21-3-2012

REREKURA TEAURERE - NEW APOINTEE TO OPM CLIMATE CHANGE DIVISON

Rerekura Teaurere has been appointed Climate Change Co-coordinator within the Climate Change Division of the Office of the Prime Minster. Though she grew up in New Zealand, Rerekura is of Penryhn descent, and recently completed a Master of Science Honours degree at the University of Auckland. Her thesis focused on exploring inter-organisational influences on sustainable waste practices in the accommodation sector in Rarotonga. Her research for her thesis was carried out in the Cook Islands in 2010 and involved working closely with government agencies, NGOS’s, communities, traditional leaders and the private sector here. In her new role Rerekura will assist the division to effectively coordinate and implement an integrated nationwide approach to climate change. She will also be responsible for liaising with donors, government agencies, NGOs, research institutes, communities, private sector and other stakeholders engaged in climate change activities and supporting other public sector and civil society agencies in developing their own responses to climate change where appropriate Rerekura says coordination of the climate change programme by identifying, developing, implementing and monitoring of the Joint National Action Plan will be a key part of her work - as will developing and implementing a communication strategy to ensure all stakeholders are kept informed of climate change matters. The Climate Change Office provides a coordinated strategic service to the rest of government on all matters pertaining to Climate Change. The coordination of services is seen as integral to effectively and efficiently using resources to establish, implement, monitor and evaluate mitigation and adaptation responses to Climate Change in the Cook Islands. The achievement of the Joint National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change and the recommendations of the Public Service Climate Change Functional Review (2011) provide mandate to this Climate Change Office as do the related overarching goals of the National Sustainable Development Plan.