Dear Editor, The United Nations Declaration on the. Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) says that people have the right to full consultation to enable them to give free, prior, informed consent for an activity.

Quoting from NZ guide – A successful consultation is inclusive, well-informed, equitable and accountable. The consultants are transparent, seek and listen to feedback, are open minded and responsive.

From the Christchurch (Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority) consultation, I have seen photos of the SBMA slides and listened to extremely long recordings of the speakers. I have also heard from attendees across NZ (for those who sat through the painful 3 or so hours) that presentations were repetitive and biased. In fact, I found only one sentence on one slide that referred to environmental risks, with no specifics.

SBMA consultations are not transparent. If they were they would ensure the other side of the coin was well presented. People can’t ask questions without enough prior information.

SBMA do not adequately seek feedback. If they wanted feedback they would cut presentation time at least in half, thus allowing time for honest discussion. Which is only possible once people have heard both sides.

Following are questions I would ask if I was present at these consultations:

1. Please may we see the list (and actual footage where possible) of species you have found so far in our EEZ and in our section of the CCZ.

2. What species live on or near the nodules?

3. Have you investigated what functions these species serve?

4. What happens to these species if you mine the nodules?

5. What percentage of our EEZ have you explored for deep sea biodiversity?

6. Have you discovered any endemic species? If so, in what areas and what is your plan to protect them?

7. Please explain some of the connections between the various species in our ocean. For example, what marine life take carbon from the atmosphere to the seabed? What other functions do they serve as they travel from one level to the other?

8. Please explain why fisheries are worried that seabed mining is going to severely impact them.

9. Last year dark oxygen was discovered in the deep. Scientists are continuing investigations and require more years to see if in fact, metallic nodules play a part in production of this oxygen and whether this is critical to ocean ecosystems. Do you agree that we should wait until we know the function of nodules in their natural environment before considering if we even can remove them?

10. Why do you think 33 countries so far are calling for a moratorium on seabed mining?

11. Over 700 scientists have also called for a moratorium and more continue to join that call. Do you think we should take notice of their concerns?

12. What do mana tiaki and pito enua mean to you?

13. Do you think we have a Christian responsibility as stewards of God’s creation to put protection over profit?

June Hosking

Te Ipukarea Society

President