Kia orāna e te katoatoa. Across Te Moana-nui-o-Kiva, fifteen islands drew their sea lines—12 nautical miles, 50 nautical miles, 200 nautical miles—and a modern ocean state took shape. Our first Prime Minister, Sir Albert Henry, argued before the world that the sea could lift our people—if managed with fairness and care. In the deep, early voyages by the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan revealed cobalt-rich nodules and set a course for evidence over haste.

Produced by the Seabed Minerals Authority for the 60th Legacy Series under National Identity, this film shares a consistent promise: mana tiaki at the centre, science before steps, and a precautionary approach that protects our moana while we prepare for tomorrow. The Birth of a Vision – Cook Islands Seabed Minerals (1965–1985) starts now.