Environment
$3m waste and sanitation project underway
Thursday 7 April 2011 | Published in Environment
A $3 million programme aimed at improving lagoon water quality in Rarotonga and Aitutaki is now underway. The Waste Management and Sanitation Improvement Programme is being funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme and has been developed in consultation with Cook Island Government agencies, businesses and civil society. “Effective waste management and sanitation infrastructure and […]
Region reports on climate change preparations
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Pacific nations are working together to better prepare communities for climate change, following a regional conference in Niue. The Cook Islands was represented at the 2011 Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR) by National Environment Service (NES) island futures division manager Pasha Carruthers. Carruthers made a number of presentations to the roundtable, and gained some valuable […]
CICC to celebrate Earth Hour
Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) Sunday school grounds at Avana will be the venue for an official Earth Hour party tomorrow evening. A candlelight service will include prayer, song, and purua reading. Local artists at the gathering will also make presentations during the hour between 8pm and 9pm, when all residents are encouraged to […]
Conserving water is 'fairer'
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Greater water pressure and increased water reserves for emergencies are the likely benefits of water conservation efforts by all those living on Rarotonga. During World Water Day yesterday, Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning water works officer Adrian Teotahi urged residents to use water wisely and consider the consequences of water wastage. Teotahi says at present […]
Greenpeace against it
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Operating in the region today are “super super purse seiners” which take almost double the entire annual catch of some Pacific island countries in a single fishing trip. Greenpeace identifies the biggest and most devastatingly efficient tuna catching vessel in the world as the Spanish-owned Albatun Tres which has been fishing far west side of […]
String bands by candlelight
Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Cook Islands businesses, individuals, and government organisations are being encouraged to conserve electricity during Earth Hour on March 26. The 60 minutes between 8pm and 9pm this Saturday provides a chance for people worldwide to switch off non-essential lights and appliances in a bid to save energy and recognise the effect climate change is having […]
Campaigning to save wetlands
Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Projects to mark the Cook Islands’ year of wetlands are being organised to coincide with the country’s national environment week later this year. National Environment Service (NES) environment education and awareness officer Deyna Marsh says 2011 has been recognised as the year of forests by United Nations, and SPREP is recognising it as the year […]
Games training squad in sprints
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Environment
This Saturday’s oe vaka sprint races will see paddlers battling it out on Muri lagoon in the V6 canoes over the course distances of 1000m and 1500m. At the weekend races were over 50m in the V6 division with some great results seen overall. A small but enthusiastic group of paddlers enjoyed the day’s racing […]
Library and museum goes solar
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands Library and Museum Society has gone solar thanks to the German Embassy in Wellington. The embassy donated $8573 for solar panels for the roof of the library and museum in September last year and last month six solar panels were installed. The $700 monthly power bill for the library and museum was […]
Women explain carbon emission effects
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Even if developed countries adhere to pledges to reduce carbon emissions, global temperatures will rise by 3.2 degrees, says Myra Patai, who headed the Cook Islands delegation to the COP16 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Cancun last year. While the world is pressuring developed countries like the US, the EU, Japan, Canada, Australia and […]
Call for 'bold action' on climate change
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Climate change adaption advocates are pushing for a new unit to be established within the Office of the Prime Minister, as a central entity to manage climate change functions for the Cook Islands. It is envisiged the unit will primarily coordinate and integrate existing climate change-related bodies and individuals within the Cook Islands government as […]
'Leave Maina Iti alone'
Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Environment
An Aitutaki lagoon tours operator is accusing one of the islands’ most entrepreneurial families of causing irreparable damage to Maina Iti – a naturally occurring sand-cay. For some years Andrew Katu has been operating his lagoon tours and he’s not happy that the Henry family is using Main Iti as a recreational area. It took […]
Harbour spoil headed to Panama
Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Members of the public have until March 30 to endorse or object to the proposed Ports Authority project to store spoil dredged from the Avatiu harbour at an abandoned Panama dump site. The National Environment Service (NES) this week made public its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, drawn up in response to a Ports Authority […]
Alternative farming methods advocated
Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Climate change is already affecting Cook Islands agriculture, according to grower Teava Iro. The affect of climate change on agricultural practices and production was discussed during the first day of the week-long workshop being held in Rarotonga. The National Adaption Planning Week began when local issues to do with prolonged weather pattern changes and adaption […]
Bonefishery requires 'conversion'
Saturday 26 February 2011 | Published in Environment
The Ministry of Marine Resources is happy its new bonefish management plan, which includes the Aitutaki lagoon, is being supported by most within the island’s community. MMR secretary Ben Ponia says a few locals remain opposed to the regulations, which were formally adopted in October and will start to be enforced at the beginning of […]
Fancy gear for lagoon tests
Wednesday 23 February 2011 | Published in Environment
Muri lagoon will host some magnificent machines and expensive equipment in its waters over the next 40 days. SOPAC, the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific, is lending the gear to the Cook Islands as part of the Muri Water and Sanitation Project – a water quality monitoring programme that […]
Kids raise water and sanitation awareness
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Environment
Vaka Takitumu school pupils have until this Friday to complete their various projects as part of the education awareness competition organised by the Muri Environment Care Group in conjunction with the European Union Muri Water and Sanitation Project. Students have been researching, writing and creating posters under the water and sanitation topic with the view […]
Scientists testing lagoon quality
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Environment
The curious white poles planted in the Ngatangiia lagoon this week do indeed serve a purpose. A team of researchers from Southern Cross University, the University of Texas, the Ministry of Marine Resources and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is testing lagoon and inland areas to get a clearer picture of the nutrient makeup […]
Nominations for RIEA due today
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Environment
Nominations for members of the Rarotonga Island Environment Authority close today at midday. The Rarotonga Island Environment Authority is a body which determines applications for permits and makes decisions pertaining to Environmental Impact Assessments. It also approves policies and work programmes to be adopted by National Environment Service (NES). The Rarotonga Island Environment Authority consists […]
Rethink Raui policies
Saturday 5 February 2011 | Published in Environment
Dear Editor, This letter is to support the disappointed Raui supporters that witnessed a total rape and pillage of the Raui in Mauke. I am always a believer in our Raui system but not the Rauis that are temporarily put in place and then harvested. A Raui should be there to sustain on going marine, […]
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