Photo: Te Ipukarea Society was set up in 1996 to be a voice for the beauty, health and diversity of our environment – land, sea and air. This photo is from TIS’s 2018 rat eradication project to help save Suwarrow’s Seabirds.

Three decades of guardianship

During the 1980s, with rising tourism, it was noticed that environmental priorities were repeatedly sidelined, highlighting the need for proactive preservation.

By 1996, the Cook Islands was bankrupt. Amid widespread anxiety and restricted finances, the government dramatically reduced its workforce, downsizing Conservation Services into the Ministry of Works. Projects simply stopped; the environment was not a priority.

In response to this vacuum, local conservationists took action. Recognising the vital need for an independent organisation to research, educate, and protest questionable development, they birthed hope from hardship: the Cook Islands’ first environmental NGO, Taporoporo’anga Ipukarea Society—later known as Te Ipukarea Society (TIS).

Thirty years later, the landscape has shifted. While the National Environment Service now leads government policy, TIS has evolved into an essential independent voice. We have matured in expertise, gained international recognition, and remain a steadfast watchdog for our natural heritage.

Approaching our 30th anniversary, we reflect on a legacy defined by grit and growth. We celebrate hard-won successes: leading the ‘Save our Suwarrow’ campaign to stop pearl farming in the pristine Suwarrow lagoon, rallying national communities against purse-seining, promoting sustainable tourism, championing waste management solutions, and highlighting deep sea mining risks.

Every challenge has contributed to a more robust, educated perspective on protecting our Ipukarea.

We invite our media partners and the community to join us for cake, refreshments, and a look back at thirty years of local action, alongside our Annual General Meeting.

Friday, 19 June 2026, The Plaza, Avarua
5.00-6pm AGM | 6-9pm Celebrate