Government welcomes bipartisan political support for seabed minerals exploration

Prime Minister Brown said “Government have always maintained the need to make decisions based on science rather than arbitrary timelines, so I am pleased to see that the Opposition are now taking the same view.”

Rima Browne18 March 2021

Demos reject calls for decade-long ban on seabed mining in policy flip

Following a recent public consultation in the northern group and an internal policy review, the Opposition Democratic Party has come out against a ten-year moratorium on seabed mining.

CI NEWSDede Mingi17 March 2021Seabed Minerals Authority, Public Consultation, Nothern Islands, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Leader of the Opposition, Tina Pupuke Browne, Seabed Minerals Commissioner, Alex Herman, moratorium, Seabed Exploration

Seabed Minerals Authority donates books, stationery

Prior to last month’s consultations in Pukapuka, Palmerston and Nassau, the Seabed Minerals Authority put together a donation of books, stationery and activity sets for the schools of each island.

Dede Mingi15 March 2021Seabed Minerals Authority, Donations, Books, Stationary, Toys, Alex Herman, Seabed Minerals, Seabed Minerals Commissioner, Pae Tokerau, Palmerston, Nassau, Pukapuka

PM’s northern tour concludes with consultation on Rakahanga

Prime Minister Mark Brown’s delegation was on Rakahanga yesterday for the final round of consultation in the northern group islands.

CI NEWSDede Mingi11 March 2021Prime Minister Mark Brown, Northern Group Islands, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Alex Herman, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Commissioner, Seabed Minerals Consultation, QFT, Cook Islands Marine Park - Marae Moana, Maria Tuoro, Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau, Rakahanga MP, Leader of the Opposition, Tina Pupuke Browne, Marae Moana Director

PM Brown on another northern group tour

Prime Minister Mark Brown is touring northern group islands of Manihiki and Rakahanga, running a series of consultations there.

This follows from a successful trip to Palmerston, Suwarrow, Pukapuka and Nassau early last month.

Seabed minerals consultations reach the most remote islands of the Cook Islands

Overall, Prime Minister Brown was pleased with the three Pa Enua consultations.

“It was great to see our people’s interest in our SBM sector, and to receive their questions and feedback,” he said, “This is the whole purpose of our consultations: to engage with our people and to hear their views and concerns. It takes a lot of effort, but we are committed to it.” One of the Seabed Minerals Authority’s key priorities for 2021 is stakeholder engagement, in particular with its Cook Islands people.

Press ReleaseDede Mingi19 February 2021SBMA, SBMA Commissioner, Alex Herman, Prime Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands EEZ, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Consultations, Palmerston, Nassau, Pukapuka, stakeholders, engagement

Will nodule mining impact animals that live on the ocean floor?

A closer look at the potential impact of nodule mining on the megafauna associated with nodules in the Cook Islands EEZ from Penrhyn southward to Aitutaki and Palmerston. By Gerald McCormack, Director of the Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust.

Special moment for PM and his delegation

Prime Minister Mark Brown pays his first visit to Suwarrow, the largest national park of the Cook Islands, during his northern group tour.

CI NEWSDede Mingi4 February 2021SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minerals Authority Commissioner, Seabed Consultations, Seabed Minerals, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Alex Herman, Nassau, Pa Enua, Outer Islands

Palmerston welcomes PM Brown

Making his first official stop on a round trip of several northern group islands that he’ll be visiting this coming week, Prime Minister Mark Brown arrived in Palmerston on Thursday evening – the first time he has visited the island in his official capacity as PM.

CI NEWSDede Mingi30 January 2021SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Prime Minister Mark Brown, Mark Brown, Alex Herman, Seabed Minerals Consultation, Seabed Minerals Authority Commissioner, Opening of Emergency Shelter, Palmerston

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