By Losirene Lacanivalu, Cook Islands News
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown Photo: Tiana Haxton
Prime Minister Mark Brown will lead a 11-member delegation to Australia this week for an "open dialogue" on seabed exploration activities.
The Cook Islands government held a similar consultation tour in New Zealand in November last year, which Brown, also the Minister for Seabed Minerals, declared a significant success.
According to the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), the delegation will travel to Australia from 28 May to 6 June to engage Cook Islands communities in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
The face-to-face sessions will focus on the Cook Islands' journey towards a "science-led, environmentally responsible, and sovereign approach to seabed minerals exploration".
In a statement, SBMA said that this engagement marks the next step in strengthening the relationship between government and diaspora, "built on a shared commitment to sustainable progress and guardianship of our moana".
The consultation is facilitated by SBMA in collaboration with community leaders "clarifying what is happening, what is not, and how Cook Islanders remain at the centre of this seabed minerals journey".
Brown said that this was not about extraction or shortcuts.
"This is about science, stewardship, and sovereignty. We are exploring, carefully, transparently, and with the future of our people and ocean in mind."
Brown reiterated that no mining has been approved. All current activities are exploratory only, governed by Cook Islands legislation and robust environmental frameworks, and informed by global best practices, he added.
"These conversations reaffirm who we are and what we stand for. Our diaspora carries our culture and pride with them. They are part of our national direction, and their voice matters," Brown added.
According to SBMA, this national strategy is about building Cook Islands capacity to lead in environmental science, global research and sustainable ocean economies.
"Public trust, transparent governance, and cultural legitimacy underpin every step of the process," SBMA said.
"The Cook Islands vision is clear: to be a leader and steward in a sustainable minerals future, delivering benefits not just in revenue but in knowledge, capability, and intergenerational wellbeing."
Consultation will start on 29 May in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and ending in Melbourne on 5-6 June.
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
