Environment
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.
Takitumu Conservation launches management plan to intensify protection of endemic karekori
Friday 1 December 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
The Takitumu Conservation Area (TCA) Committee and National Environment Service have launched a management plan through to 2030.
Livestock owners reminded to keep animals hydrated amidst dry spell
Thursday 30 November 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Local, National
Livestock owners are being urged to take extra measures to keep their animals cool and hydrated as Rarotonga continues to grapple with dry weather conditions.
Algae bloom in Takuvaine Stream: Agencies clear the waterway
Thursday 30 November 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
The National Environment Service (NES) and Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) are monitoring Takuvaine stream following an algae bloom that emerged due to elevated nutrient levels and limited water circulation.
Cook Islands bolster Solomon Islands’ biosecurity measures
Wednesday 29 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, Local, National, Regional, Solomon Islands
Cook Islands biosecurity officers are in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to provide much-needed reinforcement to the local team due to a significant surge in arrivals for the Pacific Games.
It’s a wrap for rats on Cook Islands atoll
Wednesday 29 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
A rat eradication operation has wrapped up on Cook Islands’ Palmerston Atoll (500km from Rarotonga), with the hope that introduced rats never return to menace the atoll’s community and ecosystems.
Weed busting success in Rarotonga
Saturday 25 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
There was a satisfied sigh across Rarotonga recently. Two visits by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research NZ researchers to the Pacific island had revealed that the natural enemies introduced over the past few years to attack various weeds were all performing, or beginning to work, as expected.
Te Ipukarea Society continues its periodic programme
Saturday 25 November 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Here in the Cook Islands, and more specifically in the Pa Enua, young girls experiencing the menstrual cycle for the first time can find it quite overwhelming.
PM to catch Pacific Games action en route to COP28
Friday 24 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National, Pacific Games
Prime Minister Mark Brown left the country yesterday to lead the Cook Islands delegation to the 28th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, but not before making a stop in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to catch some Pacific Games action.
Cook Islands prepares to host 20th Pacific Tuna Commission Meeting
Thursday 23 November 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Following the successful hosting of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in November, the Cook Islands is preparing to welcome hundreds of officials and observers to the region’s largest annual gathering of tuna fisheries negotiators.
Conserve or be prosecuted: To Tatou Vai takes steps to address water scarcity
Thursday 23 November 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, Environment, Health, Local, National
Rarotonga’s water system agency, To Tatou Vai (TTV), has issued a warning that it has the authority to prosecute individuals for wasting water amidst concerns about declining levels at the island’s intakes.
Adviser sets out to dispel ‘myths’ about deep sea mining
Wednesday 22 November 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
A Cook Islands deep sea mining adviser says explosions, dynamite and digging are common misconceptions associated with the industry.
Sovereign rights not enough, regional cooperation needed for deep-sea mining: TIS
Tuesday 21 November 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Environment, National
There needs to be a regional approach to deep-sea mining, as opposed to relying solely on the sovereign rights of individual nations, given the transboundary risks such activities can pose to the Pacific Ocean, says a Cook Islands environmental group.
Initiative to preserve Muri Lagoon
Monday 20 November 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, Local, National
An enthusiastic effort is being undertaken by a whole-hearted community group whose passion is to preserve and protect the popular and beautiful Muri Lagoon in Ngatangiia.
Te Ipukarea Society: Mauke students engage in waste management and ocean health awareness
Saturday 18 November 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
With the introduction of non-biodegradable equipment and packaging over the past 50 plus years, waste management in the Pa Enua has become very challenging.
Te Ipukarea Society: Deep Rising paints ‘a very different picture around seabed mining’
Saturday 11 November 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
This past week on Tuesday at the Empire Cinema we launched the documentary called Deep Rising. This thought-provoking movie, narrated by Jason Momoa of Aquaman fame, dives down to the depths of the ocean to investigate the future plans for mining the seabed for valuable metals.
More than $59 million for climate-resilient infrastructure
Friday 10 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Environment, National
Plans to pump more than US$35 million (NZ$59.4m) into upgrading infrastructure within the Cook Islands community to help tackle climate change are in development.
Rarotonga to Aitutaki seabed under exploration
Thursday 9 November 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority team and the Moana Minerals team are off on another seabed minerals expedition, and this time it is between the waters of Aitutaki and Rarotonga.
