Environment
Rupe risk it for the biscuit
Saturday 18 September 2021 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Environment, Opinion
Native to the Cook Islands and across the Pacific, the Rupe is found on most southern group islands including Palmerston, and Pukapuka and Manihiki in the north.
Cleaning up the world, one island at a time
Saturday 18 September 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Environment, National
Helping hands all over Rarotonga gathered together yesterday to give the island a tidying up and participate in the global Clean Up the World Day.
Group seeks to draw attention to environmental concerns
Wednesday 15 September 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Environment, National
A new community group that emphasises a self-help, proactive approach to village initiatives is focused on the people, land and sea of Ngatangiia and will be formalised today.
PM to do 'virtual' check in at climate conference
Wednesday 15 September 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark will not attend a climate change conference in Scotland later this year, instead hoping to contribute “virtually”.
Cooks join ‘Clean up the World Day’ campaign
Tuesday 14 September 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Environment, National
The National Environment Service (NES) is encouraging the public to get creative in their participation of this year’s ‘Clean up the World Day’ this Friday – whether that be through recycling, tree planting, or showing their support towards an environmental community project.
Avake assist with MMR lagoon health project
Wednesday 1 September 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
Concerns had been raised from residents in Muri regarding cages holding sea urchins locally known as “avake” (Tripneustes gratilla) in Muri lagoon.
'Climate change is killing our reefs': The major challenges facing the Cook Islands coral reefs
Monday 30 August 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Environment, National
With improved management and monitoring, the reefs and fish communities of the Cook Islands have the potential to flourish and become some of the best in the South Pacific, reports Caleb Fotheringham.
Report supports sludge disposal
Saturday 21 August 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
A 300-page report released by Cook Islands National Environment Service supports sludge disposal on Rarotonga, but a lobby group says more thought is needed on cost and impact.
Climate change threatens food security
Monday 16 August 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Environment, National
Islands in both the Southern and Northern groups have highlighted the effects of climate change to their everyday lives and the solutions they have had to come up with, especially to address the issue of food security.
Seabed environmental management discussed in workshop
Friday 13 August 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
The Cook Islands recently hosted an international workshop on deep seabed (SBM) environmental management and monitoring from 26 to 29 July 2021, with over 120 virtual and local participants.
Tree removed from Muri wetland causes concern
Friday 6 August 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Environment, National
The removal of a tree from a wetland area due to it being a “hazard to a neighbouring house” has caused concern amongst some residents of Muri.
Cook Islands reefs used in global study
Tuesday 3 August 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Environment, National
Data collected from coral reefs in the Cook Islands have been used in a new model to help save reef ecosystems around the planet.
Ultimatum on Muri lagoon
Saturday 31 July 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Environment, National
A community-based effort to rehabilitate Muri lagoon includes a sweeping set of recommendations, including a moratorium on all development along Ngatangiia’s foreshore.
Community wants action to save lagoon
Thursday 29 July 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Environment, National
Plans that can be immediately activated to help save Muri Lagoon were overwhelmingly supported at a community meeting Tuesday night called by senior traditional leader Vaikai Mataiapo Tutara.
Climate change encouraged discovery of Southern Cooks earlier than first thought
Tuesday 27 July 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, National
A new study on Atiu has found evidence of exploratory voyages to the Southern Cook Islands up to three hundred years earlier than previously thought and well before first settlement. The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA and is summarised here for Cook Islands News by lead scientist, Professor David Sear.
A plan to fix Muri lagoon
Monday 26 July 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Environment, National
In 2015, the state of Muri lagoon was declared to be a national disaster by the then Cabinet – six years later the state of Rarotonga’s most famous tourist spot has worsened significantly.
Seabed mining workshop focus on environmental management
Friday 23 July 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, Environment, National
An announcement on expected timeframes on the decision-making process on four exploration licence applications by companies that have expressed interest in the nation’s deep sea mineral resources will be made within the coming weeks.
Environmental changes main cause of fresh fish shortage, government says
Thursday 22 July 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Environment, National
The Head of the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) has refuted claims that overfishing is the cause of low fresh fish supplies that have affected Rarotonga’s residents and visitors for over a month.
Young farmers – the future of agriculture
Wednesday 21 July 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Environment, National
The students at Rutaki School were excitedly preparing yesterday for the first ever School’s Market Day which will take place today from 9am to 1pm at the Constitution Park in Avarua.
Rest in peace – hunting predatory taramea
Monday 19 July 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Environment, National
A team of Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) employees, volunteer freedivers and a representative from the Proprietors of Manuae Incorporated (PMI) has just returned from a crown-of-thorns starfish (taramea) removal expedition to the uninhabited island of Manuae.
