Seabed Minerals Amendment passed unanimously in Parliament

The Seabed Minerals Amendment Bill 2021 passed in Parliament on Tuesday 23 March receiving unanimous support from both Government and the Opposition. The purpose of the amendment was simple and straightforward: to make clear that only Cook Islands limited companies may apply for a seabed minerals licence or permit.

Press ReleaseAlex Herman27 March 2021Seabed Minerals AuthoritySeabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minerals Authority Commissioner, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Alex Herman, seabed minerals exploration, seabed legislation

Seabed minerals consultations reach the most remote islands of the Cook Islands

Overall, Prime Minister Brown was pleased with the three Pa Enua consultations.

“It was great to see our people’s interest in our SBM sector, and to receive their questions and feedback,” he said, “This is the whole purpose of our consultations: to engage with our people and to hear their views and concerns. It takes a lot of effort, but we are committed to it.” One of the Seabed Minerals Authority’s key priorities for 2021 is stakeholder engagement, in particular with its Cook Islands people.

Press ReleaseDede Mingi19 February 2021SBMA, SBMA Commissioner, Alex Herman, Prime Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands EEZ, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Consultations, Palmerston, Nassau, Pukapuka, stakeholders, engagement

Special moment for PM and his delegation

Prime Minister Mark Brown pays his first visit to Suwarrow, the largest national park of the Cook Islands, during his northern group tour.

CI NEWSDede Mingi4 February 2021SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minerals Authority Commissioner, Seabed Consultations, Seabed Minerals, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Alex Herman, Nassau, Pa Enua, Outer Islands

Palmerston welcomes PM Brown

Making his first official stop on a round trip of several northern group islands that he’ll be visiting this coming week, Prime Minister Mark Brown arrived in Palmerston on Thursday evening – the first time he has visited the island in his official capacity as PM.

CI NEWSDede Mingi30 January 2021SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Prime Minister Mark Brown, Mark Brown, Alex Herman, Seabed Minerals Consultation, Seabed Minerals Authority Commissioner, Opening of Emergency Shelter, Palmerston

Government Delegation Heads North

A government delegation led by Prime Minister Mark Brown has taken advantage of a scheduled voyage to the northern group to visit the islands of Palmerston, Suwarrow, Pukapuka and Nassau for a series of consultations on matters regarding Marae Moana, seabed minerals and quarantine-free travel.

Cook Islands Opens Seabed Minerals Exploration

Companies interested in conducting seabed minerals exploration work in Cook Islands have until December to put in their Expressions of Interest.

InternationalDede Mingi28 October 2020Prime Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Deep sea research, Exploration

Cooks' deep sea mining exploration will lead to impact assessment

By offering tenders for deep sea exploration the environmental risks of extracting minerals from the seabed will be able to be assessed, the Cook Islands government says. The government plans to open tenders for five-year, deep sea mining exploration licences at the beginning of next year. And while there have been concerns raised about the environmental impact of deep sea mining, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Brown, said the exploration phase would have a very low impact.

InternationalDede Mingi23 November 2018SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minister Mark Brown, deep sea activities, Seabed Exploration, tenders, Cook Islands, Rarotonga

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