The Rarotonga Environment Act 1994/95 was repealed by the Environment Act 2003 formalising the establishment of the NES.
The role of the National Environment Services is based on 5 main areas and has four main departments.
There is a suite of policies, strategies and plans developed over the years to enable environmental protection, conservation and management.
Our cultural identify is deeply rooted in our environment and it is part of our heritage and legacy.
An Environment Consent is a permission granted to an applicant undertaking an activity that has some but not significant environment impact.
A permission required for the construction of a standard residential dwelling or non-construction purposes such as land clearance.
A management tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision making.
Any person planning to take any wild animal or plant overseas must apply for a permit for trade movement of endangered species (CITES).
All importers of bulk HFC goods must register as an approved importer with NES.
Other permits issued by NES relates to the transboundary movement of waste, ozone depletion substances and wildlife.
Biodiversity plans are important documents to manage and determine the state of our natural environment.
Protecting species, habitats, ecosystem, and protecting biological diversity.
Activities to protect, maintain, or restore the quality of environmental media.
Historical milestone for conservation in the Cook Islands
The Environment Act 2003 is the primary legislation applied throughout the Cook Islands and the Outer Islands (Pa Enua) of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro.
Several subsidiary legislations made under the Environment Act 2003 to apply provisions of the Act and to also include the Pa Enua.
Numerous national legislations interlinked with the environment but administered by other government entities.
An ESD is the first step in checking whether a proposed project could harm the environment. When someone wants to build or make changes to
NES environmental observer on board, Keanu Harawira from the Environmental Compliance Division observed scientific activities
The dialogue was centred on the transition to inclusive and climate-resilient economies, and the role sustainable finance plays to facilitate this transformation.
The Cook Islands’ identify, culture and economy, is based on its ocean and its linkage to land and marine ecosystems.
The project will continue through to June 2026 and will focus on two primary sites. One of these locations is historically significant, as it was
Maria Maoate from the National Environment Service and Ngametua Mokoroa from Climate Change Cook Islands represented the Cook Islands at the workshop. Through a series
The project aims to reduce the threats from Invasive Alien Species (IAS) to terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity by developing and implementing comprehensive national and
Suwarrow Park Ranger, Johnnie Tangaroa will lead the team and will be accompanied by Assistant Park Ranger, Tracey Terei, and Karen Silk, who has been
This beetle was introduced in 2022 in an effort to control the African tulip tree which is considered one of the world’s 100 worst invasive
For Atiu, these activities include assisting with the current wild pig hunting program to address concerns on food security of crops; eradicating the African tulip
