A new non-governmental organisation founded in Mitiaro was able to gain a platform at the Oceania Multi-District Information Organisation in an online discussion last week.

Te Ngaru Tu O Nukuroa (TNT ON) is dedicated to leading projects to help minimise waste and promote growth and wellbeing for the Mitiaro community.

A co-founder of TNT ON and a PhD candidate in marine biology, Antony Vavia, had the opportunity to speak during the Oceania MDIO Unite for the Environment event regarding the goals the newly formed NGO has to improve Mitiaro’s waste management and to take better care of the environment.

Oceania Multi-District Information Organisation (MIDO) has been up and running for a year now and is made up of 13 clubs from five different countries around the Pacific: Cook Islands, New Zealand, Fiji and American Samoa, and Tahiti.

This way clubs can collaborate on joint projects around the region and bring awareness to projects to different clubs around the world that want to help support.

Vavia reported that it was an interesting event and that he particularly enjoyed listening to the projects that are happening – and working – around the globe

Te Ngaru Tu O Nukuroa means the “the rising waves of Nukuroa”. Nukuroa is the old, traditional name for the island of Mitiaro.

Vavia said they gave their organisation this name because it represented what it was created for, which was growth and the ability to always move forward towards the future.

The main focus of TNT ON is the healthy wellbeing of the Mitiaro community through youth, environment, education and culture.

“They are all connected and we aim to uplift all of these for our community,” Vavia said.

He shared how living in Mitiaro for the last couple of years was an eye-opener for him and the two other co-founders, Francis and Katreena Smith.

“We all could see how beautiful Mitiaro was, but we could also picture ways that could make her even more stunning,” he said.

Often the three would sit together to generate ideas, goals and values that were important to them that would benefit the island and its people.

With their diverse but combined experiences and networks, they thought they would just take action and hopefully get the job done.

Their initial team began with 22 young people signing up, and it has increased since then.

Vavia said they wanted them specifically to be a part of the NGO because it was their opportunity to demonstrate to them how they would go about project management, support outreach, document writing, and networking.

So far, TNT ON have been working together to construct a community park to promote healthier and safer living for the young tamariki on Mitiaro. Construction is scheduled to begin in January next year.

They are also working with the Rarotonga Sailing Club (RSC) to receive six small sailing vessels so that they may broaden the types of sports and fitness for the kids too.

Vavia expressed the NGO’s immense gratitude to RSC for their kind gift.

As their biggest concern is the environment, they are also aiming to develop ways in which they can minimise waste and environmental damage, but are working on how they can get the ball rolling with this.

Currently, investigations are being conducted on the marine environment in the Cook Islands – in particular the coral reef ecosystem and its impact on human activity – to highlight the human impact and what actions can be taken to improve marine life.

The opportunity to speak at the Oceania MDIO Unite event regarding their goals was also a good start, Vavia said.

"However, we are still working through this. In fact, last week I had the opportunity to speak during the Rotaract Oceania MDIO Unite For The Environment event regarding our goals to improve our waste management and to take better care of the environment. It was an interesting event particularly listening to the projects that are happening (and working) around the globe, so we're really grateful for Rotaract for the opportunity."