Environment
Govt denies muzzling workers, despite environmentalist claims
Tuesday 3 September 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, National
The Public Service Commissioner denies any government protocol restricting public servants from speaking publicly against seabed mining, after claims made by an environmental campaigner.
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
Monday 2 September 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Environment, National
Cook Islands’ topography and remoteness make it highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, states the latest Pacific Economic Monitor – August 2024: Building Resilience the Pacific Way report.
Te Ipukarea Society: Ī’oi project takes flight
Saturday 31 August 2024 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
This week marked an exciting milestone for the Ī’oi project led by Te Ipukarea Society, as researchers successfully captured and tagged the first ī’oi in the Takitumu Conservation Area.
NES reviews national biodiversity strategy
Friday 30 August 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, National
The National Environment Service (NES) will be seeking the public’s, government agencies and non-governmental organisations’ perspectives on plans to update the Cook Islands National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
Environment concerns halt hydro energy project at Sheraton redevelopment
Tuesday 27 August 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
National Environment Service (NES) has stopped work on a redevelopment project at the old ‘Sheraton Hotel’ site until an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is completed.
Cook Islands enhances climate transparency with training
Monday 26 August 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Environment, National
Climate Change Cook Islands staff participated in a weeklong Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency – Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP) training workshop at the New Hope Church last week.
TTV recommends drastic cut to proposed free water allocation
Monday 26 August 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Environment, Local, National
The Rarotonga water agency has slashed the Government’s proposed free water allocation by 75 per cent, recommending a daily limit of just 100 litres per person.
Te Ipukarea Society: Cook Islands Seabed Mining Regulations premature
Saturday 24 August 2024 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Te Ipukarea Society urges the Cook Islands Government to delay the adoption of seabed minerals mining regulations due to insufficient scientific information and the ongoing negotiations at the International Seabed Authority.
Coral planting initiative enters second phase
Wednesday 21 August 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, Local, National, Outer Islands, Tourism
A coral planting initiative led by an Aitutaki resort has entered its second phase, with guests playing a vital role in restoring and protecting the local marine environment.
Tupapa scrub fire consumes 30,000 litres as water shortage lingers
Wednesday 21 August 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, Local, National
A scrub fire, fanned by gusty winds, was swiftly contained yesterday.
Families left high and dry as water crisis deepens
Tuesday 20 August 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, Health, Local, National
Rarotonga is facing a growing water crisis as a result of intermittent showers for nearly a month.
Te Ipukarea Soceity: Local nesting petrels under threat
Saturday 17 August 2024 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Petrels are a family of seabirds known for covering large distances across open oceanic waters.
Breach notice served over toa tree felling
Friday 16 August 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, Local, National
A breach notice has been served to the construction company that cut down 10 ironwood (toa) trees at the Fruits of Rarotonga waterfront in Tikioki, despite the company’s claims of safety concerns and public benefit.
Vairoa stream clean-up aims to protect community from floods
Friday 16 August 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, Local, National
An effort to clean and realign the Vairoa stream in Ruatonga valley as well as reclaim neighbouring land eroded by torrential floods is well underway.
Significant drop in mosquito breeding sites, finds Tutaka
Thursday 15 August 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Environment, Health, Local, National
Te Marae Ora (TMO) Ministry of Health’s Tutaka campaign has made significant progress in reducing the mosquito and pest breeding sites with the coordinator reporting that the nation remains safe from mosquito and pest-related diseases.
Community group challenges Water Tariff Assessment, raises financial concerns
Tuesday 13 August 2024 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Environment, Local, National
The Rarotonga water authority will lose over a million dollars annually, claims Te Vai Ora Maori (TVOM), after its review of the June 2024 Water Tariff Assessment.
Cook Islands leads charge in war against invasive species
Tuesday 13 August 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, Features, National, Weekend
Cook Islands is hosting a regional meeting this week to address the significant threat of invasive species to the country’s ecosystems, food security and biodiversity, while sharing knowledge and seeking solutions with other Pacific nations.
Government and NGOs collaborate on revised Biodiversity Action Plan
Monday 12 August 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
The Tu’anga Taporoporo National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that was endorsed in 2002 has many gaps, is out of date and has not been reviewed or updated for 22 years.
War of the wings: The Rimatara lorikeet and how I learnt to hate the Atiu mynah
Monday 12 August 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Environment, Features, Local, National, Outer Islands, Weekend
After a seven-year battle using a combination of poisoning, trapping and shooting, the Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust successfully eradicated an initial population of around 6000 mynahs from Ātiu, making it the world’s largest island-based mynah eradication project. Roger Malcolm, a resident hotelier on Ātiu and one of the key people behind the eradication project, shares his own battle with one of the most invasive bird species in the world.
From pest to past: Ātiu’s epic battle against invasive myna
Saturday 10 August 2024 | Written by Gerald McCormack | Published in Environment, Features, National, Outer Islands
After six years of no reported mynas on Ātiu, the Natural Heritage Trust is declaring its Eradication Project a success. The removal of a population of about 6000 mynas made it the world’s largest myna eradication on an island. It dwarfed the second largest island-eradication of 1641 mynas on North Island in the Seychelles completed in February 2019. By Gerald McCormack, Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust.
