NICE Ocean summit

Kia Orana, We have the chief of the UN, Antonio Guterres  recently saying at the NICE Ocean  summit about protecting the world’s oceans,  “…the deep sea cannot become the wild west.”…and…” hope that we can move from plunder to protection”.  (CIN June 10th, 2025)  . Similarly, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, echoing that view, and urging world leaders to push for a moratorium on Deep seabed  mining and exploration  ..”…as an international necessity.”  And then we have Mark Brown, who just recently and very strategically announced at the same summit conference in Nice,  the Whale protection  corridor through Cook Islands waters……another initiative by the Cook islands.  However what is missing here, is that Mark Brown, at the same time is stressing on the international forum, that the Cook islands is a sovereign state and as such is in charge of it’s own affairs…a not so subtle reminder by the  PM that he has a course charted for the Cook Islands as far as DSM is concerned, and that he is warning the rest of the world that come hell or highwater, he will continue on this course. The fact that half the population of Cook Islands has pushed for a moratorium on DSM and indeed signed a petition which has gone to Parliament, does not seem to impact on  Mark Brown.  The NICE summit is asking for 60+ countries to sign up their support to ratify the call for a moratorium on DSM… so far they have 37 signatories…and Macron is confident the required 60+ will be achieved. However you can bet your last Akari that Cook islands will not be one of them.

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Market

Kia Orana, Not sure what Minister Giorgio Maggioro  is doing down at the Punanga markets… maybe he discovered some Italian roots in his ancestry, hence the designs…… possible, as we know he has  proud historic  roots in France. Those columns he is having installed  as a fence are SO un Cook islands…so uncharacteristic…and so ugly… and no doubt cost a huge amount of  public money…totally wasted. ( No it’s not your money George).  Why didn’t he just carry on with what he has already done at Terevete Park…beautiful local plants and hedges…only cost was the labour cost. …and it looks great, and is part of the scenery.  AUE!!