[image - Tiare Tahiti source Tahiti Tourisme]
The 2025 Freight Support Programme received just over 70 applications, with 37 shortlisted to receive support. One of the recipients of the small grants scheme was a small company in French Polynesia, which produces a world-class product.
Based in Tahiti, Parfumerie Tiki Sarl is an iconic French Polynesian business. Founded in 1942 by Gustave Langy, it was the first local factory to manufacture and export the iconic Tiki Tahiti ‘Monoï with the flower’, made from the fragrance of the tiaré or Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) and traditionally marked by the presence of a whole dried tiaré flower in the bottle as a sign of the genuine product. The tiaré is symbolic of Tahitian culture and is often captured in spoken and written expressions of Tahitian legends.
The cosmetic oil is produced by compressing fresh blossoms of the flower in refined coconut oil, following the ancestral Polynesian tradition. The company has expanded its range to include soaps, shampoos, shower gels, bath salts, eau de toilette and other body and hair-care products. All products are manufactured and packaged locally in the company-owned plant at Faa’a. Parfumerie Tiki Sarl has achieved ISO 9001 for consistently meeting customer and regulatory requirements, and organic standards and distributes its products worldwide. Its main export markets include Asia, US, South America and the Pacific. A warehouse in France has enhanced the company’s reach in the European market.
For small businesses such as Parfumerie Tiki Sarl, exporting – whether to Pacific markets or international markets – is a costly exercise. As the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported this year, “Geopolitical tensions are causing expensive re-routings, tariffs are disrupting trade patterns, and freight rates are both high and unpredictable. Small island developing states, least developed countries, and net food-importing nations are particularly at risk, as higher freight costs quickly lead to more expensive imports and food insecurity.”
Company founder, David Langy, expressed strong appreciation for the freight assistance provided through PTI NZ’s Freight Support Programme. David was quick to point out that shipping costs remain one of the company’s biggest challenges. “Because our export volumes are relatively small, we currently rely on Air New Zealand for airfreight to send goods to NZ and also Rarotonga.” he said.
David mentioned that a sea freight option from Tahiti exists only for full container loads, which is not feasible for Parfumerie Tiki Sarl given its limited export volumes. There are very few opportunities for consolidated cargo shipments.
Parfumerie Tiki Sarl’s medium- to long-term strategy is to establish a logistics hub in Auckland to hold stock and support distribution within New Zealand and exports to other markets. Over time, Parfumerie Tiki Sarl hopes to grow its business enough to warrant shipment of a full container by sea directly from Tahiti to Auckland.
