Cook Islands National Environment Service

The weather cleared and Mauke School students were eager to take their learning outdoors with a clean-up activity under the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP).

Senior students carried out beach clean-ups at Ana Takapua and Anaraura, while junior students collected rubbish around the school and harbour.

Together, students collected over 180kg of waste, sorting through more than 2,300 pieces of rubbish. But the learning did not stop there. Students looked closer, identifying brands and markings, including items with Tahitian labels and Asian characters, sparking conversations about how marine litter can travel across oceans before reaching our shores.

From lots of plastic bottles and cans to general waste, the clean-up became an opportunity to better understand what ends up in our environment and why reducing waste matters.

The Tanga’eo (Mangaia Kingfisher) is found nowhere else in the world but Mangaia. Once impacted by habitat loss, conservation efforts and regenerating forests have helped this unique species recover, with the 2020 Species Status Report recording an estimated population of 4,106 birds.

🪸 Coral reefs are vital to life in the Cook Islands, protecting our coastlines, supporting marine biodiversity, sustaining fisheries, and helping keep our lagoons healthy. However, rising ocean temperatures and climate change are placing increasing pressure on these fragile ecosystems.

🌴 The Unga (Coconut Crab) is an iconic part of island life in the Cook Islands and one of the world’s largest land crabs. Found in coastal and bush areas, unga depend on healthy ecosystems to survive and thrive.

💧 Dragonflies do more than skim across streams and wetlands. They help keep ecosystems in balance by feeding on insects, including mosquitoes. Healthy freshwater environments support species like dragonflies and the biodiversity our islands depend on.

🌿 Found only in Rarotonga, the Neinei tree (Pua Neinei) is more than just a striking flower. Its nectar helps feed native species like the ʻĪʻoi (Rarotonga Starling), while pollination helps the tree continue to grow and reproduce, showing how closely connected biodiversity can be.

🕊️ The Red-tailed Tropicbird (Tavake) is found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Cook Islands, and is known for its striking red tail and dramatic flight displays. On inhabited islands, nesting birds can be disturbed by people and dogs, making safe nesting spaces important for their survival.

This , let’s protect the species, ecosystems, and natural environments that support life in our islands. 🌿

📢 FURTHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION OPEN – UPDATED AVATIU SHOPPING MALL EIA

NES has received updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents for the proposed Avatiu Shopping Mall development in Rarotonga.

This application previously underwent public consultation earlier this year, with submissions closing on 21 January 2026.

NES is inviting further public feedback during this supplementary consultation period before the application progresses further.

This means the report is available for everyone to read, and the community has the opportunity to share feedback before any decision is made.

The updated EIA information includes:
▪️ revised building and parking plans
▪️ building height and piling details
▪️ stormwater drainage and flooding measures
▪️ wastewater treatment and soak field details
▪️ roof rainwater collection and storage
▪️ construction impacts including dust, noise and waste management

View the updated EIA report online or at the NES Office in Tupapa

Submissions can be made within 14 days of the publication of this notice, no later than 1 June 2026. Feedback is welcome in both Cook Islands Māori and English.

📄 Full Media Release: https://environment.gov.ck/nes-invites-further-public-feedback-on-updated-avatiu-shopping-mall-eia-report-and-revised-plans/

➡️ View Updated EIA Report: https://environment.gov.ck/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-V1-EIA-REPORT-updated-for-submission.pdf

All Submissions to be sent to: [email protected] or dropped off to our office in Tupapa