Environment
New manager for outer islands climate change
Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in Environment
Willie Tuivaga has just been appointed as the programme manager of the Strengthening the Resiliance of Island Communities to Climate Change initiative. Part of a team of four at the climate change division of the Office of the Prime Minister(OPM), Tuivaga started his new role three weeks ago. He didn’t have to move very far, […]
Enforcement the shark problem: Bishop
Thursday 27 September 2012 | Published in Environment
Marine resources minister Teina Bishop says the government’s hesitation to declare a shark sanctuary in the Cook Islands has to do with a lack of funding to support enforcement. “Declaring is one thing but making sure we police it, making sure the right types of hooks are adhered to, no traces on the boats, is […]
Trash collectors endure rain and mud
Wednesday 26 September 2012 | Published in Environment
Despite the near cyclonic conditions on Saturday afternoon, the third event of the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative’s Rubbish Roundup was good fun, thanks to the helping hands of 25 Cook Islands Canoeing Association paddlers and the usual crew from National Environment Service, WATSAN and Pacific Divers. In the pouring rain, the group met at Avana […]
Disaster management gender checklists launched
Tuesday 25 September 2012 | Published in Environment
A practical guide that prompts disaster risk managers to consider the different impacts of disasters on the lives of women and men living in small islands countries was launched last Wednesday. Integrating Gender in Disaster Risk Management in Small Island Developing States: A Guide is intended as a practical tool for disaster managers and their […]
Climate change affects men and women differently
Tuesday 25 September 2012 | Published in Environment
A recent international publication on how people react to disasters differently based on gender shows similar thinking as displayed in a recent Cook Islands internal affairs ministry publication on gender. The Cook Islands National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and its subsequent plan of action note that women and men are affected differently […]
No official list of threatened species
Saturday 22 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands does not have an official list of threatened species, which means there is a “marked absence” of detailed management plans, says the country’s National Heritage Trust’s director Gerald McCormack. In comparison, New Zealand is helping a record number of native species thrive, through the Department of Conservation (DOC) using an active management […]
Pacific nations share ideas for sustainability
Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The Pacific Leaders Forum was not only a time for political connections to be made, but also on opportunity for sharing ideas on sustainability. Stephen Hazelman, production manager of Women in Business in Samoa, used his time in Rarotonga to visit businesses and industry that are part of the Pacific organic movement. One such visit […]
SPREP unveils new portal
Thursday 20 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has launched the Pacific Climate Change Portal, an online hub of information on climate change in the Pacific region. The portal features an events calendar, experts directory, documents, national and regional committees, image library and links to virtual libraries in the Pacific on climate change. Launched […]
Rolling rubbish roundup continues
Wednesday 19 September 2012 | Published in Environment
Last week’s Rubbish Roundup instalment was another success.
Wearable arts showing tonight
Wednesday 19 September 2012 | Published in Environment
Students are putting finishing touches on their newspaper skirts and tops laden with aluminium cans ahead of tonight’s Wearable Arts show at Tereora College’s Princess Anne Hall.
Knowledge pooled on deep-sea minerals
Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Environment
A deep-sea minerals training workshop to address issues associated with deep-sea minerals and mining, was recently held in Nadi as part of a series of capacity building activities aimed to develop and enhance regional knowledge on geological, technological, biological and environmental aspects of deep-sea minerals.
Weekend winds popular in Muri
Tuesday 18 September 2012 | Published in Environment
Gusty south south-easterly winds of up to 20 knots on Saturday sent thrill seekers to Muri lagoon for a day of kite surfing.
Oceania conservation role for Tiraa
Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands has a greater presence on the international conservation stage. Te Ipukarea Society member Ana Tiraa was voted in as an Oceania councillor for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). She joins Australian Brendon Mackey and Andrew Bignell from New Zealand as the three new representatives from the Oceania region. A […]
Hot, dirty rubbish roundup
Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The first event of Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative’s 2012 Rubbish Roundup, supported by CITC, National Environment Service (NES), WATSAN and General Transport, was a community driven success. Volunteers comprised of large groups from Turama Pacific, the Filipino Community and Telecom, who sponsored the Blackrock/Social Centre event on Saturday. Fifty participants collected and sorted 249kg of […]
Environment reporting elevated
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Environment
Consistent state of environment (SOE) reporting is an essential tool for guiding appropriate policy and decision-making. This was the general consensus of the 80 participants attending the 2nd Pacific Environment Forum held in Noumea, New Caledonia, last week. The Pacific Environment Forum is an opportunity for Pacific stakeholders to discuss environmental issues before the annual […]
EIA done for northern group solar farm
Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The government’s renewable energy projects for the outer islands are one step closer to getting started.
Solar desalination plant maker in Cook Islands
Wednesday 5 September 2012 | Published in Environment
A solar desalination project recently completed on the island of Manono in Samoa could be applicable and useful in the outer islands, says Absolute Filtration Ltd managing director Ben Taylor.
SPC study helps Mangaia prepare for cyclones
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Environment
A study of tropical cyclones and associated wave action is providing information that can be used to assess the resilience of Mangaia, the most southern of the Cook Islands, to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Jens Kruger of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) said that with coastal communities, private […]
$25m for climate change
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The United States has pledged US$25 million over five years to alleviate the destructive impact of climate change on Pacific Island nations. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that her government understands the immediacy and urgency of the issue of climate change for the Pacific Islands. “We understand very well that many of […]
'Zero waste' goal announced
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Environment
A ‘zero waste’ Cook Islands is the goal of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning’s Water, Waste and Sanitation unit (WATSAN) and waste management department. And the acquisition of a brand new compacting machine from New Zealand company Engineering Solutions is a step towards this goal says MOIP Minister Teariki Heather and New Zealand High […]