Cook Islands nodule field - photo taken within Cook Islands EEZ. Photo: Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority
Deep sea mining companies in the Cook Islands are being accused of using charity to change public perception. However, one mining company disagrees, saying that it is no different from other businesses sponsoring events.
Te Ipukarea Society president June Hosking said the companies "have basically infiltrated every part of society".
Deep sea mining in the Cook Islands has not started yet, and mining companies are in the fourth year of exploration.
As the exploration has continued, public opinion has heated up, with a protest last year when the Underwater Minerals Conference was being hosted in Rarotonga.
Paddlers, fishermen, sailors, surfers, and swimmers gathered at sea to protest against deep sea mining. Photo: Supplied / Ocean Ancestors
One of the companies, CIC Ocean Research, has set up the Te Rito o Taku Peu Tupuna - translated to mean, "the richness of culture" - to support various community projects in the country.
The company has sponsored several community initiatives, including annual week-long cultural festival Te Maeva Nui.
Hosking said that staunch anti-deep sea mining community members have been swayed by the company.
"I have actually been told that these guys are great. We are finally getting support for our culture and they are actually helping our culture. People are completely sucked in by it.
"It is clever and it is obviously been planned for quite some time."
CIC Ocean Research has set up a trust, Te Rito o Taku Peu Tupuna, translated to mean “the richness of culture” to support various community projects in the country. Photo: Caleb Fotheringham
But CIC country manager Shona Lynch said it is "no different" to other private companies like Vodafone Cook Islands supporting various projects.
"If you do not do anything, you get accused, and if you do something, you still get accused," Lynch said.
"We have people knocking at our door every day seeking support and one of the things that CIC as a company has promised was that we will help where we can.
"To say that we are trying to influence our people no, I don't think that's a fair statement, at least from CICs point of view. Remember we're Cook Islanders too, we're part of society and if there's an area that people will come and ask for help we will try come to help."
CIC also helped with publication support for two books written by cultural leader Michael Tavioni.
Tavioni said people have accused him of being bribed, but he is not being influenced by anybody.
"I would love to be bribed. I need money to make my wānanga bigger, my gallery bigger, and my workshop for kids so I can teach my culture."
Tavioni, who sometimes contributes to the local newspaper, said that when he writes on deep sea mining benefits, he is just contributing to the discussion.
Research is never going to stop
Lynch said that over the past three years, the data collected will feed into the environmental report at the end of the five-year exploration phase.
The companies are trying to find out if nodules can be removed without causing serious environmental harm - the measure they need to satisfy to be allowed to mine.
"I don't think research is ever going to stop," Lynch said.
She said it's too early and up to the government if mining will take place at the end of the exploration phase.
Lynch said she would have a better idea of if an extension is needed once the five years is up.
"There's a lot of moving parts, there's a lot of information that still needs to be collected."
A deep sea mining research vessel in Rarotonga Photo: Caleb Fotheringham
Deep sea minerals talanoa
Meanwhile, Pacific leaders met last month in Suva for the talanoa on deep sea minerals.
The region has differing views on the practice with several countries including Palau, Fiji, and Vanuatu calling for a precautionary pause, while others like the Cook Islands and Nauru are at least exploring the idea.
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition's Phil McCabe said that the regional talanoa was a good move.
"It was framed as an open and inclusive dialogue, which is great because the issue has been a really hot topic and something that is been quite divisive in the region. It is really a positive step that the region came together to start discussing this issue."
However, he said there was expectation from civil society that they would be included in the talanoa, which was not the case.
The summary of discussions said, "The Talanoa agreed on the importance of balancing environmental, economic and sociocultural issues".
McCabe said under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which all Pacific countries are party to, they are obligated to protect the marine environment.
"It is not legal to intentionally and knowingly damage the marine environment. There is no reference in law to balancing economic wants, needs, desires, with the obligation to protect the environment."
RNZ Pacific reached out to Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority, the government agency tasked with the regulation of seabed minerals activity, but was told "in light of recent media attention" it would not make a comment to international media.