Dear Editor, I recall a public consultation in Mauke. There were two motions for consideration.

The first motion YES for the completion of the ten years Precautionary Research still ongoing and NO to any actual DSM (deep sea mining) activities to begin. 

The second motion was NO to the ongoing ten years Precautionary Research and YES to the actual DSM activities to start up asap (as soon as possible). 

A few people spoke against DSM at that public consultation, but then it was concluded, by the Government officials that afternoon, that the majority agreed to the YES motion. The public meeting was over and the dinner provided was excellent, I must say. 

It sure was a clever person who came up with questions to mislead our island people into the answer they gave. 

To this day, I’m still not sure what the YES alluded to.

Nevertheless, it is still good news for our government to start the process of diving down, 4 kilometres or so, into our deep ocean to mine those so called “money-in-the-bank” nodules sitting around doing nothing! 

Or so it was believed to be the case then.  

Recently a team of deep sea ocean researchers revealed to our entire world that those “money-in-the-bank” nodules are not just sitting idle doing nothing, but they are in fact, a major component and player in the manufacturing and production of life breathing oxygen down in the deep dark ocean floor bed.

Hence the term, dark oxygen production. 

Therefore, I must say no to any DSM initiative. I don’t want to be a part of a generation that decides to remove all those oxygen producing nodules, thus putting an end to life.

And the best news out of all this?

Now we all know why our God left those nodules down deep – to remain out of reach of human hands. 

Ei akaoti i toku au manako no runga i teia angaanga ta te taokotaianga Keri Takere Moana e tapapa nei e reo patipati teia kia tatou e te iti tangata. Ka inangaro ia taau, kotou, tauturu no tetai akaarianga atu i tetai patoianga i raro ake ite reva o te Au e auraka to tatou takere Moana kia koia mai teia au toka tei kitea mai e e maani A'o akaaea ta ratou angaanga. Kia vao iatu ratou ki teia vairanga e tau ki ta te Atua Mana katoatoa i akaruke ia ratou e auraka tetai rima kino no te tangata e amiri. A teia 18th September e tu mai nei. 

Akamaroiroi mai,

Andrew Hosking

Mauke

Reply

Kia Orana Editor,

Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

Mr Hosking speaks to three broad topics:

Firstly, in relation to statements made during a SBM (Seabed Minerals) consultation held in Mauke in October 2023. According to our records, while Mauke gave their broad support for SBM development, there were no such specific motions put forward. SBMA (Seabed Minerals Authority) will address this separately in the coming days.

The second refers to a recent dark oxygen study. Concerns have been raised about the validity of this study’s data, its conclusions and its materiality. Government’s view is that it is prudent to wait until the different scientific positions are reconciled and the major questions answered, before taking any stance on this issue.

The third is the view that God does not want us to develop our nodules. Myself, Bishop Tutai Pere (who is also the chair of our SBM Advisory Committee), and others in the community are clear that developing our natural resources is in line with biblical principles. Bishop Pere will speak to this separately from a biblical perspective.

I appreciate that Mr Hosking has concerns about the potential environmental impacts that minerals harvesting (or mining) might have.

We also share those concerns. This is why we are applying a science-based approach to SBM development. This is why we are only allowing exploration research to take place.

Through scientific research, we will be able to gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions for the benefit of our country, while looking after the health of our Marae Moana. We look forward to sharing more updates on the new knowledge we are gaining through exploration.

I invite Mr Hosking and any interested citizens to contact SBMA on 29193 or to visit our office about any concerns they may have.

Noatu e kare to tatou manako e aiteite ana no runga i teia tuanga.  Kia angaanga taokotai ra tatou, ei meitaki no to tatou iti tangata e to tatou Basileia.

Te Atua te Aroa,

Alex Herman

Seabed Minerals Commissioner