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.
The delegation was in Rarotonga from 7 to 9 September 2026 to learn from the Cook Islands’ experience in seabed minerals governance and consider lessons that may support the future institutional development of Marawa Research and Exploration Limited. Kiribati has described the visit as a three-day fact-finding mission focused on cooperation and knowledge exchange in seabed minerals management.
The visit followed discussions held during the Pacific Regional High-Level Talanoa on Deep-Sea Mining in Fiji in 2025, where Pacific countries considered governance, environmental protection, science and sovereign decision-making in the sector.
For SBMA, the study tour provided an opportunity to share practical experience in developing the seabed minerals framework of the Cook Islands and to support Pacific-to-Pacific exchange on the governance of a technically complex and emerging sector.
The delegation’s programme focused on governance, licensing, environmental safeguards, stakeholder engagement, institutional arrangements, fiscal oversight, and the relationship between regulators and industry.
The Honourable Minister was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Teaeto Tiwau; Mr Tieri Tamoa, Deputy Secretary of Fisheries and Ocean Resources; Mr Iannang Teaioro, Director of Marawa Research and Exploration Limited; Ms Maiango Teimarane, Secretariat for Marawa Research and Exploration Limited; and Ms Teira Karianako, Executive Assistant to the Honourable Minister.
The Kiribati delegation, together with Hon. Ribanataake Tiwau, SBMA Policy & Regulatory Oversight Director, Latishia Maui-Mataora, Policy & Legal Officer, Lynn Mataora and Senior Licensing & Compliance Officer, Tutai Vakalalabure.
Learning across government and industry
The delegation met with the Honourable Tingika Elikana at his Support Office in Nikao, where they received an introduction to seabed minerals governance in the Cook Islands.
At SBMA, the delegation was briefed on the establishment of the Authority, its governance structure, institutional development, operating costs, staffing and technical capability.
SBMA staff also provided an overview of the legal framework, licensing system and regulatory oversight. The Knowledge Management Division discussed environmental safeguards, monitoring, lessons learned and key technical challenges, while the Partnerships and Cooperation Division outlined SBMA’s approach to stakeholder engagement, public information and communication.
The programme also included meetings with Mr Garth Henderson, Secretary of Finance and Economic Management, on fiscal governance, public oversight and resource revenue considerations, and with Mr Lualua Tua-Trood and Dr Phoebe Argyle of the Ministry of Marine Resources on marine resource management, guiding policies and inter-agency coordination.
The delegation also met representatives from Cobalt Seabed Resources Ltd and CIC Ocean Research Ltd, followed by a virtual discussion with the Chief Executive Officer of Moana Minerals Limited.
The visit concluded with a meeting with Hon. Mark Brown, Minister Responsible for Seabed Minerals, as part of the wider programme of engagement with Cook Islands government and sector representatives.
Pacific countries learning from one another
Seabed Minerals Commissioner Beverly Ataera said SBMA was pleased to host the Kiribati delegation and support Pacific-led learning.
“As Pacific Island countries, we each take responsibility for large ocean spaces, small public systems, and decisions that we must make carefully,” Commissioner Ataera said.
“For the Cook Islands, sharing our experience is part of responsible regional cooperation. It allows us to speak openly about what we have built, what we continue to strengthen, and why good governance must come before any future development decision.”
The visit also reinforced the importance of Pacific Island countries developing approaches that reflect their own national priorities, circumstances, laws and institutional arrangements.
Commissioner Ataera said Pacific countries can learn from one another while keeping decisions grounded in their own laws, values and national interests.
“No country can simply copy another country’s model,” she said.
“Each Pacific nation must build systems that fit its people, its institutions, its ocean space and its own development priorities. But there is real value in sharing lessons, asking challenging questions and helping each other strengthen the way we govern our ocean resources.”
Exploration remains separate from future commercial decisions
The Cook Islands seabed minerals sector remains in the exploration and research phase.
No commercial seabed minerals harvesting has been approved or authorised.
This distinction formed an important part of the study tour. The Cook Islands framework separates exploration and research from any future consideration of commercial activity and includes legal, regulatory, environmental, technical and public-process requirements.
Under the Cook Islands framework, exploration and any future recovery activity are governed through separate approval processes, with licensing involving the responsible Minister, an independent Licensing Panel and Cabinet.
For Kiribati, the visit provided an opportunity to consider which lessons from the Cook Islands experience may be relevant to the continued institutional development of Marawa Research and Exploration Limited.
Honourable Tiwau said the visit provided an opportunity to better understand the Cook Islands approach to seabed minerals governance and consider lessons relevant to Kiribati’s own national context.
Strengthening Pacific cooperation
SBMA said the visit strengthened working relationships between the Cook Islands and Kiribati across government, regulatory and industry stakeholders.
Responsible seabed minerals governance requires clear rules, environmental safeguards, science-based decision-making, public information and institutions capable of carrying out their responsibilities.
For SBMA, Pacific knowledge exchange has value when it helps strengthen national systems while respecting the rights of each country to make its own decisions.
The visit supported that approach: sharing practical lessons, strengthening relationships, and helping both countries build the knowledge and systems needed to govern their ocean resources in the interests of their people.
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