Environment
NES prepares for festive season
Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Environment
In anticipation of the festive season, the National Environment Service (NES) is reminding people to apply for permits to take shells and paua meat overseas. Christmas is the busy time of year for NES employees who process permit applications by people wanting to take such goods out of the country usually to family in New […]
Mission team in Raro
Saturday 19 November 2011 | Published in Environment
A mission team from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is currently in Rarotonga to introduce its new sub-regional coordinator Margaret Youshida. The team will also meet with a wide and varied number of national stakeholders and partners in the Cook Islands. Although mission activities for now will be based in Rarotonga […]
Turangi dump finally going
Friday 18 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Acting on instructions from leaseholder Dave Brown, General Transport is aiming to clean up the recycling yard in Turangi dubbed by some the Turangi dump before Christmas. The tenants who ran the recycling operation have vacated the premises. Brown holds the lease to the Turangi section, which legally belongs to landowner Pa Marie Ariki, and […]
TAU policy change dismays Solar Bob
Thursday 17 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Changes to Te Aponga Uiras policies on renewable energy systems appear as though the company is trying to block the private sector out of the industry, according to a Cook Islands solar system provider. Solar Bob Riley was dismayed when he yesterday heard that within weeks TAU would not be accepting any new grid-tied solar […]
Integrated framework may be implemented
Wednesday 16 November 2011 | Published in Environment
An Integrated Environment Assessment (IEA) framework may be implemented in the Cook Islands, to coordinate national information about the status of the countrys environment. The United Nations has been using IEA frameworks for a few years and through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Plan (SPREP), the Cook Islands is the fourth Pacific nation […]
Climate change project goes ahead
Wednesday 16 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Government and stakeholder organisations involved in the Cook Islands pilot project for climate change adaptation are travelling to Mangaia today. The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project involves the climate change-proofing of Mangaias harbour and airport areas. It is being undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP), Secretariat of the […]
Puna calls for climate change collaboration
Saturday 12 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Prime Minister Henry Puna is calling for regional collaboration in the effort to safeguard Pacific communities against the effects of climate change. This week he has been attending a conference in Noumea, New Caledonia, organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). The conference theme was climate change and food security challenges and solutions […]
Principal encounters whitetip reef shark
Saturday 12 November 2011 | Published in Environment
When Dale Wells went out snorkelling in the Muri lagoon just off the Little Polynesian on Tuesday, he went out expecting to hunt down the usual. Dale, Titikaveka Colleges acting principal, snorkels often at the location and has a found a few favourite fishing holes at the lagoon. He goes out almost every day, he […]
New book warns of Pacific food shortage
Friday 11 November 2011 | Published in Environment
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has published a new book, highlighting the new challenges posed by climate change in the region. The book, titled Vulnerability of Tropical Pacific Fisheries and Aquaculture to Climate Change claims there will be winners and losers from climate change, and the way Pacific governments react and adapt will […]
Reminder to conserve water despite rainfall
Friday 11 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Despite receiving a welcome top-up to its water reserves this week, the people of Rarotonga have been reminded to keep their water use down and not be wasteful just because of a few drops of rain. Water levels rose early this week after hitting lows almost across all of Rarotongas 12 catchments. And while it […]
Combining to boost renewable energies
Thursday 10 November 2011 | Published in Environment
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Pacific Power Association have joined forces to better enable governmental energy organisations across the Pacific to combine their efforts in advancing renewable energy technologies through the region. The two agencies, which go by the acronyms SPC and PPA, signed a memorandum of understanding at SPCs New Caledonia […]
Climate study offered
Thursday 10 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Those interested in climate change what it is, how it is affecting the Pacific region and what Pacific people can do about it will be able to study it from next year. The University of the South Pacific, through its Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD), is offering scholarships to Pacific people interested […]
Vaka Eiva volunteers needed
Wednesday 9 November 2011 | Published in Environment
The National Environment Service (NES) is calling for volunteers to help with green initiatives implemented during the upcoming Vaka Eiva festival. Helpers are needed to supervise and manage recycling bins throughout the event, encouraging people how to recycle and keep the environment clean as well as showing them how. NES expects the level of public […]
Muri inspections uncover some champions
Saturday 5 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Though sanitation inspections currently being carried out at Muri have shown the depth of problems that need fixing in the area, they are also uncovering a few outstanding cases of people making big efforts for the environment. The Water, Waste and Sanitation (WATSAN) unit of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is currently in the […]
Praise for conservation work
Saturday 5 November 2011 | Published in Environment
The conservation work at Atiu is something the whole of the Cook Islands should be proud of, according a visiting representative from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. A number of projects surrounding conservation efforts and species propagation at Atiu have been under the spotlight this week as the Cook Islands hosts Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund […]
Biomass a viable option, says expert
Friday 4 November 2011 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands is in a viable position to harness biomass energy for its electricity as an alternative to diesel generation, according to a leader in the field. The low electricity use of its islands, high cost of diesel generation and abundance of suitable fuels makes biomass energy a possible alternative for at least three […]
What is biomass?
Friday 4 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Tapping into biomass as a renewable energy source of islands like Atiu could help it manage and remove the threat introduced with new species of tree. Introduced timber like acacia and pine, which were planted at Atiu more than 20 years ago, are now growing wild and out-performing native species at the island. The trees […]
TIS environmental group mobilises youth
Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Environment
Environmental group Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is beginning the task of expanding its membership base and is asking Cook Islands youth to start thinking of how they can make a difference for the environment. TIS has been developing a membership strategy over the last month as it looks to expand its public profile to match […]
Biomass expert to assess potential
Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Environment
An Austrian biomass expert is in the Cook Islands this week to examine if the renewable energy source can be used to create electricity in the country. Doctor Richard Zweiller, co-director of Gussing Energy Technology, is visiting Rarotonga and Atiu this week to assess whether the two islands could use biomass energy for electricity generation […]
On water shortage, noises, sand
Saturday 29 October 2011 | Published in Environment
In this week’s kids page we feature a story on water shortage on the island of Atiu and poems by Apii Te Uki Ou year 5 and 6 students. Thanks to Maara Tairi on Atiu and Mrs Young at Apii Te Uki Ou. E mea puapinga te vai no te tangata, no te animara, no […]
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