Prime Minister welcomes At Sea, Sail Out Rally, rejects moratorium

Prime Minister Mark Brown has welcomed the At Sea,Sail Out Rally against deep-sea mining but has expressed reservations about the call for a moratorium on deep-sea activities.

The “peaceful rally” at sea and on land to call for a precautionary pause to deep sea mining is organised by Ocean Ancestors, a collective of individuals, NGOs, and businesses united by their shared passion for protecting the ocean. It will be held this afternoon, starting at 4pm, at the Avarua Harbour (Trader Jacks carpark).

PM declares seabed minerals ambition

Cook Islands wants to be the country that is at the forefront of the seabed minerals sector, declared Prime Minister Mark Brown.

Herman highlights Cook Islands’ seabed minerals progress

The marine minerals community from over 25 countries has gathered in Rarotonga, sharing ideas and knowledge on the future of seabed minerals as the 52nd Underwater Minerals Conference 2024 officially opened yesterday at the National Auditorium.

Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) Commissioner, Alex Herman, was amongst 18 experts from eight different countries who presented on various topics revolving around seabed minerals yesterday.

Cook Islands hosts world’s largest marine minerals gathering

Over 100 stakeholders and marine minerals experts from all across the globe have gathered for the International Underwater Minerals Conference (UMC) 2024 in Rarotonga this week.

The four-day conference, which began in 1970, will be held from Monday to Thursday this week at the National Auditorium, gathering marine minerals experts from over 25 countries.

UMC is the world’s largest gathering of ocean mineral stakeholders, including government, academic, and commercial sector professionals.

Cook Islands and Auckland University discuss collaboration in ocean research

Prime Minister Mark Brown, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Seabed Minerals Authority, and the Cook Islands High Commission, recently held a productive meeting with the University of Auckland to explore potential areas of collaboration in ocean research.

Garment printing campaign raises awareness against deep-sea mining

The upcoming “Sail Out Rally”, calling for a precautionary pause on deep sea mining, is gaining momentum with a “printing for the protection of our ocean” campaign at the Punanga Nui Market.

Opposition welcomes regulations, warns against premature mining

The Opposition leader has welcomed the regulatory framework for deep-sea mining but maintains the stance against any mining activities until ‘environmentally friendly technology’ is available and Cook Islanders are fully involved.

Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy

An online opinion poll on deep sea mining has been criticised by the government regulator responsible for overseeing seabed minerals activities in the Cook Islands as “fundamentally flawed”.

Letter to the Editor: Govt denies muzzling workers, despite environmentalist claims

The Public Service Commissioner denies any government protocol restricting public servants from speaking publicly against seabed mining, after claims made by an environmental campaigner.

June Hosking, president of the environment group Te Ipukarea Society, claims that government workers, including those in leadership roles, are being restricted from speaking publicly against seabed mining.

News & Press Releases

The Public Service Commissioner denies any government protocol restricting public servants from speaking publicly against seabed mining, after claims made by an environmental campaigner.