Cook Islands Announces Protection Zone For Migrating Oceania Humpback Whales
Brown made the announcement at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France.
"We can apply our traditional Ra'ui practice at ocean scale," Brown told the conference.
"Spanning over 400,000 square kilometres, this zone will adapt with the seasons and respond to emerging threats. Its purpose is not only conservation; it is recovery."
The Cook Islands set up Marae Moana in 2017.
Brown said Ra'ui To'ora reflects a growing global truth that traditional knowledge and science can work together to shape powerful solutions.
"With regional cooperation, this could become the foundation of the Pacific's first transboundary whale corridor.
"To support this, we are further exploring the establishment of the Institute of Blue Ocean Sustainability and Science, a national initiative to advance ocean governance, foster applied research, and strengthen partnerships across government, academia, industry, and traditional leadership.
"These are not radical ideas; they are overdue. This is sovereignty matched with stewardship."
Also, at the Ocean Conference, Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo has called for an international treaty on sea level rise.
Before the conference, French Polynesia's president, Moetai Brotherson, announced his administration's plan to establish a network of highly protected marine areas (MPAs).
The conference wraps up on Friday, Nice time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown urges Government to reconsider bed night levy to reboot city's struggling economy
Bridges urged the National Party-led Government to consider serious policy or fiscal stimulus across New Zealand, especially in major cities, to help 'get things going'. The bleak state of Auckland's economy was underscored by a Herald story this month showing a 6.6% drop in card spending in the central city between April and May 2024 and the same period in 2025. The picture was even starker on Karangahape Rd, where spending plunged by 22.5%. It had been the worst winter ever, said Helen McIntryre, who has owned a gift and furniture shop on K Rd for 34 years. Brown backed Bridges' call for the Government to take stronger action to support the economy during these challenging times, noting Auckland's 6.1% unemployment rate had implications for the rest of the country. He said introducing a bed night levy would deliver immediate stimulus by boosting tourism and attracting major events to Auckland. 'There's no reason the Government couldn't make a bed night levy an urgent priority and have it in place by next year,' Brown said. 'The sector supports it and so do most Aucklanders.' Brown has been calling on the Government to approve a bed night levy for some time, but Tourism Minister Louise Upston has ruled it out, saying there would be no new taxes. Today, Upston acknowledged Bridges' comments and noted the ongoing interest in a bed tax. However, she reiterated that 'a tax is not something I'm pursuing this term'. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tourism Minister Louise Upston are not keen on a bed night levy at this stage. Photo / Dean Purcell 'The most pressing challenge for New Zealand tourism is that we simply don't have enough visitors, and I'm focused on growing those numbers. 'This Government is firmly committed to growing the economy, including Auckland's, and tourism remains a key part of that strategy,' the minister said. So far this term, the Government has hiked the international tourism levy for visitors to New Zealand by nearly 200% from $35 to $100, and announced international tourists would be charged $20 to $40 at four popular destinations – the Tongariro Crossing, Cathedral Cove, Milford Sound and Aoraki Mt Cook. Asked about Bridges' call for a stimulus package on RNZ on Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said progress would 'come through to the big cities eventually'. 'I know it's difficult – particularly in our big cities... we've got to keep doing everything we can, but open to more things and discussing more things, but I think at this stage it's keep doing what we are doing,' he said. Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann backed Bridges' call for a stimulus package in a weekend column, arguing that Auckland's economy is 'broken' and urgently needed Government attention. Karangahape Rd shop owner Helen McIntyre says this winter has been the worst in 32 years. Photo / Jason Dorday Dann suggested the Government could allocate funding to revive three 'dead' buildings in the midtown area – St James Theatre, the vacant Smith & Caughey's building, and the Sky World indoor entertainment complex. He argued restoring these sites would breathe life back into the city and keep skilled workers employed while the broader economy recovers. Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage said Auckland had faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly across the hospitality, accommodation, tourism and events sectors. He supported the introduction of sustainable funding through a levy as soon as possible to create a dedicated and reliable revenue stream to promote tourism, attract major events and conferences, and stimulate spending across hotels, restaurants, retail and entertainment venues. However, rather than adopting an Auckland-only approach, Armitage said Hospitality NZ favoured a nationwide system applied fairly and consistently. A national framework would better support tourism-related activity, including the attraction and delivery of major and business events. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Hospitality NZ want a bed night levy to attract more events, such as Kinky Boots at the Civic Theatre. Photo / Jason Oxenham Localised models risk creating unnecessary complexity and inconsistency, Armitage said. The mayor said that when Auckland did well, the country did well, saying NZ's underlying problem was a low-productivity economy that wasn't exporting enough to the world. His goal was for Auckland to lead the country on a path to prosperity, saying his 2025 manifesto identified key opportunities for growth in technology, housing and tourism. Recently, Brown launched the Auckland Innovation & Technology Alliance to attract investment and strengthen the city's position as a competitive hub for tech and innovation. He's also working with Housing Minister Chris Bishop to make use of land for faster and smarter growth. Employers and Manufacturers Association head of advocacy Alan McDonald told RNZ there were some signs of recovery led by the primary sector and in the regions, but in Auckland, which was more about manufacturing and services, hospitality, tourism and education were all down. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Spinoff
3 days ago
- The Spinoff
The motley crew of contenders trying to take down Auckland mayor Wayne Brown
A list containing Wayne Brown and the people who will almost certainly lose to Wayne Brown. There are 12 people running for the Auckland mayoralty, though running might be a strong term. The incumbent, Wayne Brown, has barely broken into a light canter as he sets course for re-election. It's not just a coronation though. At least some of his rivals are putting up a fight, with at least one of them promising to emulate Elon Musk and turn what he calls his 'great mind' to fixing Auckland's problems. John Alcock When John Alcock ran in the Pakuranga electorate in the 2023 general election, it was on a platform of reclaiming 'New Zealand from ideological extremism'. Though that phrase is usually the hallmark of a candidate who possesses moderate and politically mainstream views, Alcock appears to have some out-there ideas, including decentralising our financial and governmental systems and crafting a future 'where empowered individuals build resilient communities'. Alcock was once a board member for the Act Party and is now highly interested in cryptocurrencies. Wayne Brown Remember when mayor Wayne Brown failed to publicly declare a state of emergency until nearly 10.30pm on the night of the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods? Remember how, in the criticism that followed, he grumped that it wasn't his job to ' rush out with buckets '. Remember how, worst of all, he referred to the universally delightful people of the media as ' drongos '? If you'd told Aucklanders then that in just a few short years' time, Brown would be paddleboarding to almost certain re-election atop an unstoppable wave of mildly favourable voter sentiment, they would have spat a mouthful of brown floodwater straight into your face. Sorry to those stuck in a 2023 time prison, but that's what's happening. Brown has engineered one of the most remarkable redemption arcs in local politics history, going from being perceived as a godawful angry old boomer to a lovable angry old boomer. He's done it through playing against type and learning the art of political compromise. For all his self-aggrandising Mr Fix It branding, Brown's shown a surprising ability to take new ideas on board. He's elevated people from outside his natural circle of allies, demoted naysaying local government lifers, talked up intensification around train stations and busways, and spruiked for cheap mass transit options. Brown still texts the chief executive of AT when he sees a rogue road cone. He remains offensive, in ways that are sometimes funny, and sometimes not. But ask most Aucklanders what they think of him, and they'll say he's grown on them. The man with one of politics' most polarising personalities is somehow one of its most unifying figures. Brown's re-election odds are so good, he seems to have eschewed campaigning to focus all his efforts on getting rid of the councillors he doesn't like. He'll likely win, provided no floods hit between now and October. Eric Chuah Dr Eric Chuah once worked as a strategist for United Future's Peter Dunne, which should stand him in good stead for securing a sliver of the vote in an election race dominated by more popular and well-known rivals. Chuah's promises are nonspecific on minor issues such as minimising rates, reducing unnecessary council spending, and ensuring safer policing. However he gets into granular detail on how to fix dog walking, proposing a timeshare scheme where dog owners would be allowed to walk their dogs between 3 and 5pm, and the rest of the public are permitted to go outside without being mauled by an aggressive labradoodle outside those hours. Michael Coote Michael Coote appears to be a finance professional. He stood for mayor and Waitakere ward councillor in the 2022 local elections, where he distinguished himself by failing to give any detail to and appearing in several lists of people who are also standing for mayor at the bottom of coverage on other candidates. Coote didn't respond to an email from The Spinoff. Ted Johnston Johnston is perhaps best known for his handpainted 2019 local election hoardings, which gave people the distinct impression that if they didn't vote for him, he would murder them with an axe. Obviously the implied threats paid off, because soon after, Johnston became a leader in the New Conservative Party. He was stood down from that gig by the party board in 2023, and is back to his first political love: running strident, ultimately doomed independent campaigns to become Auckland's mayor. Johnston has more than 30 years of experience as a criminal barrister. Kerrin Leoni Kerrin Leoni appears to be the only high-profile candidate actively campaigning for the mayoralty right now. The Whau ward councillor was the sole respondent when Auckland university's debating society invited three candidates to a debate last month. She's put up hoardings touting her experience as an 'economist and business owner'. She's taking what chances she can to talk down Brown in the media. Though her chances remain relatively slim, Leoni remains the mayor's most credible rival in the race. Her policy priorities include building more affordable housing and prioritising investment in public transport, walking and cycling. Rob McNeil Rob McNeil is the executive president of the Animal Justice Party. He could fill a similar nature-focused political niche to Michael Morris, who campaigned to replace concrete in the city centre with greenery and confine development to places with 'little or no biodiversity' while running for the Auckland mayoralty under the Animal Justice Auckland banner in 2022. Ryan Pausina According to his 2022 candidate blurb, Ryan Pausina's local political awakening came after a friend encouraged him to run for mayor of Coromandel. He quickly realised he would fix everything there within five months and decided to turn his talents to a more substantial challenge. Anything other than running the nation's biggest city would be, as per the blurb, a waste of his talents. 'It has been said that Elon Musk realised at one point in his life that other people don't think like he does,' the text concludes. 'People with a great mind should use it.' The blurb doesn't contain any advice for what people should do if they're blessed with the gift of great humility. Jason Pieterse Jason Pieterse did not respond to an email from The Spinoff asking who he is and why he's standing for mayor of Auckland. A person with that name does appear to have offered support to the New Zealand rugby team 'The All Blacks' in a Facebook comment from a year ago. Simon Stam A man named Simon Stam ran in Round The Bays in 2014, achieving a time of 48 minutes and 18 seconds, at a pace of nine minutes and 39 seconds per kilometre. Peter Wakeman Wikipedia describes Peter Wakeman as a 'perennial candidate', and he does appear to have stood in a remarkable number of political races around the country over the last few decades. In 2013, Wakeman rushed the stage during the launch of Lianne Dalziel's campaign to become Christchurch's mayor. Though he had to be restrained, his actions were credited with breathing new life into the race. Denise Widdison Facebook lists two Denise Widdisons in Auckland. One regularly offers free stuff to Te Atatu residents, including toys and, most notably, a full box of lemons. Another is a self-employed former student of Auckland Girls Grammar. Which one is standing for mayor? You decide.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Cook Islands deal has ‘nothing to do with military or security agenda', says Chinese ambassador
By Losirene Lacanivalu , Cook Islands News People's Republic of China (PRC) ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue, Wang Xiaolong, with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Assistant to the Minister responsible for the Prime Minister, Sonny Williams, with placards showing the China-funded inter-island vessel, electric bus and E-motorcycle. Photo: Cook Islands News / X/WANGXIALONG The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030 signed between the Cook Islands and China has 'nothing to do with military or security agenda', says the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue. Dr Wang Xiaolong, who was in Rarotonga last week to attend the country's 60th anniversary, told Cook Islands News that, "together with the Cook Islands side, we have taken a completely transparent and open approach towards what we are trying to do together". "And those four documents that were signed have been fully published. And everyone could see for themselves that our cooperation is focused on economic partnership, and what we could do to support the economic development of the Cook Islands. "It has nothing to do with military or security agenda. I think it is very clear that the cooperation is largely concentrated on economic cooperation." In February this year, the Cook Islands signed the four key agreements, including the Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-20230, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Deepening Blue Economy Cooperation, MoU for the Blue Partnership in Seabed Minerals Affairs and Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation. The move created a diplomatic row between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, resulting in New Zealand pausing over $18 million in core sector support funding. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters earlier said the Cook Islands failed to properly consult New Zealand concerning any agreements it planned to sign with China. The Cook Islands officials have been meeting their counterparts in NZ in an effort to mend diplomatic ties and resume funding support from its constitutional partner, New Zealand. The Cook Islands marked 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand on 4 August. When asked about his views on the controversy surrounding the Cook Islands-China agreement, Ambassador Wang said, "And as for some of the negativity that has been shown by some of the other partners, we have always made it very clear to both the Cook Islands side and to some of the other partners that might be involved in this, that what we're trying to do with the Cook Islands is not targeted at any other country." "And it shouldn't be subjected to any intervention from other countries as well. In fact, as far as China is concerned, we would be open to opportunities to work together with some of the other partners, including New Zealand, including Australia, to together support Pacific Island countries like the Cook Islands." "And actually, between China and New Zealand, we have done it before … as far as we're concerned, we are open and we're ready to explore with all the other partners for such opportunities, so that the Cook Islands people could benefit from what we try to do together." Ambassador Wang says China has had a very strong relationship with the Cook Islands for over 28 years. He said within the framework of what, "we call South-South cooperation, it's basically a framework of China as a developing country, helping, trying to help other fellow developing countries, including the Cook Islands". "And within that framework, we have provided support for the development of the Cook Islands, in terms of infrastructure, in terms of education." Ambassador Wang said that in terms of infrastructure development, and in terms of the people-to-people links, "we are very glad that together with the Cook Islands, we have made enormous progress". "And the action plan, that was signed back in February when Prime Minister Brown was visiting China, was actually a further step to build on an already very strong relationship, because we upgraded our relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership back in 2018. "And this time around, what was signed was largely some of the specific actions that we could take to further that relationship, to help the Cook Islands to achieve its goals for sustainable development." According to the Embassy of PRC, during the visit, Ambassador Wang held discussions with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and the Seabed Minerals Authority, exploring further details of ongoing and future cooperation. He also delivered smart mowers donated by the Suzhou Municipal People's Government, visited Apii Nikao School, and attended a handover ceremony for the annual Ambassador Scholarship and educational supplies from Zhuhai City. Cook Islands will also receive two electric buses and motorbikes from the People's Republic of China (PRC) to support the country's green transport initiatives. Cook Islands government has allocated $3 million to procure a new vessel from China, which is providing the other half of the funding. - Cook Islands News
