SBMA strengthens regulatory capability through South Australia exchange

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) hosted two officers from South Australia’s Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) in September as part of a regulator to regulator exchange focused on compliance, monitoring, enforcement procedures and regulatory systems.

The placement builds on an earlier exchange supported through the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT), which saw former SBMA Senior Policy and Legal Officer Te-Ara Henderson undertake a secondment with DEM in South Australia from May to July 2025.

The latest exchange brought that cooperation to Rarotonga, allowing DEM officers to work directly alongside SBMA staff on practical areas of regulatory oversight.

Dede Mingi1 October 2026Seabed Minerals Authority, SBMA, South Australia Department of Energy and Mining, DEM, Simon Matthews, Daniel Radulovic, Latishia Maui-Mataora, Beverly Ataera, Regulatory Capability, Compliance Monitoring, Regulatory Oversight, Enforcement Procedures, Exploration Regulation, Licence Compliance, Exploration Licence Renewal, Regulatory Systems, Monitoring and Reporting, Compliance Framework, Policy and Regulatory Oversight, Regulator to Regulator Exchange, South Australia Exchange, AELERT, Australiasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network, Institutional Capacity, Knowledge Exchange, Professional Development, Regulatory Cooperation, Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals, Exploration and Research Phase, Seabed Minerals Governance, National Regulatory Framework, Cook Islands Law, Responsible Ocean Governance, National Interest

Building capability, not dependence | Why the Cook Islands works with international partners, and why that does not mean giving up control of our own decisions

Recent attention on one international science fellowship has raised a fair question: how should a small island State like the Cook Islands work with international partners while protecting its own decision-making authority?

As Seabed Minerals Commissioner, my answer is simple: we build capability, not dependence.

Perspective PieceDede Mingi30 September 2026Seabed Minerals Authority, SBMA, Beverly Ataera, Cook Islands Government, National Environment Services, NES, NOAA, US Embassy, International Partnerships, Capacity Building, Regulatory Capability, Ocean Governance, Deep-Sea Science, Cook Islands Sovereignty, Knowledge Exchange, Science Partnerships, Marae Moana

SBMA contributes to deep-sea biodiversity research through SIO collaboration

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has contributed to a joint deep-sea biodiversity research project with the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), supporting work to strengthen scientific knowledge of deep-sea habitats and biodiversity data.

SBMA participated in the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity Data in Deep-Sea Habitats of the Northwest Pacific project, known as SADiNP, a collaboration with the Second Institute of Oceanography.

SBMA strengthens science engagement through Washington meetings

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) continues to strengthen its science-based approach through international collaboration, with Knowledge Management Director Dr John Parianos recently attending a series of engagements in Washington, DC.

Cook Islands and United States Establish Strategic Framework for Critical Minerals Research and Supply Chain Security

The Government of the Cook Islands and the Government of the United States have agreed a non-binding Framework for Engagement and Cooperation to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths, including cooperation relating to deep-sea minerals.

Media ReleaseDede Mingi4 February 2026Cook Islands Government, Seabed Minerals Authortiy (SBMA), Critical Minerals, Rare Earth, International Cooperation, Ocean Governance, Supply Chain Security, Sovereignty, Environmental Protection, Science-Led Decision Making, Scientific Research, Geological Mapping, Knowledge Exchange, Capacity Building, United States, Pacific Region, Indo=Pacific

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).

Press ReleaseDede Mingi30 July 2025SBMA, 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

Rima Browne Explores the US Leadership Programme on behalf of the Cook Islands 

In a bid to bolster sustainable development and explore collaboration opportunities, representatives from the Cook Islands have actively participated in a recent International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) focused on "Sustainability and Economic Development in the Blue Economy."

News & Press Releases

Recent attention on one international science fellowship has raised a fair question: how should a small island State like the Cook Islands work with international partners while protecting its own decision-making authority?