Environment
Tourism seeks ‘smaller’ cruise liners to beat weather and infrastructure hurdle
Thursday 28 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Environment, National, Tourism, Weather
The overreliance on favourable weather conditions significantly hinders Cook Islands Tourism’s ability to further develop the cruise market, says the corporation’s director of destination development Brad Kirner.
Rarotonga to ship 90,000kg of legacy waste to NZ in record cleanup
Thursday 28 December 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Over 90,000 kilograms of waste stored in 29 containers, comprising both 20-foot and 40-foot units, are ready to be shipped off to New Zealand.
Resorts face scrutiny over pool refills as water crisis deepens
Thursday 28 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
The Cook Islands tourism industry is facing calls to conserve water amidst reports of some resorts refilling their pools.
Te Ipukarea Society: Creative ways to reduce waste this Christmas in the Cook Islands
Sunday 24 December 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
It is that time of the year again, the season of gift-giving and yummy kaikais. Together with all the fun and good times spent with family, opening presents and eating more than usual, there will also be an enormous amount of rubbish generated.
Seabed regulations: Public input ends, future updates planned
Monday 18 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Environment, National, Parliament
Cook Islands concludes public consultation for seabed mineral exploration guidelines, while the Prime Minister emphasises exploration’s potential for future prosperity and responsible resource extraction. Losirene Lacanivalu reports.
From flycatchers to forests : How the Cook Islands are championing nature
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, Features, National, Weekend
Home to the Rarotonga flycatcher, Cook Islands fruit-dove and coconut crab, the 15 South Pacific islands that comprise the nation have a rich natural heritage. Around 60 per cent of the nation’s land is still covered by tropical forest, and its lagoons and seas have an abundance of diverse marine life.
Te Ipukarea Society: Deep seabed mining and the emerging risk to our tuna fisheries
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Last week saw the Cook Islands host one of the most significant meetings with respect to the shared tuna stocks in the region.
WCPFC20 ends with mixed results
Tuesday 12 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, Environment, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Hosts Cook Islands expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the 20th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC20), which concluded over the weekend.
Turtle trio release draws crowd
Monday 11 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Environment, Local, National
Hundreds of people waded through the knee-high water at the entrance of Avaavarua Passage in Rarotonga to accompany a trio of rescue turtles on the first leg of their release into the wild.
Te Ipukarea Society 2023 highlights: Local engagement and international impact
Saturday 9 December 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
2023 has been a jam-packed year, with lots of local engagement, off island expeditions, and everyday work.
Shell-abration time: Rescued turtles ready to dive back into the wild
Saturday 9 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Environment, National
Three green sea turtles which were surrendered to a Rarotonga eco-centre after failing to thrive while being kept as pets, have had their shells engraved in preparation for their release into the wild.
‘Overcrowding and sustainability’ fears cloud turtle tourism industry
Thursday 7 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
A revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cook Islands turtle tour operators and the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has been proposed as the new guidelines for operations in the Avaavaroa Passage.
PM urges global action at COP28
Wednesday 6 December 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Taking centre stage at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention over the weekend in Dubai, Prime Minister Mark Brown called upon world leaders to consider those on the frontlines of an environmental war ‘we did not initiate’.
Climate change, overfishing: Pacific tuna faces ‘unprecedented challenges’
Tuesday 5 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National, Regional
The annual regional fisheries meeting to discuss and address crucial matters concerning tuna fisheries and the marine ecosystems they inhabit began yesterday with a traditional welcome and official opening ceremony at the National Auditorium.
Tupapa legacy waste collection dates released
Tuesday 5 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
In an effort to rid the island of legacy waste, the ‘Titā ki te Titā kore’ collection project will continue this week in the district of Tupapa, starting tomorrow through to Friday.
Pacific tuna at stake: Global leaders gather for sustainable solution
Tuesday 5 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National, Regional
Cook Islands is hosting the 20th regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC20), which oversees the world’s largest tuna fisheries, this week.
National Environment Service staffers travel to Aitutaki for causeway inspection at Lagoon Private Island Resort
Monday 4 December 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
National Environment Service staffers head to Aitutaki this week to assess the state of a temporary causeway at the redevelopment of upmarket Lagoon Private Island Resort.
Pa Enua schools turn trash into treasure in Sanitarium Creative Art Competition
Saturday 2 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, Environment, Local, National, Outer Islands
Students in the Pa Enua demonstrated their artistic prowess by designing sculptures from recycled Sanitarium product packaging in the Sanitarium Creative Art Schools Competition, facilitated by the Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC).
Te Ipukarea Society: The radiating depths of our Marae Moana
Saturday 2 December 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Scientists raise alarm over radioactivity risks in polymetallic nodule mining Is the radioactivity of polymetallic nodules an problem? The simple answer to that question is, we do not know. Yet.
Fishermen, environment group seek solutions to dwindling fish stocks
Saturday 2 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Environment, Local, National
Dwindling fish numbers and the potential impact of deep sea mining on fish are among the issues in Cook Islands waters that fishermen and an environmental group want to see addressed at an upcoming meeting in Rarotonga between the Pacific’s fisheries ministries.
