Environment
Te Aponga launches new solar opportunities
Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in Environment
Homes and businesses are now able to connect much larger solar systems to the grid in Rarotonga and be paid a tariff for any energy they supply. State-owned power authority Te Aponga Uira (TAU) announced on Friday that it has made “extensive investment” in new technology at its power station. Until now, there have been […]
Wear green to support the environment - NES
Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Environment
The National Environment Service together with CITC is conducting a ‘Go Green Day’ today, where the public is asked to wear green to show their support for the environment. The Green Day initiative is being carried out by the NES education unit and co-ordinated by senior education officer Matthew Rima. “The Green Day initiative is […]
Tuna Commission eyes conservation
Tuesday 10 December 2013 | Published in Environment
The Western Central Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is seeking to adopt its most significant conservation and management measure for tropical tunas as a means to control purse seine fishing at its annual session currently being held in Cairns. In attendance at the meet for the Cooks delegation are secretary Ben Ponia and senior fisheries officer Andrew […]
Cook Islands fishing bid resisted
Tuesday 10 December 2013 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands delegation has withdrawn a watered-down response to its proposal at the annual meeting of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to ban longline fishing in the eastern high seas pocket. The proposal is significant because it would create the first area to be closed to longlining on the high seas. Distant […]
'Rookie' enjoys Warsaw climate negotiations
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
Amelia Fukofuka describes herself as a newbie to the UN climate negotiations in her story below. She is attending the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change for the first time, however, she has attended an ‘intercessional’ meeting which are talks that take place during the year. Fortunately […]
CI cyclone doco to screen in Fiji
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
A Cook Islands documentary named ‘Surviving a Cyclone’ will be screened at the University of the South Pacific headquarters in Fiji this week. Produced by David Ngatae, it has been entered into this year European Consortium for Pacific Studies (ECOPAS) First Conference film festival evening at USP in Suva. The ECOPAS conference will focus on […]
CI 'eco-warriors' receive international recognition
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
Two Cook Islands ‘eco-warriors’ have been honoured on the international stage for their tireless efforts to protect the ocean and environment. Ian Karika has been awarded the inaugural Pacific Islands Environmental Leadership Award for excellence in national leadership in environmental sustainability and conservation. Meanwhile, Dr Takiora Ingram was one of eight women from Oceania to […]
Climate change policy launched by OPM
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
A policy aiming to address climate change issues has been launched in the Cooks. ‘Kaveinga Tapapa: Climate and disaster compatible development policy 2013-2016’ was officially announced last week by the climate change division of the Office of the Prime Minister. At a workshop in Tupapa on Friday, around 30 government officials, members of the Koutu […]
NZ firm wins solar energy project
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Environment
A New Zealand company has been given the lead role in helping the northern Cook Islands become almost 100 per cent reliant on solar energy by the end of next year. Beca, an engineering firm based in Auckland, will oversee the installation of solar power systems in Manihiki, Rakahanga, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Nassau and Palmerston. Energy […]
Defining the way forward for women's empowerment
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Environment
Current reviews of regional and global instruments for development must take into account government commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment. This was among the conclusions at the 5th Pacific Ministers for Women meeting held at the National Auditorium in Rarotonga on October 25, and attended by 19 Pacific Island countries and Territories (PICT). The […]
Q &A: Talking climate finance with Cook Islands negotiators
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Environment
Climate change finance is a negotiation thread at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change in Warsaw, Poland. This is being followed by foreign affairs officer Amelia Fukofuka of the UN and treaties division with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and budget and economic policy manager Lavinia […]
Pacific nations at the forefront in gender negotiations
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Environment
Pacific countries are at the forefront of bringing forward the issue of gender at this year’s United Nations climate change global conference in Warsaw, Poland. The issue is being highlighted by media and public relations officer Nanette Woonton from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, who’s currently in Warsaw and has written extensively […]
Subsidy stats
Saturday 23 November 2013 | Published in Environment
More than 430 water tanks have been installed under the government’s subsidy programme, which began in March and is scheduled to last three years. As part of the programme, which is administered by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), the government provides a $1500 subsidy for households to install a water tank – […]
Aitutaki fishermen haul in huge tuna
Thursday 21 November 2013 | Published in Environment
A pair of fishermen from Aitutaki recently landed a massive yellowfin tuna, keeping up a streak of impressive catches reported recently. Aitutaki fishermen Mii Raera and Brothers Ua, fishing on Maiata – their seven-metre fishing boat – hooked onto an 85kg yellowfin tuna during what was supposed to be an hour-long fishing trip. One hour […]
Expert stresses importance of rainwater harvesting
Wednesday 20 November 2013 | Published in Environment
Water problems are likely to only get worse in the Cook Islands in coming years as climate change takes its toll, says a visiting water safety expert. A workshop focused on rainwater harvesting and the safety of drinking water got underway yesterday, as part of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) water safety plan in the […]
Diaries of a climate change negotiator
Monday 18 November 2013 | Published in Environment
The following guest column is written by director Ana Tiraa of the Cook Islands Climate Change Division with the Office of the Prime Minister. She is currently in Warsaw, Poland attending the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change. Tiraa recently shared data gathered through a vulnerability and […]
Science reveals oceans are in critical state
Saturday 16 November 2013 | Published in Environment
In this essay, Dr Takiora Ingram provides her take on the current state of the world’s oceans and fisheries, and how leaders and policy makers can address some of the most pressing issues. Dr Ingram is currently working with the University of Hawaii on implementation of the Pacific Regional Ocean Partnership (PROP), which works towards […]
TIS explains stance on Purse Seining
Saturday 16 November 2013 | Published in Environment
A number of people have asked why Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is not pushing for a complete ban on purse seining. Although like many others in the Cook Islands, our gut feeling is that a ban on purse seining is best, we believe our stance should be supported by science and facts. The science and […]
Cooks shares renewable energy targets at global talks
Thursday 14 November 2013 | Published in Environment
According to government targets, 50 per cent of the Cook Islands will be powered by renewable energy in just over a year. Five years later in 2020, this will increase to 100 per cent. These targets set by the Cook Islands government were announced at a special event in Warsaw, Poland on Monday at the […]
Eco-tourists report back on Aitutaki lagoon
Saturday 9 November 2013 | Published in Environment
A team of eco-tourists was in Aitutaki last month for the Aitutaki Lagoon Monitoring Project, a combined research and eco-tourism project run by local organisation, the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative (PICI). Eight people took part in this four-week project and surveyed 22 sites within the lagoon, inside and outside of ra’ui. The team measured coral […]