Bishop Tutai Pere

Village / Islands you are from: Ureia, Aitutaki

Community affiliations: Religious Advisory Council

1. Tell us something about yourself?

I am currently a Fulltime Senior Pastor of the Apostolic Church of the Cook Islands. Previously, I was Diocesan Bishop over the entire South Pacific Pentecostal Oneness Apostolic Churches, serving 11 years in total. Next year (2021) I will be the Chairman of the Religious Advisory Council. I have served in the Ministry fulltime for approximately 40 years. I attended Araura Primary School from 1957 to 1961. My junior high school years, I attended Aitutaki Junior High School from 1962 to 1963. My college years, I attended Tereora College from 1964 to 1969. In 1971, I attended Takamoa Theological College. I then went on to attend Knox Theological College in Dunedin, New Zealand from 1972 to 1976. From 1977 to 1981, I attended Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Phenomenology of Religions. In 1981 to 1988, I was ordained a fulltime Reverend of the Cook Islands Christian Church CICC at Titikaveka. In 1988, I was ordained a fulltime Pastor of the Apostolic Church of the Cook Islands, Forward 30 years later, I am still the Fulltime Pastor of the Apostolic Church.

2. Why did you say yes to being an Advisory Committee member?

In 2013, I was a member of the very first Advisory Committee. I would like to be involved once again in our Cook Islands Seabed Minerals future endeavours and enterprises.

3. How will you engage with the community regarding the seabed minerals sector?

Public consultation on the seabed minerals sector is of utmost importance. My leadership and public speaking skills are avenues that I can utilise in spreading the word to as many people as I can, and to the best of my knowledge.

4. What are the challenges you think you will face as a Committee member?

In our Cook Island waters and further afield in the South Pacific region, there has been a lot of interest expressed in the deep seabed minerals (SBM) activities. SBM is a hot topic, with discussions around the pros and cons of environmental and eco-system impacts. I see this as but only a fear of the untapped depth of the unknown, surrounded by sacred taboos, superstition and lack of faith in our God-given human good stewardship capability and ingenuity. I have great faith and confidence in what our Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority have done thus far, including: 1) Establishing governing legislations, policies; 2) Enabling the conduct and collection of research data on SBM; 3) Setting up a licensing process for further SBM explorations. With God on our side, who can be against us, if for the economic benefit of our entire nation and people of our beloved Cook Islands

5. What are you looking forward to in the future for seabed minerals sector?

We can become Masters of our own Cook Islands Christian Heritage and Destiny. If handled right and well, its economic potential and wealth will bring back home our 100,000 Cook Islanders. They will no longer be strangers in their current diaspora foreign lands, and will come home to stay. We will no longer be borrowers or debtors to overseas lenders. We will become self-sufficient, self-sustained. With our faith in our God, who promises to bless our Cook Islands nation, to no longer be at the tail end but at the head, not beneath but above, no more a borrower but a lender. What an awesome legacy to leave behind for our children, grandchildren and future generations to come. If Arab countries can enjoy the wealth and prosperity of their God-deposited oil mines, then why are we lacking faith to also not tap into our one and only God-given and God-deposited SBM wealth potential right within our Exclusive Economic Zone and beneath our very feet. God bless the Cook Islands.

Makiuti Tongia

Village / Islands you are from: Rarotonga, Ngaputoru (Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke), Mangaia, Aitutaki

Community affiliations:

• Avatiu sports club
• Social Impact Fund board member
• Cook Islands Prostate Cancer Foundation member

1. Tell us something about yourself?

I am a former president of the Avatiu sports club. I was also a former head of the Ministry of culture. I was also a lecturer in Maori studies at Victoria University, and a lecturer at Teachers College. I used to teach at Papaaroa School. I also have experience in both the public (Ministry of Education) and private sector.

2. Why did you say yes to being an Advisory Committee member?

When I was a Tereora College pupil in the 60s and 70s, I recall the previous research expeditions. So I’ve been following this sector for a long time, which is why I was interested in being part of the Committee. I was also a member in the previous seabed Advisory body back in 2013, along with Bishop Pere. Our Country needs to diversify – Deep Sea harvesting is one avenue. In addition, our Country needs capital to lift/evolve education curriculum in information technology, space, deep sea technology. This is one tool.

3. How will you engage with the community regarding the seabed minerals sector?

I want to let our people know about our seabed minerals we have in our waters. Especially now during these COVID-times, where we are seeing our economy getting hit hard. This affects our development as a country. We may be able to utilise our seabed minerals to help the development of our country.

4. What are the challenges you think you will face as a Committee member?

I see several challenges. Firstly, there are some who say that SBM will negatively impact the deep sea environment. To those people I say, let’s work together. Let’s not criticise each other but rather work together so that we can develop this for the benefit of current and future generations. Perhaps they will be aware of technologies, tools and methods that will be environmentally sustainable. We must use the right tools to pick up the minerals. Our nodules are found at around 6,000 m below the sea. When you look at how minerals are sourced on land, they have to dig to get to the minerals. For our nodules, you don’t have to do that, it is sitting on the surface of the sea floor. Also, we need to train our people. We must develop our education system, so in high school our students are studying SBM related issues in the marine sciences and technology disciplines so they are getting prepared for the future. Our young people need to have the right level of education to participate in this sector. My generation’s role is going to be to encourage our youth to take an interest in these issues.

5. What are you looking forward to in the future for seabed minerals sector?

I support the development of our nodules. However, we must be careful to ensure this is done sustainably so that we protect our marine environment. We need to be careful and conserve and manage our seabed minerals well. Not only for us, but for the next generations to come. We also need to prepare ourselves in terms of education and the skills we will need. That’s the challenge for us and the Government – to prepare ourselves for when this becomes a reality. We need educated people to prevent problems and issues that will deter the development of our resources. Push for new directions in Education sector in Environment courses, business classes, and technology classes.

Push for research into our society and identify patterns developing to prepare us of future directions in industries, economics, education, technology, deep sea technology inventions.

Raise the tertiary, high school level of education and promote Maori values/language to and for our children.

Teaoakamaru Mariri-Tepou

Village / Islands you are from: Ngaputoru (Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro) & Rarotonga

Community affiliations:

• Executive member for Cook Islands National Council of Women
• Chairperson for Ngatangiia Christian Youth
• Chairperson for Muri Christian Youth
• Youth Leader for the Takitumu Youth Group
• Youth Leader in the Rarotonga Youth Council
• Volunteer for the Ngatangiia Puna
• Ex – Rotaract member
• Ex – Cook Islands National Youth Council

1. Tell us something about yourself?

I am currently working with Ministry of Internal Affairs as a Consumer Officer with 9 years of experience in administration and management in the Government (public sector) and 5 years as an Event Specialist in the tourism (private sector). I have developed strong communication skills in our Cook Islands Maori as well as English. I am a youth leader in my community

2. Why did you say yes to being an Advisory Committee member?

I saw the opportunity and benefits in diversifying our economy so that we do not rely only on the tourism sector. It is a new opportunity to advance and move forward as a nation. I am interested to develop myself to learn and understand more of this industry whilst becoming an Ambassador to forward plan and assist our people to learn and understand the process and opportunities that comes with the industry.

3. How will you engage with the community regarding the seabed minerals sector?

I am willing to offer my perspectives within the community to assist any way possible.

4. What are the challenges you think you will face as a Committee member?

I understand I will be under scrutiny and I would need to make informed statements on the most responsible path forward for SBM.

5. What are you looking forward to in the future for seabed minerals sector?

Personally I look forward to being part of the new change and development of the SBM sector. As a nation I look forward to the successful development of the SBM sector to diversify and open up many economic opportunities such as employment, education, entrepreneurial development etc. for our people.

George George Williamson

Village / Islands you are from: Rarotonga (Avatiu / Nikao / Arorangi), Aitutaki, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Palmerston Island

Community affiliations:

• President of the Cook Islands Prostate Cancer Foundation
• President of the Cook Islands Body Building Federation
• Involved in a lot of Community and Religious Activities – usually as a Master of Ceremony.

1. Tell us something about yourself?

I was born on July 18th 1957. I was raised by my maternal grandparents on the island of Aitutaki. In 1967 I came to Rarotonga as a 10 year old to attend Avarua & Nikao Primary schools. In 1971 I attended Tereora College before heading off to the Survey School at the Honiara Technical Institute in the Solomon Islands. After qualifying as a Surveyor I came back to Rarotonga & worked for the Lands & Survey Department and later formed a Private Company – Cook Islands Topographical Survey. In 1990 I started working for CITC as their Keybrands Manager and am fortunate to now be one of their longest serving employees.

2. Why did you say yes to being an Advisory Committee member?

Some 40 years ago in the late 70’s I went on an Ocean Expedition with the late Tony Utanga, mapping our Cook Islands EEZ waters and exploring the richness we have on the bottom of our Cook Islands Ocean Basin. Today, I see some of those work that Tony and I have done, and would like to be part of the next stage of this great journey / adventure!

3. How will you engage with the community regarding the seabed minerals sector? My strengths and talents lies in the field of public speaking, sports commentary, I am also the radio host of the popular CITC Karangaranga Talk-back Show. I can use this to further engage with our people on SBM issues. Television presentations and interviews are areas that I’m comfortable to engage in with our community. Although I seem to give credit to my sense of ‘listening-more’ than ‘talking!’
4. What are the challenges you think you will face as a Committee member?

I think it will be minimal in my case, as I am one of those that welcomes challenges and wouldn’t take a backward step. However I see those that object all the time to issues like SBM, but don’t bring forward solutions!

5. What are you looking forward to in the future for seabed minerals sector?

It would primarily be for our people to benefit from this venture. That the richness and prosperity of our very own seabed minerals in our very own EEZ will be enjoyed by our very own people. I want us to have the latest modern technologies so we can stay in touch with the rest of the world. I envision better health care, modern medical centre’s & hospitals. Better education, better roads, better access to the Outer Islands (shipping, airlines etc). As envisioned by the late Papa Sir Arapati Henry, that one day we will reap the benefits of our deep ocean so we as Cook Islands people can have a “Better & Prosperous Lifestyle

Sam Napa

Village / Islands you are from: Rarotonga

Community affiliations:

• Sailing Cook Islands President
• House of Ariki – Executive Member

• CI Voyaging Society (Former Exec)

• Tell us something about yourself?

My mother is Pa Ariki from Takitumu. My grandfather is the late Tinomana Napa, my dad is one of his sons. I spent most of my childhood in Puiakura. I went to Aorangi school, later on in life I worked in the hotel industry. I am currently the President of the Sailing Cook Islands, have been for the last two years. I am also a member of the Voyaging Society. I am passionate about developing sailing through the whole of the Cook Islands for our young people; and also trying to perpetuate traditional navigation and getting interest from all our people. I am also part of the executive for the House of Ariki. I have quite a lot of affiliation with a lot of the community groups traditionally and culturally

2. Why did you say yes to being an Advisory Committee member?

I was on one of the excursions with Ocean Minerals Limited (OML). I spent time learning about what the industry is all about from them. I was excited about being on that cruise. I wanted to be a part of this industry when it had its first excursion. When one of the papas shared with me their views on seabed minerals, he said the research came back from the Japanese back in those days; he was encouraging the Government of the day to gauge this industry but they didn’t, the focus was on Tourism. The research came back from these cruises showed that there were a lot of minerals sitting on the ocean floor, which could mean solid wealth for the country hence I’m on the Advisory Committee.

3. How will you engage with the community regarding the seabed minerals sector?

Because I’m part of Sailing Cook Islands and part of the Voyaging society, I do talk to our people about this and with me being on the executive of the House of Ariki, they call a lot of meetings to discuss issues and what’s going on, hence this will be the avenue to discuss these matters. This is how I feel we get the word out about seabed minerals.

4. What are the challenges you think you will face as a Committee member?

If you are not prepared for the information or if you don’t absorb the info about SBM – starting from both the pros and cons that will be a challenge but if you get all the info and absorb it and understand it and how to present it and understand what’s happening around the world. The challenge is having the information and being passionate about getting on board this new seabed minerals industry.

5. What are you looking forward to in the future for seabed minerals sector?

For the industry to grow and develop. To get our young people to see career opportunities, to show them the pathway to this industry. This industry is huge and it’s not only going out there to get the minerals, it will have a flow on effect on other industries, for example on agriculture, creating a demand for growers produce. It will affect IT, the automotive industry etc. If our Government handles it well to create this industry to the point where our young people can be a part of it (eg Marine biologists or related fields) we can probably take this industry to another level and generate sovereign wealth for our country and not just be dependent on tourism