Environment
The case for Reusables versus Disposables
Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Since 2008 when Lagoon Day was first held, June Hosking and other presenters advocated for reusable nappies over disposables. However the topic, without ready suppliers and information on island, has crawled along. So earlier this year Hosking, now the coordinator of Lagoon Day, decided it was time to follow her dream with a good plan […]
Shark conservation under consultation
Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Environment
A two-day meeting was held this week by the Ministry of Marine Resources to discuss an updated national plan of action for sharks. Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) secretary Ben Ponia organised the consultation to talk about the problem of shark over-fishing and the possibility of creating a shark sanctuary in the Cooks. Ponia flew […]
Shark finning alleged
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in Environment
In Parliament Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked marine resources minister Teina Bishop to comment on allegations that vessels licensed under the exploratory programme are finning sharks illegally. ”Is the minister aware that under the exploratory licences scheme or regime…people who are fishing in our waters, particularly Asian fishermen fishing in our waters, are finning sharks?“ […]
National plan for sharks
Wednesday 13 June 2012 | Published in Environment
The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) will hold a consultation on its National Plan of Action for Sharks starting on Thursday afternoon at 1pm and continuing Friday morning at New Hope Church, Avarua, Rarotonga. MMR secretary Ben Ponia will lead the consultation which will include a presentation on global and regional shark issues by Dr […]
Recycled sculptures cut waste
Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Friday morning saw five judges visit 11 sculptures around Rarotonga for the SLM Recycled Sculptures competition which was the last event for National Environment Week. Groups, government departments, businesses and other organisations were invited to participate by creating sculptures of sea creatures out of waste material from their office/workplace/community to display during Environment Week. With […]
Lagoon Day 'dream' rolls out from today
Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Today begins a 31-day countdown to Lagoon Day – an environmental exhibition to raise public awareness through hands on, and where possible, on site education. Lagoon Day is in its fifth year and the event, on July 12 and 13, is themed ‘Dream the possible dream’. Event coodinator June Hosking says that the theme was […]
Reclamation grows
Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Environment
The $1.8 million Punanga Nui reclamation project is underway at a great pace, with more dredged harbour material being added to make new land every day – and night. Ports Authority general manager Bim Tou said contractors McConnell Dowell (Mac Dow) are working day and night to get the work completed. Water suppression of dust […]
75% of Muri properties signed up
Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Environment
After a month-long information and advertising campaign, 75 percent of residential property owners in the Muri-Avana area have now signed-up to receive an upgraded sanitation system provided under the waste management initiative. Those signing up to the waste management initiative (WMI programme) are required to make a $1000 contribution towards the cost of the upgrade. […]
Plants grown with 'fish poo'
Friday 8 June 2012 | Published in Environment
An aquafarm venture is currently being built in Titikaveka ready to open in time for the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in August. Aquaponics, which is new to the Cook Islands, combines aquaculture and hydroponics. For a simpler explanation, in the words of Pacific Islands Trade & Invest’s media and stakeholder relationships advisor Dev Nadkarni, ”it […]
Environment award recipient chosen
Friday 8 June 2012 | Published in Environment
To coincide with Environment Week, Tania Temata has been chosen as recipient of Te Ipukarea Society’s Environment Award. ”This award is presented to either an individual or organisation or business who is a champion of environmental issues and Tania is very deserving of this award,“ says Ian Karika, president of the society. In citing the […]
Turtle research reinforcements
Thursday 7 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Fresh off of their Palmerston sea turtle research expedition, the Cook Islands Turtle Project (CITP) – a project of Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative (PICI) – is excited to welcome two new volunteers to the team. Phil and Nerissa Bradshaw have come on board to run sea turtle research for the southern group – and they’ve […]
Use reusable bags!
Thursday 7 June 2012 | Published in Environment
In the spirit of National Environment Week, the National Environment Service (NES) is encouraging people to tote their groceries in reusable bags. Two shop owners have been obliging and on board with NES’ efforts to phase out plastic bags for months now, and in return have received 100 reusable bags apiece to sell to customers. […]
Tokelau aims for 100% renewable energy by 2012
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Tokelau is following the Cook Islands by declaring a 100 percent renewable energy goal. Pacific island countries are among the most petroleum-dependent nations and territories in the world. However, Tokelau, a group of three small atolls in the South Pacific, will be the first to meet its electricity needs entirely through renewable energy by the […]
Seeking green answers for green economies
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Yesterday the world celebrated World Environment Day. Below is a message from Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, in commemoration of the occasion. The Cook Islands is celebrating Environment Week this week in honour of World Environment Day. We know the future we want for all. We want a future where every girl and boy can […]
Cloth bag show open
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Environment
The Art Studio in Arorangi is kicking its Environment Week display into gear. Associate minister for the environment and Ngatangiia MP Atatoa Herman, with support from and in conjunction with the Cook Islands Sustainable Land Management Project and the National Environment Service, will formally open the SLM Cloth Bag Exhibition tonight at 6pm. While the […]
Distributing green materials
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Environment
NES are distributing Waste Education Handbooks and other resources (DVDs, posters and fact books) to all schools within the Cook Islands in time for Environment Week. This will be used to supplement classroom lessons on the environment, in particular regarding waste management. The Waste Education Handbooks are great for any group, including youth and community […]
Bag and sculpture comps for conservation
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Environment
The National Environment Service (NES) has organised two events on Rarotonga to celebrate Environment Week, and the NES pa enua offices have also developed their own programmes. NES encourages all Cook Islands residents to get involved and enter a sculpture of a sea creature made from recycled materials into a nationwide competition. Participants will be […]
Celebrate the environment
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Nikao Maori School students, Grade Seven and Eight, share more of their creative writing with us this week. Environment Week also begins today, so for the next two weeks the Kids Page will feature word puzzles with an environmental theme, supplied by the National Environment Service. The National Environment Service also has some T-shirts to […]
Local effort
Saturday 2 June 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. Koka has collected healthy corals, which are ready to be attached to the reef, where they can spawn and where snorkelers can ogle them. Marine biologist Tina Weier, who […]
Silt shuts sub
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Silt from the Avatiu Port dredging operation has covered the ocean floor from Avatiu to Tupapa, worrying tourist operators. Raro Reef Sub co-owner Sheryl John, who takes tourists out to the reefs in a semi-submarine she runs with husband Huw, says for the last couple of days the water visibility has been so bad they […]