The Cook Islands has planted its first ever Vaorākau iti (tiny forest), marking a major step forward for community-led ecosystem restoration and stream health improvement on Rarotonga.
The project was delivered through a collaboration between Muri Environment Care (MEC), the National Environment Service (NES), The Groundswell Collective, and the University of Newcastle, and represents the first pilot tiny forest in the Cook Islands.
On Saturday 22 November, more than 30 volunteers from the community, MEC and the University of Newcastle planted 600 native trees and shrubs in a 200m² area using the Miyawaki method — a dense planting approach designed to rapidly accelerate forest growth, stabilise soil and improve freshwater health.
Dr Alex Callen, University of Newcastle, said:
“The power of tiny forests in the Cook Islands is their ability to restore the natural environment while only taking up small areas of land.”
Anna Noon, Australian Forest Builder, The Groundswell Collective, said:
“This was an incredible international achievement. The planting shows how proven nature-based solutions can help address some of the challenges Rarotonga faces, from stream health to biodiversity resilience.”
MEC Ecologist, Brennan Panzarella notes “while the tiny forest concept comes from abroad, the approach mirrors long-standing traditions of Cook Islands growers — preparing soils carefully, planting densely, and mulching deeply to hold moisture and protect the ground”.
The difference is simply what is being planted: not taro, but a diverse mix of native species.
“These plants are adapted to local soils, climate and rainfall. They support insects, birds, fungi, and soil life, stabilise freshwater systems, and help rebuild the structure of a functioning island forest. Many species also carry cultural value for medicine, weaving, carving, tools, and flowers, reconnecting the community with plants increasingly hard to find”.
Along streams, these plantings help reduce pressures that altered waterways place on the lagoons.
The project acknowledges the contribution of Teava Iro and his team, whose practical support and resources made the planting possible. It also builds on years of volunteer effort in the Parengaru catchment and Vaii Tapere, with ongoing support from Pa Ariki and Tamuera Napa, hosts of the Takitumu Nursery.
Volunteers — including long-time supporter Tiriamate Ruatapu and students and teachers from Titikaveka College — have played a central role in raising and caring for the plants used in the forest.
Valuable input from engineers Paul Maoate and Cameron Leach ensured stream health and engineering considerations were embedded into the design.
The initiative forms part of NES’s broader Project ENUA, which supports catchment restoration and environmental resilience. NES has contracted Muri Environment Care as the Avana and Turangi Catchment Coordinators, contributing to dedicated catchment management plans and ongoing water quality audits conducted with the University of Newcastle.
While the tiny forest sits outside the formal catchment boundary, its goals align closely with NES’s work to address erosion, nutrient runoff, and waste entering waterways.
This first Vaorākau iti will grow into a resource for seeds, cuttings, education and ecological research, helping make native plants more accessible for communities, craft makers, and cultural practitioners. It may one day help bring species like the Kākerōri back into areas where they once thrived.
“This is just the beginning,” Panzarella said. “We welcome anyone who wants to be part of the next steps.”
