Environment
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.
Enhancing, integrating climate change knowledge
Tuesday 9 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) is working with eight Pacific countries, including the Cook Islands, to enhance and integrate knowledge brokerage on climate change into aspects of the work they are doing in their communities.
Te Ipukarea Society: Community efforts to remove rats
Saturday 6 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Polynesian rats were introduced to the Cook Islands via early Vaka voyages. With time other species typically more dominant and destructive such as the ship rat and Norwegian rat were introduced via trading vessels arriving from far and wide.
ICI, Titikaveka MP call meeting to discuss road work after ‘damage had been done’
Thursday 4 May 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
The widening and improvement work to the Vaimaanga Ara Metua backroad in Titikaveka is causing havoc for farmers in the area.
Ambitious environment project aims to improve land, air and sea in Cook Islands
Tuesday 2 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
An ambitious multi-million dollar six-year environment project aimed at reducing and mitigating environmental impacts of key development sectors in the Cook Islands will be launched on Rarotonga.
Cook Islands joins High Ambition Coalition to end plastic pollution
Monday 1 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
“We have joined the High Ambition Coalition to end plastic pollution. This coalition sets an ambitious target to reverse and end plastic pollution by 2040,” says National Environment Service (NES) director Halatoa Fua.
Te Ipukarea Society : 'Rent A Plate’ back on wheels
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
With tourism numbers back on the rise, there are now innovative opportunities to “build back better”. Opportunities that not only create positive visitor experiences but experiences where visitors can participate in solutions that “Protect our Little Paradise” whilst on holiday.
Pest management training for the Pa Enua
Monday 24 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
The Food and Agriculture Organisation Pacific in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture have completed a training programme on pest management in the Pa Enua (outer islands).
Moratorium calls ‘unclear’
Monday 24 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands’ Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has again come out swinging against those who call for a moratorium on the practice of minerals exploration after another meeting with the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
Te Ipukarea Society : Nurture nature for our future
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Today is the last day of Earth week for 2023, celebrated from April 14th to the 22nd. It is a week set aside for communities to demonstrate their support for a healthy environment, and remind people that we all need to contribute to a sustainable planet.
MOU on turtle tours
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National, Travel
Two turtle tour operators have declined to sign an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation.
New seabed map – first of its kind for Cook Islands
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Seabed Minerals Authority senior technical officer Rima Browne has led the creation of a new seabed map – the first of its kind for the Cook Islands.
MMR, Kōrero O Te `Ōrau and NZ Cawthron Institute investigate issue of ciguatera
Tuesday 18 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
A team from the Cawthron Institute in New Zealand is working closely with the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and Kōrero O Te `Ōrau to tackle the issue of ciguatera in the Cook Islands.
Where is the accountability? : concerned resident
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
A Rarotonga resident is concerned residential developments are encroaching on beaches without care or consequence.
Considering the possible impacts of deep sea mining in the Cooks
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
In the recent Parliament opening, King’s Representative Sir Tom Masters spoke of the Cook Islands’ desire to develop a sustainable and environmentally responsible seabed minerals sector. This week, also in Parliament, Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne criticised Government for rushing ahead in regards to deep sea mining.
