Students from the University of Newcastle recently visited Rarotonga as part of the New Columbo Programme. Their cohort consisted of twelve undergraduate students led by Dr Troy Gaston
The Project ENUA team invited the Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) to give a presentation to the University of Newcastle students. The presentation highlighted the full scope of MMR’s work in the Cook Islands, including:
- Fieldwork methodology, analysis, and reporting
- Types of marine surveys conducted and the reasons behind them
- How survey results are reported back to the islands
- Recommendations provided to ensure the sustainable management of marine resources for future generations
The presentation also covered the purpose of surveys, the interests of the inshore marine science team, and the parameters tested by the water quality team. Students were particularly engaged by the opportunities for capacity building, including travel to the outer islands and overseas, and learning how other countries’ methods might be adapted for the Cook Islands context.
“Sometimes it may seem like we’re working in silos, each team focused on our own corner, but that’s because we are all working hard to produce high-quality work that benefits the country. These partnerships and collaborations are actually bringing the ministries together, and the networking and communication have been amazing.
Having the University of Newcastle team visit for the fourth time, it is clear they are not just our guests—we have all become like family. NES and MMR have built a strong relationship with Dr. Troy Gaston, and we are very fortunate for this partnership. This also highlights how interconnected our work is: what happens on land can directly impact the health of our oceans.” – Terena Koteka-Wiki, Project Office, Project ENUA.
Following the presentation, the MMR team took the students on pa’ua surveys. This hands-on experience allowed the students to see how MMR conducts field surveys, understand the reasons behind the work, and learn more about the species of pa’ua. The undergraduate students had many questions and showed great interest in how environmental management is approached in the Cook Islands.
