Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority
Runanga Takere Moana
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News & Press Releases

 
 

You can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.

 
Posts tagged Cook Islands
From Global Leadership to Island Home: Meet SBM Commissioner Beverly Stacey Ataera
From Global Leadership to Island Home: Meet SBM Commissioner Beverly Stacey Ataera

At the heart of the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) is our Seabed Minerals Commissioner, Mrs Beverly Stacey Ataera - a leader whose story blends international expertise with deep cultural belonging. 

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSBMA, Seabed Minerals, Le4adership, National Identity, Cook Islands, Mana Tiaki, Ocean Stewardship, Beverly Ataera, Transparency, Science Led, Community First, Cook Islands 60, Island Home, Ocean Nation
Cook Islands Welcomes E/V Nautilus for 21-Day Deep-Sea Science Research Cruise
Cook Islands Welcomes E/V Nautilus for 21-Day Deep-Sea Science Research Cruise

Later this week, the Cook Islands will welcome the arrival of the exploration vessel E/V Nautilus, a world-class platform for deep-sea discovery. Over the course of a 21-day science mission beginning 1 October 2025, the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) and its partners will work alongside the Nautilus team to explore and better understand the hidden depths of Marae Moana.

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Joint ReleaseDede MingiCook Islands, Rarotonga, SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authortiy (SBMA), E/V Nautilus, National Environment Service (NES), NES, Deep Sea Science, Marae Moana, Cook Islands Science, Ocean Exploration, Ocean Exploration Trust, NOAA Ocean Exploration, International Partnerships, Science Collaboration, Pacific Research, Marine Biodiversity, Seabed Research, Ocean Stewardship, Sustainable Oceans, Science First, Precautionary Principle, Pacific Oceans, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, Marae Moana Leadership
We’ve taken a big step in our knowledge of our seabed minerals environment
We’ve taken a big step in our knowledge of our seabed minerals environment

The Cook Islands government has released its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMP) for seabed minerals. 

This milestone is an important step in managing our marine environment while considering possible future development opportunities for our country. The SEA covers our entire Cook Islands Marae Moana Exclusive Economic Zone. It considers national and international laws and leading best practices.

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Dede MingiCook Islands, SBMA, Marae Moana, Environmental Management, Marine Conservation, EBMF, SEA, REMP Consultations
SBMA coordinates a seminar meeting of world experts on seabed minerals extraction plumes
SBMA coordinates a seminar meeting of world experts on seabed minerals extraction plumes

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) yesterday hosted a hybrid seminar at the University of the South Pacific, Rarotonga campus, bringing together eight international experts from the United States, Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, and China to discuss the latest advances in understanding seabed sediment plumes—clouds of particles that may be generated during seabed minerals extraction. Around 35 participants joined in person and online.

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSeabed Minerals Authortiy (SBMA), Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals, Sediment Plumes, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Ocean Science, Marae Moana, Deep-Sea Minerals, International Collaboration, Pacific Islands Research, Sustainable Oceans
Cook Islands children’s book on deep sea nodules is about facts, says author
Cook Islands children’s book on deep sea nodules is about facts, says author

A children's book exploring the idea of deep sea nodules was paid for by a charity established and funded by a Cook Islands seabed mining company. By RNZ Pacific journalist, Caleb Fotheringham.

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InternationalDede MingiCook Islands Seabed Minerals, Children's Book, Merio and the Hidden Treasure, Deep sea nodules children's education, Polymetallic nodules, Cook Islands, Seabed Mining awareness Cook Islands, Joyana Finch, Vania Kauraka, Te Rito o Taku Peu Tupuna, CIC Ocean Research, Moana Minerals Limited, Hans Smit, Te Ipukarea Society, June Hosking, Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), Edward Herman, Ocean Education, Community Voices, Blue Economy, Our Ocean Our Future, Critical Thinking
Commercial extraction needs ‘extensive approvals’, clarifies Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority 
Commercial extraction needs ‘extensive approvals’, clarifies Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority 

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), which governs seabed mineral activities under the Seabed Minerals Act 2019 (SBMA Act), emphasises that no commercial extraction can occur without extensive approvals.

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International, CI NEWSDede MingiCook Islands, Seabed Minerals, SBMA, Ocean Stewardship, Blue Economy, Sustainable Future, Pacific Islands, Environmental Approvals, Deep Sea Mining, Global Partnerships
US eyes deeper ties with Cook Islands, help businesses form ties
US eyes deeper ties with Cook Islands, help businesses form ties

The United States is looking to build stronger ties with the Cook Islands following a historic diplomatic visit this week by its Chargé d’Affaires, David Gehrenbeck, who met with Prime Minister Mark Brown during the nation’s 60th anniversary of self-governance.

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CI NEWSDede MingiUS Cook Islands relations, Us delegation Cook Islands visit, US Chargé d’Affaires David Gehrenbeck, Cook Islands 60th Anniversary, Strengthening US-Cook Islands ties, US-Cook Islands economic cooperation, Secretary Tepaeru Herrmann, Seabed minerals cooperation, Capacity building in the Pacific, Maritime cooperation Cook Islands US, Pacific Islands partnerships, Young Pacific Leaders programme, US Partnership, Cook Islands, Pacific Islands, Diplomacy, Blue Economy
Global Lessons, Local Impact: SBMA’s Te-Ara Henderson Returns from South Australia Secondment
Global Lessons, Local Impact: SBMA’s Te-Ara Henderson Returns from South Australia Secondment

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) proudly welcomes home its Senior Policy and Legal Officer, Te-Ara Henderson, following the successful completion of an 11-week regulatory secondment with the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM), an exchange facilitated through the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT). 

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Press ReleaseDede MingiSBMA, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Te-Ara Henderson, South Australia, AELERT, Global Learning, Local Impact, AELERT Network, Cook Islands Leadership, Seabed Minerals, Regulatory Excellence, Pacific Innovation, Knowledge Exchange, Ocean Governance
Thomas Wynne: Through the reef of 1965, to the ocean of 1974 and deep waters of 2025, ‘Let US begin’
Thomas Wynne: Through the reef of 1965, to the ocean of 1974 and deep waters of 2025, ‘Let US begin’

“And to you, the people of the Cook Islands, I say – let us begin.” – Albert Henry, Inaugural Address, 1965. These were the words of the Papa of our democracy, spoken in 1965 at his inaugural address. Words that still echo today, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

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CI NEWSDede MingiCook Islands 60th Anniversary, 60 Years of Self-Governance, Constitution Celebrations, National Identity, Self-determination, Sir Albert Henry, Thomas Taruronga Wynne, Papa of our democracy, Cook Islands Leadership, Nationhood, Democracy, Independence in spirit, Covenant with the people, Mana and integrity, Guardianship (Mana Tiaki), Sovereignty, Agency, Unity and reciprocity, Inaugural Address 1965, Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1974, Seabed Minerals, Ocean Governance, Marae Moana, Vaka Traditions, Maori to Maori Connections, Diaspora and return home, Let us begin, Building the future together, Strength in Unity, Prosperity for our children, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Small Island States, Global Advocacy