Environment
Moratorium calls ‘unclear’
Monday 24 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands’ Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has again come out swinging against those who call for a moratorium on the practice of minerals exploration after another meeting with the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
Te Ipukarea Society : Nurture nature for our future
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Today is the last day of Earth week for 2023, celebrated from April 14th to the 22nd. It is a week set aside for communities to demonstrate their support for a healthy environment, and remind people that we all need to contribute to a sustainable planet.
MOU on turtle tours
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National, Tourism
Two turtle tour operators have declined to sign an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation.
New seabed map – first of its kind for Cook Islands
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Seabed Minerals Authority senior technical officer Rima Browne has led the creation of a new seabed map – the first of its kind for the Cook Islands.
MMR, Kōrero O Te `Ōrau and NZ Cawthron Institute investigate issue of ciguatera
Tuesday 18 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
A team from the Cawthron Institute in New Zealand is working closely with the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and Kōrero O Te `Ōrau to tackle the issue of ciguatera in the Cook Islands.
Where is the accountability? : concerned resident
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
A Rarotonga resident is concerned residential developments are encroaching on beaches without care or consequence.
Considering the possible impacts of deep sea mining in the Cooks
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
In the recent Parliament opening, King’s Representative Sir Tom Masters spoke of the Cook Islands’ desire to develop a sustainable and environmentally responsible seabed minerals sector. This week, also in Parliament, Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne criticised Government for rushing ahead in regards to deep sea mining.
Te Ipukarea Society : Regenerative tourism – turning this new concept into reality
Saturday 8 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
The concept of Sustainable Tourism has been at the forefront of strategic and operational planning for decades. However the emerging paradigm shift is towards regenerative tourism.
Cook Islands to monitor pesticide use
Tuesday 4 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
The Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation Office for the Pacific is working with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division to implement the activities of a new proposed Pacific Regional Pesticide Registration Scheme.
PM assured AUKUS deal will not breach Rarotonga Treaty
Tuesday 4 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National, Politics
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has said he has received assurances that the recent Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) proposals will not contravene the Treaty of Rarotonga.
Eliminate mozzie breeding grounds, says Te Marae Ora
Tuesday 4 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, Health, National
Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health is calling on the public to clean their yards and eliminate any potential mosquito breeding places.
Pressing ahead with environment policy
Monday 3 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
It’s a document which received applause from environmentalists and school students alike when it was launched last week. The Cook Islands National Environment Policy 2022-32 is an attempt to ‘escalate efforts to protect the environment’.
Te Ipukarea Society: Navigating challenging waters at the ISA
Saturday 1 April 2023 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Te Ipukarea Society along with NGO indigenous representatives from Hawaii, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea and Aotearoa NZ participated as ‘observers’ in the recent International Seabed Authority meetings, which gave them the opportunity to intervene in matters discussed.
Cook Islands welcomes UN resolution on climate justice
Friday 31 March 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
The Cook Islands Government has welcomed a landmark resolution calling for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world’s highest court, to issue an advisory opinion on climate change.
Reports of ‘overcrowding’ as turtle tour guidelines still pending following delays
Thursday 30 March 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
Turtle tour operators are worried about overcrowding as the Ministry of Marine Resources is still in the final stages of signing off guidelines.
Cook Islands chairing regional conference on sea level rise
Wednesday 29 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands High Commissioner to Fiji Jim Armistead is chairing a Pacific Islands Forum conference gathering of top global minds on international law in Fiji this week, putting the spotlight on sea level rise as it implicates statehood and persons.
Rarotonga farmers battle over potential sludge trial
Wednesday 29 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
A meeting to discuss potential use of sludge from the new water treatment system came to an abrupt halt yesterday afternoon when tempers erupted between farmers who opposed and supported the idea.
Induction training for Aitutaki Environment Authority members
Wednesday 22 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Education, Environment, National, Outer Islands
Roselyn Strickland, National Environment Service (NES) environment legal counsel, and Benjamin Maxwell, NES senior environmental compliance, both of Aitutakian descent, delivered the board induction training to the Aitutaki Environment Authority (AEA) members following the issuing of their warrants by the Minister of Environment.
Mauke Environment Authority ready to tackle issues
Tuesday 21 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, Local, National, Outer Islands
Tekura Moeka’a, NES Manager of Environmental Policy & Planning, and Junior Tapoki, NES Senior Environmental Compliance, both of Maukean descent, travelled to Mauke to deliver two significant milestones for environmental leadership in Mauke – issuing of the warrants for the Mauke Environment Authority (MEA) board members and signing of MOU with the Mauke Island Government.
Public submissions open for major town project
Saturday 18 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, Local, National
The Panama beautification and Punanga Nui Market re-organisation project is gaining momentum with the National Environment Service yesterday announcing an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) permit application for public scrutiny.
