1 Jun 2015

Vanuatu coconut soap on its way to New Zealand

8:28 am on 1 June 2015

A Vanuatu soap maker has struck a deal with Trade Aid in New Zealand, which will stock three varieties of Coconut Project soap.

The soap has been manufactured by the women of Ulevu island in Malekula since 2007 whose Palm Project company has just recently become financially independent.

An Auckland woman, Liane Farry of the New Zealand Children's Trust, helped set up Palm Project.

She says she is very proud of what the community have achieved in the face of overwhelming odds.

"It really is in their hands now and they make the decisions for its. And that is very important because when you own something, you take care of it. And if you feel ownership you are going to fight hard for that. And they do and they have worked very very hard to get the soap where it is."

Liane Farry says the community also successfully runs the Pacific's first solar-powered desalination water production plant which also generates surplus electricity making the island community one of the most self-sufficient in Vanuatu.

A selection of Palm Project products which will soon be in Trad Aid stores across New Zealand.

A selection of Palm Project products which will soon be in Trad Aid stores across New Zealand. Photo: RNZI Courtesy of Palm Projects Vanuatu