Environment
Te Ipukarea Society: Local lorikeets celebrated
Saturday 3 June 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
World Parrot Day celebrated on May 31 gives us a good excuse to bring more attention to a couple of our own brightly coloured lorikeets that come under the parrot family.
Guidelines agreed to, but more collaboration to come for turtle tours
Thursday 1 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
All of the major turtle tour operators have now signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, but legislation protecting the turtles could be months away.
National Environment Services director Halatoa Fua voices Cook Islands concerns
Wednesday 31 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
National Environment Service director, Halatoa Fua has made a plea at the second Intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment in Paris, France.
Suwarrow park rangers to monitor visiting vessels
Tuesday 30 May 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
The Cook Islands Suwarrow National Park will open its maritime borders to visiting international vessels tomorrow after having closed its entry for a few years since the outbreak of Covid-19.
Avaavaroa experience gives birth to new passion project
Saturday 27 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Features, In Depth, National, Weekend
Award-winning Cook Islands photographer Alex King has embarked on a new journey involving something she is passionate about – protecting the environment. King talks to Cook Islands News online editor Losirene Lacanivalu about “Te Ara o te Akau – The Meaning Behind the Reef” and the role the country’s newest non-government organisation (NGO) can play in fulfilling her passion.
Te Ipukarea Society: Some concerning aspects around deep sea mining
Saturday 27 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Proponents of mining our deep ocean seafloor justify the need for this hugely destructive process, largely by claims that the minerals from the deep are needed for batteries for electric vehicles.
Cook Islands youths on Arctic voyage
Tuesday 23 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Features, National, Tourism, Weekend
Two Cook Islanders are on a voyage that they never imagined they would take in their lifetime.
Te Ipukarea Society : Citizen science to assist turtle conservation
Saturday 20 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Rarotonga’s passages are key sites for spotting two species of sea turtles, the endangered green turtle and the critically endangered hawksbill turtle.
Chickens ‘dropping dead’ raises concern
Friday 19 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Local, National
Chickens are dropping dead on the island and investigation is underway to find the reason behind their sudden death.
PM Brown calls for fairer response to climate change
Wednesday 17 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, Features, National
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has again called on larger nations to help smaller nations in dealing with climate change issues.
Te Ipukarea Society: 27 years of protecting our Ipukarea
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
It has been almost 12 months since the last Te Ipukarea Society Annual General Meeting (AGM). As usual, before our AGM, we look back over the activities of the Society for the preceding 12 months.
Exploration study shines light on seabed minerals
Saturday 13 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
A major minerals assessment carried out by Seabed Minerals Authority has reaffirmed where the highest concentrations of nodules are expected to be within the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone.
Rubbish, degradation concern
Thursday 11 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, Local, National
Tourists to the Cook Islands still travel here for its beautiful environment, but some are concerned about the rubbish and signs of degradation, according to a major survey.
Enhancing, integrating climate change knowledge
Tuesday 9 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) is working with eight Pacific countries, including the Cook Islands, to enhance and integrate knowledge brokerage on climate change into aspects of the work they are doing in their communities.
Te Ipukarea Society: Community efforts to remove rats
Saturday 6 May 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Polynesian rats were introduced to the Cook Islands via early Vaka voyages. With time other species typically more dominant and destructive such as the ship rat and Norwegian rat were introduced via trading vessels arriving from far and wide.
ICI, Titikaveka MP call meeting to discuss road work after ‘damage had been done’
Thursday 4 May 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
The widening and improvement work to the Vaimaanga Ara Metua backroad in Titikaveka is causing havoc for farmers in the area.
Ambitious environment project aims to improve land, air and sea in Cook Islands
Tuesday 2 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
An ambitious multi-million dollar six-year environment project aimed at reducing and mitigating environmental impacts of key development sectors in the Cook Islands will be launched on Rarotonga.
Cook Islands joins High Ambition Coalition to end plastic pollution
Monday 1 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
“We have joined the High Ambition Coalition to end plastic pollution. This coalition sets an ambitious target to reverse and end plastic pollution by 2040,” says National Environment Service (NES) director Halatoa Fua.
Te Ipukarea Society : 'Rent A Plate’ back on wheels
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
With tourism numbers back on the rise, there are now innovative opportunities to “build back better”. Opportunities that not only create positive visitor experiences but experiences where visitors can participate in solutions that “Protect our Little Paradise” whilst on holiday.
Pest management training for the Pa Enua
Monday 24 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
The Food and Agriculture Organisation Pacific in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture have completed a training programme on pest management in the Pa Enua (outer islands).
