Environment
Lagoon Day welcomed to Puaikura
Tuesday 17 July 2012 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands isn’t that bad but we are at the tipping point and it’s very possible to turn things around. These were the words of Lagoon Day coordinator June Hosking at the opening of the two-day event yesterday as she urged everyone to make a change to slow down the negative impacts humans have […]
Solar unit gifted
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands could be using more solar energy in the future if Kiwi entrepreneur Baskhar Sharma has anything to do about it. Sharma, of trading group Pacific New Zealand, presented Prime Minister Henry Puna with a state-of-the-art hybrid solar air conditioning unit. The solar panel, which goes by the name of Sol Air, is […]
Lagoon Day looks at issues for 2 days
Thursday 12 July 2012 | Published in Environment
Highlighting the health of the Rarotonga lagoon and solutions to lagoon issues is the main focus of Lagoon Day which opens today and continues tomorrow. The annual Lagoon Day programme this year will be held in Arorangi with the headquarters of the two-day event to be set up in front of the Ministry of Planning […]
Puna 'walks talk' with solar power
Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in Environment
Work has started to convert the prime minister’s office to solar power. Eighty solar panels arrived from New Zealand last week, and now four workers from local company Andersons Ltd – who won the tender – will install the panels over this week and next. The initial work started two weeks ago, when the workers […]
Design starts on solar system
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Environment
An Australian design group is working to power part of the Northern Group using solar energy. Solar power systems will be developed on Rakahanga, Pukapuka and Nassau with US$4 million which Japan donated to the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) fund. A group of three designers from the Centre of Appropriate Technology (CAT) Projects, which won […]
Solid waste in the spotlight
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Environment
A committee has been given the go-ahead to find the solution to the Cook Islands’ solid waste problem. Minister of infrastructure and planning Teariki Heather set up the Waste Financing Committee in February to investigate possible options for long-term financing for solid waste management, and has now confirmed they can continue with their work. The […]
KiteSUP gives lessons
Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in Environment
To meet the growing demand for stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lessons, three locals have been certified as SUP instructors. Kitesurf instructor Brynn Acheson and assistant kitesurf instructor Ina Nooroa of Muri business KiteSUP, together with Bill Tangapiri of Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes, were recently certified to teach stand-up paddleboarding. After two days of theoretical study, lifesaving […]
Nappies reusable
Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Environment
New mothers are in for a boost after the CITC pharmacy donated 100 reusable nappies, brochures and cloth wipes to voluntary group Hospital Comforts. The voluntary organisation visits hospitals and creates baby packs for new mothers. The donation will ensure one cloth nappy, brochure and wipe in each new pack. Reusable nappies are made of […]
Economic ministers agree on sustainable development
Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Environment
The 16th Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM) concluded yesterday in Tarawa, Kiribati. At the conclusion of the meeting, the economic ministers present – including the Cook Islands’ own Mark Brown – released the Forum Economic Action Plan 2012. The 16th FEMM focused on key economic issues of importance to the region including the implementation of […]
Fish feeding can harm fish
Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Environment
This article was prepared as a Lagoon Day message by marine biologist Katherine Ross in response to a request for researched information on the effects of fish feeding on our marine environment. For a full copy of this report, including references, contact June Hosking at ajhos@oyster.net.ck or download from www.thedivecentre-rarotonga.com For a number of years, […]
Mauke agriculture officers in China
Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Mauke agriculture officers and growers are having an eye opening experience at a training course for tropical fruits, vegetable and processing technology in China. Mauke agriculture officers Tereapii Vaine Keu and Archie Taripo along with local farmer Hugh Graham were nominated by the Ministry of Agriculture to attend the course – all paid for by […]
Edna's logo design gets the nod
Friday 29 June 2012 | Published in Environment
A reminder of the four pillars of society under the watchful eye of a Cook Islands wave has won the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum Logo Competition. Thirteen entries were received by the organising committee, who asked people to design their logo around the forum’s theme: Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge. The winning […]
Fines not enough for pig polluters
Friday 29 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Titikaveka Growers Association (TGA) chairman Teava Iro is adamant there is a better way to handle the issue of pig pollution than to simply slap fines on offenders. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning’s WATSAN group have implemented fines as a means of ensuring animals such as pigs are kept at least five metres away […]
Please leave petrel
Thursday 28 June 2012 | Published in Environment
A giant petrel is currently in Avatiu Harbour and the public is asked to leave it alone. Esther Honey Foundation clinic director Gregg Young says the ocean bird had most likely blown off course in high winds and run out of energy. ”People just need to leave it alone to regain its strength and it […]
Environmental focus for ministers meeting
Thursday 28 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mark Brown is looking to the Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM) in Tarawa, Kiribati, next week for ways to counter the issue of depopulation. The forum will run from July 2-4 with a focus on promoting sustainable economic development and growth throughout the Pacific. The FEMM is the key […]
Arorangi hosting Lagoon Day 2012
Thursday 28 June 2012 | Published in Environment
This year’s Lagoon Day will be held in Arorangi at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) office grounds, the Edgewater Resort & Spa beach and the Rarotonga Waste Facility. Lagoon Day 2012 will largely focus on waste management in support of this year’s environmental campaign, ‘TaauTaku Tita’. Acting secretary of MOIP Donye Numa said […]
'Green market' for Lagoon Day
Wednesday 27 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Lagoon Day markets will be green and a ‘no plastic’ zone. The night market on July 12, the start of the two-day Lagoon Day environmental awareness campaign, aims to raise the benchmark for local markets. ”It’s a benchmark in green economics,“ says Lagoon Day coodinator June Hosking. The market will be setting the wheels of […]
Fines for pig polluters
Wednesday 27 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Harsher guidelines on pigs are part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning’s campaign to combat pollution in Rarotonga’s waterways and lagoon. Focusing on the need to keep pigs a safe distance from streams and waterways, the WATSAN unit of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) is coordinating a campaign supported by the enforcement […]
US Endangered Species Act a crusade for coral restoration
Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Environment
In the build-up to the establishment of a large marine park in the Cook Islands, it is timely for us to be aware of environmental issues in other parts of the Pacific that could affect us. Recent developments regarding the possibility of listing over 80 species of stony corals on the US Endangered Species list […]
Common challenges addressed at Small Island Forum
Monday 25 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Delegates attending the inaugural Australia Small Island Forum held on Lord Howe Island were able to meet and discuss their experiences in dealing with renewable energy, waste management, sustainable tourism development, cultural identity, transport and conservation on their respective islands. Their goal was to flesh out common issues with a view toward finding practical, financially […]