Oranges individually wrapped in paper and packed in cases by Mangaians in the 1940s were loaded on to flat boats and paddled across  the treacherous reef to waiting ships.

These images of Mangaians loading canoes with cases of oranges plus the Free Lance newspaper clipping were supplied by Wendy Cooper. Cooper’s father Hugh Hickling was the schoolmaster on the island in the mid to late 40s.

The picking, packing and loading of oranges on to ships was an island wide project in Mangaia during the 1940s.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, its affects were felt as far at the Cook Islands.

 In 1940, Hubert Henry Hickling was appointed as headmaster for Mangaia School where he lived on the island for several years with his family including his wife Gladys, daughter Wendy and sons Peter and Rick.  

Young Mangaian men and women packing oranges for the war effort at the Oneroa landing.

After the oranges are individually wrapped in paper, they are packed in crates and loaded on to canoes and flat boats to be transported to waiting schooners and ships.

Mangaia Enua elders pose in front of a shed full of orange crates. Standing right of the sign bearer is Hubert Henry Hickling.

To help with the war effort, the people of Mangaia exported oranges, which were picked from small groves of orange trees dotted across the island.

 The oranges were individually wrapped in paper, packed in wooden crates, and loaded on to canoes for transfer to visiting schooners and ships.