Cook Islands Environmental Groups Call for Comprehensive Survey on Seabed Mining

The Cook Islands’ environmental community is urging the government to conduct a comprehensive survey to determine public support for seabed mining before further action is taken.

Concerns Over Consultation Processes

Last month, marine biologist Dr Teina Rongo, chairperson of Korero o te Orau, a non-governmental organisation, expressed concerns over the consultation process regarding seabed mining. The issue came to a head during a Facebook exchange between Korero o te Orau and the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA).

SBMA had included Korero o te Orau’s logo in a presentation slide during its consultation in New Zealand, implying the NGO’s involvement and support for seabed mining. Dr Rongo called for balanced education and awareness campaigns to ensure all Cook Islanders are fully informed about the potential impacts of seabed mining.

Exclusive NGO Involvement

Dr Rongo also criticised the lack of meaningful engagement with local NGOs, saying their roles in the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for Marae Moana often feel tokenistic. Korero o te Orau stated that the presentation was misleading, claiming it was a misuse of their logos.

Criticism from Opposition Leader and NGOs

Opposition leader Tina Browne earlier stated that the trip to New Zealand was a “promotion not consultation”. She suggested that the SBMA did not include any opposition members or representatives from non-government organisations, promoting only one view at the meetings.

June Hosking, president of Te Ipukarea Society (TIS), another Rarotonga-based NGO, said the Government must rethink its consultation processes. Representatives from all four pillars of society – community, culture, economy, and environment – should be included to provide a more balanced perspective.

National Heritage at Risk

She also challenged the notion that seabed mining is essential for the transition to clean energy. “At the Blue Planet Alliance forum, they made it clear that DSM (deep-sea mining) is not necessary for renewable energy. If ecosystems are destroyed in the process, can we really call it clean energy?”

Jackie Rongo, secretary of Korero o te Orau, raised concerns about the Government’s emphasis on seabed mining’s economic benefits while downplaying its environmental and social impacts.

Importance of Public Knowledge and Consent

“The conversation focuses on profits and benefits, ignoring the harm. When community members ask if we can stop if it turns out to be bad for us, there are no clear answers,” Rongo said. She also questioned the Government’s framing of seabed mining, describing it as misleading.

Environmental Groups Prioritize Natural Heritage

Environmental groups stress that the Government must prioritise the interests of Cook Islanders and the country’s natural heritage over economic gains.

“This is about more than just the economy; it’s about protecting our environment and ensuring that decisions are made with the full knowledge and consent of our people,” TIS’s Hosking said.

Conclusion

The Cook Islands’ environmental community is calling on the government to conduct a comprehensive survey on seabed mining. The consultation process has raised concerns over exclusions, misrepresentation, and prioritisation of economic gains over environmental and social impacts. It is essential that decisions are made with the full knowledge and consent of all stakeholders.

-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.