Environment
Dive number 257: Operation Taramea removes 6371 coral eating crown-of-thorns starfish
Monday 12 June 2023 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Art, Environment, Features, National
Marine scientist Dr Teina Rongo and his Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau team have removed 6371 crown-of-thorns starfish from Rarotonga reefs since Operation Taramea began in 2020.
Te Ipukarea Society: The Little Mermaid making a conservation splash
Saturday 10 June 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
This article is adapted and based almost entirely on a story by Elene Peradze, on the IMPAKTER Platform and Magazine website.
New Zealand specialists to probe ‘sudden’ chicken deaths
Thursday 8 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Health, Local, National
Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that a team from New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries will be in Rarotonga next week to investigate the sudden death of chickens on the island.
New ways to grow organically to be discussed at Fiji conference
Wednesday 7 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
Executive members of local organics group Natura Kuki Arani (NKA) hope to bring back new lessons about organic growing after attending conferences in Fiji.
Turtle tour operators call on community to report suspicious activity
Wednesday 7 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Crime, Environment, Local, National
A turtle tour operator is urging the community to work together and report any suspicious activity to the police.
Cook Islands teens on Arctic expedition see puffins for the first time
Tuesday 6 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Environment, National
The Kōrero o te 'Ōrau's 'Ātui'anga ki te Tango students Siana Whatarau and Winton Herman have arrived in Tromso, Norway for their Arctic journey.
Cook Islands calls to rid oceans of discarded fishing gear
Tuesday 6 June 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands has made calls for “ghost gear” to be included in the Plastic Treaty as it impacts marine life and the marine food chain, and is a significant cause of marine litter. By Nannette Woonton/SPREP.
Te Ipukarea Society: Local lorikeets celebrated
Saturday 3 June 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
World Parrot Day celebrated on May 31 gives us a good excuse to bring more attention to a couple of our own brightly coloured lorikeets that come under the parrot family.
Guidelines agreed to, but more collaboration to come for turtle tours
Thursday 1 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
All of the major turtle tour operators have now signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, but legislation protecting the turtles could be months away.
National Environment Services director Halatoa Fua voices Cook Islands concerns
Wednesday 31 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
National Environment Service director, Halatoa Fua has made a plea at the second Intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment in Paris, France.
Suwarrow park rangers to monitor visiting vessels
Tuesday 30 May 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
The Cook Islands Suwarrow National Park will open its maritime borders to visiting international vessels tomorrow after having closed its entry for a few years since the outbreak of Covid-19.
Avaavaroa experience gives birth to new passion project
Saturday 27 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Features, In Depth, National, Weekend
Award-winning Cook Islands photographer Alex King has embarked on a new journey involving something she is passionate about – protecting the environment. King talks to Cook Islands News online editor Losirene Lacanivalu about “Te Ara o te Akau – The Meaning Behind the Reef” and the role the country’s newest non-government organisation (NGO) can play in fulfilling her passion.
Te Ipukarea Society: Some concerning aspects around deep sea mining
Saturday 27 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Proponents of mining our deep ocean seafloor justify the need for this hugely destructive process, largely by claims that the minerals from the deep are needed for batteries for electric vehicles.
Cook Islands youths on Arctic voyage
Tuesday 23 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Features, National, Travel, Weekend
Two Cook Islanders are on a voyage that they never imagined they would take in their lifetime.
Te Ipukarea Society : Citizen science to assist turtle conservation
Saturday 20 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Rarotonga’s passages are key sites for spotting two species of sea turtles, the endangered green turtle and the critically endangered hawksbill turtle.
Chickens ‘dropping dead’ raises concern
Friday 19 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Local, National
Chickens are dropping dead on the island and investigation is underway to find the reason behind their sudden death.
PM Brown calls for fairer response to climate change
Wednesday 17 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, Features, National
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has again called on larger nations to help smaller nations in dealing with climate change issues.
Te Ipukarea Society: 27 years of protecting our Ipukarea
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
It has been almost 12 months since the last Te Ipukarea Society Annual General Meeting (AGM). As usual, before our AGM, we look back over the activities of the Society for the preceding 12 months.
Exploration study shines light on seabed minerals
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
A major minerals assessment carried out by Seabed Minerals Authority has reaffirmed where the highest concentrations of nodules are expected to be within the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone.
Rubbish, degradation concern
Thursday 11 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, Local, National
Tourists to the Cook Islands still travel here for its beautiful environment, but some are concerned about the rubbish and signs of degradation, according to a major survey.
