Dear Editor, I hear Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) saying they have Social Licence to push ahead with seabed mining. In other words, they’re saying that our society has approved their actions and plans going forward.

They base this on supposed agreement from what they call their three pillars (Government, House of Ariki and Church).

I go to church regularly, have friends in various churches, and when in Raro, I sometimes attend different churches. Never, since SBMA began consultations in 2018, have I heard of churches asking their congregation for their thoughts, let alone approval.

SBMA does not have the social licence of the church.

The House of Ariki wouldn’t give SBMA social licence without discussions with their Aronga Mana, at least, and I would expect them to seek the thoughts of their iti tangata. My own Tamuera Ariki of Ngati Nurau has not had any discussions with us, let alone seek our approval.

Earlier this year, the House of Ariki had the privilege of meeting with the late NZ Maori King. The main aim of their discussions was to give whales personhood protection. I am told that millions of dollars are being poured into global organisations to lobby governments to grant personhood to whales. I trust that our Ariki will be finding out what impacts seabed mining may have on whales before making any decisions. And that information doesn’t even exist yet, it’s going to take many more years of research before we can make some attempt at understanding the possible impacts of seabed mining on whales, let alone all the other biodiversity. I would be very surprised if our Ariki give approval for seabed mining because their traditional role requires them to be stewards of culture and environment. I can see that the House of Ariki may be pressured to give social licence based on the fact that they receive funding from government, but surely our Ariki have the strength to stand against such pressure.

Now to the third pillar – I would like to know who is included in government. Have all Members of Parliament, including the Opposition, given their social licence to push ahead with seabed mining?

The SBMA say they consulted the public. We attended consultations in Mauke and can say, beyond a shadow of doubt that these consultations did not result in our community giving approval. In fact, I wouldn’t even call them consultations, they were more like telling and anyone who did agree was saying yes without all of the facts. My thoughts on previous consultations have been published in the past. Rachel Reeves was the official recorder for the first round of consultations. Her resulting article shows clearly that we did not give social licence to push ahead with seabed mining (harvesting to those who insist on misusing words).

Finally, SBMA say they have consulted with relevant NGOs, citing Te Ipukarea Society and Korero o te Orau. Submissions were sent to SBMA, but they chose to overlook them. One simple plea was not to rush this (harvesting/mining) legislation as it isn’t needed until the end of the exploration phase. I pray even then, that common sense will prevail and our society will see the value of further exploration, not exploitation.

How is it that the government pushes SBMA legislation far too quickly and yet Marae Moana, the umbrella under which all decisions must be made, rarely meets and is nowhere near completing the special planning critical to our EEZ. It is an embarrassment for us to claim we are a marine protected EEZ at this stage. There is a solid and hazardous waste management bill awaiting completion for the past four years or so, another issue so critical to our Marae Moana. That bill should be pushed ahead.

I can’t help wondering if our Prime Minister is being pressured by outsiders holding purse strings to make rushed, premature decisions.

June Hosking

(Mauke)

SBMA replies – Thank you, Editor, for the opportunity to respond.

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) thanks June for her comments. We continue to engage with our Cook Islands people to not only develop a robust regulatory framework and factual science informed decision making, but to also bring them along the journey of exploration and sustainable development.

SBMA invites June Hosking and any other concerned individuals/organisations to contact SBMA to discuss their concerns and questions they have. They can do this via email: sbma.media@cookislands.gov.ck, or phone 29193, even come into our office premises in Avarua town behind the old Banana Court. Please also check out our website: sbma.gov.ck for more information on the updates and developments by the Seabed Minerals Authority.

Meitaki ma’ata.