Cook Islands will be hosting close to 300 people at the 15th Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference and Expo as well as the 8th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum set to be held from September 2-6 in Rarotonga.

The upcoming regional events was confirmed by Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, who is also the deputy chair of the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association Incorporated (PWWA) Board of Directors.

Wright-Koteka says they hope to ensure that these meetings drive some real action and seek financial commitments from their partners towards water resilience and a climate resilient Blue Pacific.

She said ICI will lead the team in preparation for these regional engagements, with support from water agency To Tatou Vai (TTV).

Cook Islands, through ICI and TTV, is one of 30 Pacific utilities holding membership in the not-for-profit Pacific Water and Wastewater Association Incorporated.

Wright-Koteka said: “In accordance with PWWA’s vision to provide ‘Sustainable water and Sanitation for Pasifika’, this year’s conference will prioritise, coordinate and highlight the importance of water resilience and the need to rapidly accelerate access to safe, and clean sources of drinking water in the wake of climate change.”

“Water is a fundamental source of life itself, yet it is often not given the appropriate level of priority in our development efforts. 

“Pacific peoples face shifts in weather patterns, manifesting variously as crippling droughts or devastating downpours which we experience in the Cook Islands, and it is time water is given the attention that deserves.”

The Conference and Expo will feature a range of events from site visits to workshops. It will also have presentations to mini-forums and even a Young Water Professionals programme.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Water resilience in the Pasifika – Navigating the currents of change for a climate resilient region”.

The PWWA Conference is supported by the Asian Development Bank, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as the Cook Islands Government, with sponsorship by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Young Water Professionals programme.