Huge turnout expected for rally against deep sea mining in Rarotonga

The organisers of the At Sea, Sail Out Rally in the Cook Islands are anticipating a "huge turnout of people" on Thursday. Photo: Facebook / Te Ipukarea Society - TIS

The organisers of the At Sea, Sail Out Rally in the Cook Islands are anticipating a "huge turnout of people" on Thursday.

The "peaceful rally at sea and on land to call for a precautionary pause to deep sea mining" is organised by Ocean Ancestors, a collective of individuals, NGOs, and businesses united by their shared passion for protecting the ocean.

It will be held on Wednesay (Thursday NZ time), starting at 4pm, at the Avarua Harbour.

"We look forward to a huge turnout of people who want to be on the right side of history as guardians of our ocean."

According to Ocean Ancestors, people are expected to attend on surf boards, paddle boards, vaka and other water vessels. They will be directed to gather around a floating banner, 15 metres by 5 metres, which simply states "Protect Our Ocean".

"A drone will be filming from above and perhaps passengers on the plane leaving Rarotonga at that time will also be able to see from the air," Ocean Ancestors said in a statement.

"For safety reasons, no one will be in the water and the various sea vessels will be directed to different areas, with motorised vessels being further out and the smallest e.g. boards, being close to shore, just outside the reef.

"Some fishing and charter boats have already indicated that they will be attending."

The organising team emphasises that it is most important for those going out on the water to be at the harbour at 4pm for a safety briefing.

"Everyone not on the ocean, please join us on land. We'll have educational posters so that people are better informed of the issues; of why we are saying there is absolutely no way that our country will be ready to begin mining," said June Hosking, president of Te Ipukarea Society.

"Come along wearing your messages which can still be printed at Hut 40 on Tuesday from 12 noon to 3pm, but even if you miss that opportunity it doesn't matter. Come anyway.

"I have been inviting visitors to our island also because this issue impacts worldwide. We all share one ocean. It'll be a fun event, even just as a spectacle to view, and we will be treated to an energetic island dance team sharing their passion for the ocean in their performance."

Hosking also encouraged students covering seabed mining as an issue in their school assignments and exams to come along, "get to know our concerns and just ask for help of any of us".

She invited the participants attending the Underwater Minerals Conference being held at the National Auditorium "to come also to see and hear from the local people who are impacted by decisions made".

Cook Islands is in the third year of a five-year exploration phase to determine the feasibility of deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules. Three companies have been granted licence and access to the nation's waters to see if mining is a viable option.

The Seabed Minerals Authority has reiterated that the Cook Islands government has not yet decided whether it will support harvesting (or mining).

Meanwhile, the Ocean Ancestors is a home-grown collective "deeply rooted in our communities".

"We're NGO's, businesses and individuals united by a shared passion for protecting the ocean ... together raising the concerns of our people as the demand for resources, including deep sea minerals, overwhelms.

"Our primary motivation is ensuring our ocean wellbeing is prioritised and safeguarded for future generations."

-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.