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| Manihiki, home of the pearl |
Manihiki is regarded as one of the most beautiful atolls in the South Pacific. Along with Penrhyn, it is the base of the lucrative black pearl farming ventures which are a main export of the Cook Islands.
Manahiki's main village is Tauhunu and second village is Tukao. It is a large atoll with a deep lagoon with intensively farmed for cultured black pearls. There treasures are becoming widely sought after throughout the world, being produced only in Cook Islands and French Polynesia. Much of the population of the island is involved in pearl production in some form or another.
Every dawn is the start of a busy day on the lagoon cleaning and caring for the black-lipped oyster, diving or collecting spats (infant oysters). However, time is still found to make brilliant finely woven rito specially prepared coconut fibre hats, fans and shell adornments. There are often used with dramatic effects in costumes of tradition dancers from the island.
There is accommodation on Manihiki and there are a number of tours available to visit the pearl farms. These start from NZ$30 and include watching the seeding of the oysters and snorkelling viewing oysters underwater. Other activities include travelling the lagoon by boat, swimming, snorkelling, fishing, barbecued-fish lunch.
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