Senior policy and legal officer Te-Ara Henderson, a familiar face from the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), has returned home after successfully completing the second phase of his diplomatic training alongside fellow aspiring Pacific diplomats. The training was held across Suva, Fiji, and Apia, Samoa, from 10 to 24 March 2025.
Read MoreYou can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.
The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) recently participated in the first of its kind Ministerial Talanoa on Deep Sea Minerals (DSM), convened by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, from 18 to 21 February 2025.
The Talanoa brought together Pacific Island Forum leaders, ministers and senior officials, and regional and international stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of DSM development and governance in the Pacific.
Read MoreThe Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC)in partnership with the New Zealand High Commission (NZHC), is pleased to announce that Messrs Te Ara Henderson Senior Policy & Legal Officer, Seabed Minerals Authority) and Mani Mate (Director, Development Coordination Division, MFEM were selected to participate in the Pacific Diplomatic Training Programme—a professional development initiative aimed at equipping emerging public servants with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate regional and international diplomacy.
Read MoreTe-Ara Henderson, Senior Policy and Legal Officer of the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) attended Part I of the 29th Session of the Council. The Council sessions are hosted three times a year at the headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica. The Cook Islands is a member state and sponsoring state of an Exploration Licence in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Read More