tourist potentialities. (Over)

mother passenger shipping line be induced to call at Rarotonga jrthbound voyages from Aus a to Panama and the UK, would start to happen. Aus an tourists could then spend a ays or weeks at Rarotonga and on one of the Matson liners, this kind of thing started, suit iccommodation would soon be But get those tourists first! self-contained flat for four ts was built recently at Avarua, itains two bedrooms, a living bathroom and kitchen, and is equipped with linen, cutlery ooking utensils. It has electric hot and cold water, electric and refrigerator. The tariff is /10/- per day, £l2 weekly, £lO y for a month’s stay, or /- for longer periods. ;re is another comfortable ng facing the islet-studded i at Muri, five miles from the ing and business centre of la. Power does not extend this 3Ut the flat is equipped with me pressure lamps and a me refrigerator and water '. The weekly rate is £B, and 5 reduced to £7 for those stay month or longer. About a mile there is a similar type of guest Two taxis and rental cars vailable. sum up : Most people in Raro are in favour of tourists and land is one of the most attractive e South Pacific with an almost ;l climate. It is a good place quiet holiday, but is unlikely :ome a sophisticated resort noted :s night life.