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

Cook Islands strengthens regulatory capability at ISA Council in Kingston

The Seabed Minerals Authority’s Policy and Regulatory Oversight team represented the Cook Islands at the International Seabed Authority Council meetings in Kingston, Jamaica, from 13 to 24 July 2026.

Policy and Regulatory Oversight Director Latishia Maui-Mataora and Policy and Legal Officer Lynn Mataora attended the second part of the 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority Council, where Member States continued discussions on the international rules and responsibilities for seabed minerals activities in the Area.

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?