Welcome to the thirteenth of the 44 SHE LEADS video profiles for 2024.

Rangi Mitaera-Johnson, a freelance chef from Rarotonga, transitioned from a regular job to pursuing her passion for cooking full-time. Influenced by her family's culinary background, she has worked in diverse settings, from corporate events to intimate family gatherings. Rangi incorporates local, seasonal ingredients like breadfruit and taro into her dishes, connecting her cooking with her cultural roots.

Despite the challenges of island life, such as limited access to ingredients, she embraces local foods for health, sustainability, and cultural preservation. Known for her flexibility and creativity, Rangi's business thrives through word-of-mouth, and she remains deeply committed to culinary excellence and community values.

Rangi was interviewed as part of the SHE LEADS project by Pacific Trade Invest NZ, where innovative women in all areas of business throughout the Blue Pacific are invited to tell their inspirational stories on camera. Forty-five individual video interviews have been made in 2024, in Cook Islands New Caledonia, Samoa and Tonga. The videos will be rolled out weekly, online and world-wide via various social media platforms.