Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says his government’s stance on deep sea mining might end up in a ‘different vaka’ to New Zealand.

The issue has proved contentious, with various environmental groups, such as Te Ipukarea Society, calling for a moratorium or outright ban on the practice.

However, Prime Minister Mark Brown on Thursday said, in a joint press conference with New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta, that seabed mining had the opportunity to diversify the economy.

“This has the potential to match or even enhance our tourism industry earnings. It also is an opportunity for diversifying from the narrow base of relying solely on tourism. We saw what happened during Covid-19, where our GDP dropped by 25 per cent,” Brown said.

Mahuta said it was a matter for the Cook Islands’ sovereign decision-making.

“There is a common agreement that marine biodiversity and protection of our environment is very important to all of us,” Mahuta said.

“It is also agreed that there needs to be an environmental protection framework established by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).”

PM Brown reiterated that deep sea mining would not go ahead if it was proved not to be environmentally viable.

“I think it’s fair to say as sovereign states that the navigating of our vaka might end up in a different place to New Zealand on this matter,” Brown said.

“But we have some very common, shared values that I’m sure will overcome any differences.”

Mahuta, who is visiting the Cook Islands for the first time in her capacity as New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, said rather than focus on how the two countries might differ, there should instead be a focus on what they shared.

“What we can agree upon is the need to protect our oceans, and the need to take a science-based approach before deep sea mining can occur,” she said.   

When Cook Islands News approached the New Zealand Government earlier this week on this issue, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said New Zealand’s stance on deep sea mining beyond national jurisdiction is that “deep sea mining should not take place unless it could ensure the effective protection of the marine environment as is required under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea”.

“The ISA is currently negotiating the legal rules which govern deep sea mining beyond national jurisdiction, in accordance with its mandate under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the spokesperson said. 

“New Zealand is actively engaged in those negotiations as part of a coalition of members arguing for the highest standards of environmental protection.”

The spokesperson said if the negotiations do not achieve the effective protection of the marine environment, New Zealand will be calling for no deep-sea mining to occur.

“The government continues to consider advice on this approach, taking into particular account progress made to date in the ISA negotiations, and the positions of Pacific Island countries on the issue,” the spokesperson said.

Last month, French Polynesia voted in favour of a draft opinion for a temporary ban on seabed mining projects.

“Within national jurisdiction, Aotearoa New Zealand urges any country considering deep sea mining to ensure it is only done subject to robust legal frameworks, effective governance structures and high standards of environmental protection,” the MFAT spokesperson said.  

“Our focus is ensuring the protection of the ocean. To do this, we also need to improve our understanding of the deep sea and how mining may affect it.

“In the Pacific, we are open about our views on deep sea mining and the risks it poses. We also respect the mana of each nation to manage its own kaitiakitanga responsibilities.”

Te Ipukarea Society technical director Kelvin Passfield welcomed the statement from MFAT.

“We would hope our own Government will take a similar stance at the ISA negotiations,” Passfield said.

“We also support NZ’s statement that their focus is ‘ensuring the protection of the ocean’. To do this, we also need to improve our understanding of the deep sea and how mining may affect it.”

Passfield said the required level of understanding will take some time, and “we urge our Government not to fast track mining in the Cook Islands waters until we have a better understanding of the potential consequences to the health of our ocean, fisheries, marine life, and future”.

“This will take more time, and more effort at encouraging independent research in our waters. By independent, we mean not led by mining companies with a vested interest,” Passfield said.

A spokesperson for the Seabed Minerals Authority on Thursday said “the Cook Islands Government has not received an official statement from the New Zealand Government on this, and it would not be appropriate for us to provide a comment on this until then”.

Source by: Cook Islands News | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National