Environment
Te Ipukarea Society: ‘Embarrassing’ push from Cook Islands venture for deep sea mining regulation
Saturday 25 January 2025 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Last week a group of eight deep seabed mining companies with exploration contracts in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) sent a letter to the President of the International Seabed Authority.
NGO exceeds target, removes 15k crown-of-thorns starfish
Friday 24 January 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands non-governmental organisation Te Kōrero O Te ‘Ōrau has surged past its target of removing 10,000 taramea (crown-of-thorns starfish), a notorious coral predator, from the deep blue of Rarotonga.
NES launches seabed minerals factsheet
Thursday 23 January 2025 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
The National Environment Service (NES) says it plays a crucial role in assessing and reviewing environmental matters associated with seabed mineral activities.
Trump’s climate pact withdraw no surprise, says Cook Islands Climate Change director
Thursday 23 January 2025 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National, Politics
United States president Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is no surprise, says Cook Islands Climate Change director Wayne King.
Protecting Aitutaki’s ‘beating heart’ using traditional conservation method
Saturday 11 January 2025 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Features, Local, National, Outer Islands, Weekend
Aitutaki residents gathered at their prized lagoon this week to continue the custom of protecting their marine environment through the re-establishment of the traditional ra’ui, a temporary fishing ban within the lagoon.
Aitutaki community re-establishes traditional ra’ui to protect marine
Friday 10 January 2025 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
The Aitutaki community has re-established a traditional ra’ui, a temporary fishing ban, in their lagoon to protect marine life and ensure sustainable resource management, with support from the National Environment Service.
Seabed mining must be ‘commercially viable’ in order to proceed: PM Brown
Thursday 9 January 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown has acknowledged economic concerns about seabed mining, emphasising that the government will only proceed with projects that are both commercially viable and environmentally sustainable.
PM Brown calls for debt relief for climate-impacted small island states
Monday 30 December 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Economy, Environment, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown has expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in climate change negotiations, particularly the failure of major emitting countries to meet their carbon emissions targets and financial commitments.
PM clarifies use of NGO logos in seabed mining consultation
Saturday 28 December 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, Local, National, Politics
Prime Minister Mark Brown has responded to concerns raised by two environmental groups, Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) and Korero o te Orau, regarding the government’s recent seabed mining consultation in New Zealand.
Heavy rainfall brings relief to water crisis but cleanup efforts underway
Wednesday 18 December 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, National, Weather
The week of December 9 to December 15 saw significant rainfall across several islands in the Cook Islands, providing much-needed relief to the ongoing water crisis in Rarotonga.
Rat eradication restores Palmerston atoll’s ecosystem
Tuesday 17 December 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
Palmerston atoll has officially been declared rat free following a tremendous eradication effort by the local community, with support from agencies in Rarotonga and New Zealand.
Local heroes risk lives to save teens caught in stormy seas
Monday 16 December 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Environment, Local, National
Two teenagers, aged 12 and 13, were rescued from Avarua Harbour after they went swimming during the heavy downpour on Saturday afternoon, which caused flash flooding in low-lying areas of Rarotonga.
Aitutaki community gets creative with climate change solutions
Thursday 12 December 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
The Climate Change Cook Islands is holding a workshop focusing on climate change proposal writing for stakeholders in Aitutaki.
Climate crisis erodes Cook Islands’ cultural identity, Wichman tells ICJ
Wednesday 11 December 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands has highlighted the impact of climate change on cultural heritage, particularly for women, during its historic participation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings in a landmark climate change case.
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
Tuesday 10 December 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National, Parliament
The Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill 2024 that has been referred to the Bills, Petitions and Papers Committee is a culmination of many years of hard work of the current and previous heads of the Ministry of Infrastructure Cook Islands, says Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas.
Te Ipukarea Society: ‘Worm farming’, a fun composting process
Saturday 7 December 2024 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Did you know, the presence of worms in your garden is a sign of having healthy soil? Worms help aerate the soil through their movements, allowing the roots of plants to receive more oxygen and nutrients.
Environment groups demand proper public survey on seabed mining
Tuesday 3 December 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, National
Local environmental groups are urging the Government to conduct a comprehensive survey to determine public support for seabed mining before further action is taken.
Cook Islands scholar joins science academy
Wednesday 27 November 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Education, Environment, National
Cook Islands will benefit from the launch of the Pacific Academy of Sciences, which promotes the study of natural and social science, indigenous knowledge and technology.
Deep-sea 'promotion not consultation'
Monday 25 November 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
Opposition leader Tina Browne has claimed that the meaning of the word “consultation” is lost on the Government, following a government-led seabed minerals meeting that was held in New Zealand last week.
Cooks in plastics treaty negotiations
Thursday 21 November 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Heads of delegation for about 32 member states met in Glion, Switzerland, to share views and ideas in preparation for the fifth and final session of Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee (INC-5) to establish a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, which will take place in Busan, Republic of Korea this November 2024.
