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 Seabed Minerals
SBMA strengthens regulatory capability through South Australia exchange
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.

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Dede MingiSeabed 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
Kiribati delegation visits Cook Islands for seabed minerals governance study tour
Kiribati delegation visits Cook Islands for seabed minerals governance study tour

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) welcomed the Honourable Ribanataake Tiwau, Minister for Fisheries and Ocean Resources of the Republic of Kiribati, and his delegation to the Cook Islands for a study tour focused on seabed minerals governance, regulation, institutional development and knowledge exchange. 

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSeabed Minerals Authority, SBMA, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Ribanataake Tiwau, Beverly Ataera, Seabed Minerals Governance, Regulatory Frameworks, Institutional Development, Licensing, Environmental Safeguards, Fiscal Governance, Public Oversight, Science Based Decision Making, Pacific Cooperation, Pacific Knowledge Exchange, Regional Partnerships, Pacific Island Countries, Government to Government Engagement, Capacity Building, Seabed Minerals, Exploration and Research, Ocean Governance, Stakeholder Engagement, Public Information, National Interest, Responsible Ocean Stewardship
Cook Islands strengthens regulatory capability at ISA Council in Kingston
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. 

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSBMA, Seabed Minerals, Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, International Seabed Authortity (ISA), ISA, ISA Council, 31st Session, Kingston Jamaica, Policy and Regulatory Oversight, Latishia Maui-Mataora, Lynn Mataora, Seabed Minerals Regulation, Draft Exploitation Regulations, The Area, UNCLOS, Sponsoring States, Responsibilities, Environmental Management, Environmental Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement, Inspections, Regulatory Capability, Legal Capability, Policy Development, Ocean Governance, Deep-Sea Minerals, Science-Based Decision Making, Cook Islands Law, Exploration and Research Phase, Responsible Stewardship
Clear Facts, Careful Process: Where the Cook Islands Stands on Seabed Minerals
Clear Facts, Careful Process: Where the Cook Islands Stands on Seabed Minerals

Public discussion on seabed minerals has raised questions about transparency, representation, science, and decision-making. Here is where the Cook Islands currently stands, what the law requires, and why the country remains in an exploration-only phase. Those questions are fair. People should expect answers that are clear, straight, and respectful. 

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSeabed Minerals, Cook Islands, SBMA, Ocean Governance, Exploration Phase, Science Based Decisions, Environmental stewardship, Marae Moana, Public Consultations, Transparency, Policy and Regulation, Licensing Process, National Environment Service (NES), Advisory Committee, Community Engagement, Ocean Nation, Cook Islands Government, Deep Sea, Marine Policy, Evidence Based Approach
Cook Islands declared ‘world leader’ in seabed sector
Cook Islands declared ‘world leader’ in seabed sector

Seabed mining is no longer a distant ambition for the Cook Islands, as at last week’s Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity summit in Hawaii, it was pushed into the geopolitical spotlight with Cook Islands leaders declaring global leadership, clearing diplomatic roadblocks and indicating that movement, not moratorium, is the direction ahead.

The two-day summit was held behind closed doors with Pacific media, including Cook Islands News, present at the event.

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CI NEWSDede MingiCook Islands, Seabed Minerals, Seabed Mining, Pacific Agenda Summit, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, Prime Minister Mark Brown, Henry Puna, Beverly Ataera, Marae Moana, Ocean Governance, Science Led Approach, Environmental Research, Regulatory Frameworks, Exploration Licences, Critical Minerals, Regional Cooperation, Investment, Pacific Geopolitics
US vows to cut red tape slowingCook Islands and Pacific deals
US vows to cut red tape slowingCook Islands and Pacific deals

Washington is tearing down bureaucratic barriers that have delayed investment and financing in the Pacific, as the United States looks to deliver swifter results from its renewed engagement with the region.

United States deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau made this comment in response to a question from Cook Islands News at the conclusion of the two-day “Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity Summit” in Honolulu, Hawaii, this week.

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CI NEWSDede MingiUnited States, Cook Islands, Pacific Islands, Pacific Agenda Summit, Honolulu, Regional Cooperation, Investment, Economic Development, Infrastructure, Disaster Resilience, Connectivity, Private Sector Engagement, Shared Prosperity, Security Cooperation, Development Finance, Critical Minerals, Seabed Minerals, Cook Islands Government, Office of the Prime Minister, Pacific Partnerships, SBMA
Economic potential of Cook Islands polymetallic nodules ‘overstated’, suggests study
Economic potential of Cook Islands polymetallic nodules ‘overstated’, suggests study

A new study suggests the economic benefits of seabed mining in the Cook Islands have been exaggerated, countering government claims that the industry will generate millions in revenue.

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CI NEWSDede MingiSeabed Minerals, Cook Islands, Seabed Mining, Deep Sea Mining, Polymetallic Nodules, Economic Viability, Independent Study, Environment Safeguards, Marine Science, Ocean Governance, Resource Management, National Interest, Regulatory Oversight, Responsible Stewardship, Marae Moana, Critical Minerals, Exploration Licences, Evidence Based Decision Making, Cook Island Economy, Ocean Policy