Mauke was the first island to take part in Cook Islands World Cleanup Day 2026, completing its cleanup on Friday, 18 September.
NES, TMO, government agencies and members of the Mauke community joined the effort across the four villages of Areora, Makatea, Kimiangatau and Ngatiarua.
Each village focused on cleaning up their own areas, collecting litter and waste from around the community, nearby bushes and coastal areas.
Once the cleanup was complete, all waste was taken to the Agriculture Office, where it was sorted, categorised and weighed as part of a waste audit. This helped provide a clearer picture of the types of waste being found around the island.
In total, 867 pieces of waste weighing 49.50 kg were collected. Most of the items collected were classed as general waste. In Kimiangatau, much of this was found in bushes, under trees and around rocks.
NES would like to thank TMO, government agencies, volunteers and everyone from the Mauke community who gave their time and helped make the cleanup happen.
Meitaki ma’ata Mauke for getting Cook Islands World Cleanup Day 2026 underway.
