Environment
MMR is going back to school
Monday 26 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Staff of the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) have been going back to school – not as students but as instructors to impart information about the numerous marine animals and plants in our lagoon. Part of the aim is to explain a bit more about the role of MMR in conserving and managing these resources. […]
Climate change appointment
Saturday 24 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Rerekura Teaurere has been appointed climate change co-coordinator within the climate change division of the Office of the Prime Minster. Though she grew up in New Zealand, Rerekura is of Penryhn descent, and recently completed a master of science honours degree at the University of Auckland. Her thesis focused on exploring inter-organisational influences on sustainable […]
Tuna stocks worth millions: MMR
Saturday 24 March 2012 | Published in Environment
A stock assessment carried out by the French Space Agency (CSL) for the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) has estimated there is 190,000 tonnes of skipjack tuna in Cook Islands waters. According to the report most of skipjack (au’opu) are found in the northern Cook Islands, north of 15 degree latitude above Suwarrow with the […]
Come down to weather office
Friday 23 March 2012 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands Meteorological Service is today inviting the public to its Nikao office to watch videos explaining what the country’s weathermen do. The impetus for the invitation is World Meteorological Day, which falls on March 23 each year. Today World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) members, of which the Cook Islands Meteorological Service is one, commemorate […]
Marine park launch on track
Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Environment
The marine park steering committee intends to conduct another round of public consultation meetings in coming weeks. Following a three-day workshop last week, the committee is surer than ever that it needs more feedback from island communities before launching the marine park at the Pacific Islands Forum in August. Last week, experts from regional and […]
Water security is food security
Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Today is World Water Day – a perfect day to reflect on how much water you use. You could start by asking yourself, “How much water did I have for breakfast today?” It seems a simple enough question. Many people would probably answer, “A glass or two,” but if you had two slices of bread […]
Tips to protect a precious resource
Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Environment
This year World Water Day is focusing on the links between water and food. Did you know it takes: These numbers illustrate how important our water resources are and why we need to work to protect them. Imagine the amount of water needed to feed everyone on Rarotonga! One of the best ways we can […]
Get behind World Water Day and WATSAN
Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Tomorrow, March 22, marks World Water Day with this year’s event focused on the connection between water and food security. “We all drink around two litres of water a day, but it actually takes 2000 to 5000 litres of water to produce one person’s daily food,” says Donye Numa, acting secretary of the Ministry of […]
Think twice about aquaculture
Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Environment
A new report on mariculture (marine aquaculture) has urged Pacific nations to think twice before embarking on sea-farming enterprises. It found that many mariculture projects had been undertaken in the past without proper economic studies, particularly of the costs involved and the potential markets for fish products, and suggests that the Pacific “get away from […]
Reef restoration project by Koka
Saturday 17 March 2012 | Published in Environment
The Rarotonga Lagoon Conservation Trust, created and funded by Koka Lagoon Cruises, is embarking on a long-term reef restoration and revitalisation project within the Tikioki ra’ui area. The goal of the project is to bring the reef back to 60 percent live coral coverage and encourage the re-establishment of local fish and clam populations. Koka […]
Switch off and save the earth
Saturday 17 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Make switching off non essential lights and power services a habit and take positive action for the environment. The world will celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31, but in the Cook Islands Friday, March 30, from 12 noon to 1pm has been earmarked as the day and time for locals to switch off. Earth […]
New incinerator needed
Saturday 17 March 2012 | Published in Environment
The Airport Authority is looking to upgrade its incinerator –which is no longer environmentally sound –and inviting tenders for the project contract. It welcomes tenders for the design, installation, supply, testing and commissioning of a new or upgraded incinerator, to replace the current model which is not complying with environmental standards. “We’ve got an old […]
PICI launches Aitutaki lagoon survey
Wednesday 14 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative (PICI) has announced the official launch of its Aitutaki Lagoon Monitoring Project (ALMP). ALMP is an ongoing research project using volunteers to conduct comprehensive biodiversity surveys of the marine habitats of the Aitutaki lagoon. Surveys will be run as consecutive six-week expeditions, with groups of 10 ‘eco-volunteers’ collecting data. These data […]
The Torea tere to Alaska
Wednesday 14 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Every year, in early April, a large tere party leaves the Cook Islands for Alaska. They are in their most spiffy clothes and are going to the great Alaskan courtship party. They are in the Torea tere. It is also most likely that the Torea tere of a thousand years ago lead the Polynesians to […]
Solar Bob takes DIY solar to jail
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Environment
To build a solar water heater using recycled materials was the challenge undertaken by inmates at Arorangi Prison last week, under the guidance of ‘Solar Bob’ Riley and tutor Karen De Waal. The idea for the class came from De Waal reading a book written by Riley in 1991, “Solar Made Easy”, which discusses simple […]
WATSAN project moving ahead
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Environment
The Muri lagoon sanitation project is moving ahead quickly with 11 bio-filters already installed and work on installing improved septic tanks due to begin in the next week or two. The Muri pilot project is the first in a larger scheme being implemented by the Water, Waste and Sanitation unit (WATSAN) of the Ministry of […]
Muri supports sanitation plan
Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Organisers are saying that a public meeting on Muri Lagoon water quality was a success after 45 local residents turned up on Thursday night. Water Waste and Sanitation Unit (WATSAN) project director Ken McDonald said the response from the local community had been really positive. “Given we are working with 239 houses, to have a […]
Mass oyster mortality in Manihiki
Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Pearl farmers have often described previous “dark periods” in Manihiki lagoon. The current dark state of the lagoon however is just part of the picture involving the complete mortality of all bivalves, including pearl oysters, below 25 metres in the Manihiki Lagoon. The culprit is thought to be La Nina weather conditions, according to Ministry […]
TIS calls for shark finning ban
Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is concerned that the Cook Islands lacks legislation to protect sharks from being hooked by foreign fishing vessels in its waters. Responding to a recent Radio New Zealand item about Marshall Islands police enforcing their newly-instituted shark fishing ban, TIS is pushing government to institute a similar ban – and in […]
Fishing groups review concerns
Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Environment
Representatives of all fishing associations under the umbrella of the Cook Islands Fishing Association (CIF) gathered for a two-hour annual general meeting on Tuesday afternoon. In attendance were fishers, marine biologists and representatives of the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR). All members present elected this year’s executive – Don Beer replaces Mark Vaikai as president, […]