By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands News
Cook Islands opposition leader Tina Browne Photo: Cook Islands News
Cook Islands opposition leader Tina Browne is calling for a "national pause" on the Cook Islands' deep sea mining ambitions, warning that the country is risking its oceanic heritage and identity by charging ahead with a decision that could have irreversible consequences.
Browne made the comment following the meeting of Pacific leaders in Nice, France, a gathering also attended by Prime Minister Mark Brown, who led a Cook Islands delegation to the third United Nations Ocean Conference.
The Opposition leader questioned the government's commitment to responsible development, contrasting it with the passionate pleas from neighbouring Pacific countries calling for moratoriums and marine protection.
"Like many across our country and Te Moana Nui o Kiva, I was deeply moved listening to our Pacific leaders speak in France this week," Browne said.
"Tuvalu's President pleaded for help in the face of rising seas swallowing his nation. The Solomon Islands called for a moratorium on seabed mining. Tahiti invoked its cultural heritage to place a rā'ui-a traditional protection-over a vast section of its ocean territory.
"They spoke with heart and with courage. They reminded us that while we may be small islands, we are vast ocean nations-and that with that vastness comes a duty to protect it."
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While leaders across the region are urging caution and conservation, Browne says the Cook Islands government is "forging ahead with plans to mine the deep seabed beneath our waters," describing the approach as one that is "moving quickly and quietly on something that could change our ocean forever."
The Prime Minister and his delegation had earlier joined world leaders in Monaco for the Blue Economy and Finance Forum before heading to Nice, where they reaffirmed the Cook Islands' push to become a global leader in seabed mining.
Mark Brown defended the country's stance on deep sea mineral exploration, highlighting the regulatory frameworks being developed and the potential economic benefits for the nation.
But Browne said while she is not opposed to economic development, it must not come at the expense of the country's identity or values.
"I want to be clear: I am not against development. I understand our need to grow our economy and reduce our reliance on others. But development must be responsible, inclusive, and not compromise the very foundation of who we are. And in the Cook Islands, the ocean is not just territory-it is genealogy, spirituality, and life."
Citing recent feedback from young Cook Islanders during a seabed mining consultation in Australia, Browne raised concerns over intergenerational justice and the lack of youth involvement in decision-making.
"Several young Cook Islanders expressed frustration at a recent seabed mining consultation in Australia. They said the room was full of older people and felt left out, ignored in a process that would most affect their future," she said.
"If our youth-the very people we say we are doing this for-feel excluded, then we must ask ourselves whether this process is fair or even just."
Browne said true leadership is knowing when to pause, listen, and bring the nation along with the decision-making process.
"We are often proud to say we are leaders in the Pacific. However, leadership is not always about being first. Sometimes, it's about knowing when to stop and listen-when to join the chorus, not go solo."
She has urged the government to put a national pause on the seabed mining rollout, and to commit to meaningful dialogue with the people of the Cook Islands.
"I am calling for a national pause - a moment to step back and reflect together as a country," she said.
"Let us open up proper space for dialogue-not just behind closed doors or technical briefings, but real conversations in our villages, churches, and homes. Let us hear from our vaka navigators, our reef fishermen, and our grandmothers, who understand the tides better than any textbook."
"Let us ask: Do we truly know the risks? Do we have a mandate from our people? And is this the legacy we want to leave behind?"
Browne concluded with a plea to put wisdom before ambition: "We still have time to make the right decision, not rushed or pressured, but one that honours our identity, the ocean, and our place in the Pacific. Let's lead with wisdom, not just ambition."
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
