My Blog

My name is Dan Etherington and I would like to share with you how a few years ago the direction of my life changed radically after an experience in Africa. In 1992 a village soap maker in Mozambique appealed to a visiting consultancy team to come up with a method of producing oil directly from his community’s coconuts. As an Agricultural Economist at the Australian National University in Canberra and the team leader, I could not forget the plea. If such a technology existed or could be developed, it could radically transform the lives of poverty-stricken coconut farmers around the world. 

Later that year, I learnt that the people of a remote Tuvalu island in the centre of the south Pacific had long ago discovered how to cold-press coconut oil directly from sun-dried shredded coconut. However the copra trade and cheap imported vegetable oils had ‘killed’ this local technology.
Recognising its economic potential
for the islanders, I worked in collaboration with the CSIRO and ANU colleagues to develop the fine-weather household technique into an all-weather cottage-industry technology. We call it Direct Micro Expelling™ (DME™). The quality of the oil is stunning.

With the encouragement and backing of some Christian friends, Dan set up Kokonut Pacific Pty Ltd to further refine the technology and take it back to the islands. My coconut odyssey actually began much earlier. The journey has been difficult at times but "breaking chains" can also be exciting and rewarding. Read more

OUR MISSION
The Company’s goal is encapsulated in the motto: Empowering and bringing hope. Kokonut Pacific works to improve the well-being of the rural population of tropical countries through the production of premium grade coconut oil and other coconut products. This objective is being achieved by revitalising the smallholder coconut industry through the use of modern technology and by working in partnership with local communities.
In most situations, people want to work and they have plenty of nuts. Now they have a way of turning those nuts into very pure, natural, virgin oil within one hour of opening a coconut. Kokonut Pacific is working hard with local firms, non-government organisations (NGOs) and Governments to make sure that the right support systems are in place. The capacity of remote communities to produce DME extra virgin coconut oil is often far greater than the local market can absorb. For the dream of regular employment to be realised, other markets have to be found. Because most of the oil has to be exported, this requires organisation for quality control, storage, transport, bulking up and finding buyers. In many cases, these buyers are in other countries so the oil has to be carefully packed and shipped overseas.

Niulife Coconut Oil is born
The Niulife coconut oil brand was established to sell DME Extra Virgin Coconut Oil on behalf of the island producers. Niulife reminds us of the New Life it brings from the Tree of life to impoverished island communities through our Fair Trade model, as well as the New Life it gives to consumers  through the many health benefits of virgin coconut oil - a win/win for all. The name reflects its South Pacific origin (niu, pronounced “new”, means coconut in Polynesian). Your purchase of Niulife products helps us continue our work with rural communities in the South Pacific, and in particular, the Solomon Islands. Each year the production sites are certified organic by NASAA.
Since our web-shop opened, we have diversified into a full range of coconut-related products that help to fund more development work for improving the lot of smallholder coconut farmers. The on-line shop sells a range of  coconut oil, coconut flour, soap, lip balms,  books and gadgets used with coconuts, with oil production and soap making. We have also gathered a remarkable number of testimonies from oil users citing various miracle cures, and even more from pet lovers in our pet section.

Buy our Coconut Oil

Would you like to try some of the islands' produce and related items

Lip Balm, Coconut Flour Starter, Coconut Cures

Coconut Flour, Soap 5 pack, Coconut Oil Starter

See more products here


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About the comments we receive

I am continually encouraged by people's comments that are sent in to me about the islander's products and the amazing coconut. I am listing a few of them below for your perusal :

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

KORA™ Organics by Miranda Kerr

Kokonut Pacific / Niulife is now a featured expert for the KORA™ Organics Blog, hosted by model and author Miranda Kerr. We will be posting regularly on the KORA blog over the coming months.
The benefits of eating it are far reaching which is why Miranda uses it everday.

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