The Rarotonga Environment Act 1994/95 was repealed by the Environment Act 2003 formalising the establishment of the NES.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.
The delegation highlighted challenges specific to small islands, including how coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion affect productive land, the vulnerability of freshwater sources during drought,
The workshop focused on strengthening implementation of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) across the region, exploring progress, challenges, and good practices in policy
The Citizen Science Portal is a new platform developed by NES that allows the public to submit data digitally.
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
We must deepen our knowledge base, with better data, information and analysis. We can’t improve what we don’t measure.’ The words of UN SG António
The National Environment Service is happy to welcome three new staff members – Maria Maoate as the Research and Data Coordinator, Alowesi Suveinakama as the
