AGP Executive Report

Deep-Sea Mining & Critical Minerals Politics: The Cook Islands election is underway, with voters weighing Mark Brown’s China-linked deals and his push for deep-sea mining against challenger Teariki Heather’s call for a referendum, while the campaign also turns on cost of living and water tariffs. NOAA Ocean Science: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition has wrapped up, finding megalodon teeth that appear to act as nuclei for Cook Islands nodule growth—key for understanding how deep-water circulation changed over millions of years. Regional Climate Diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, prioritising climate finance, renewable investment, ocean-climate links, and Pacific leadership through Pre-COP31 meetings. Digital Inclusion: Maureen Hilyard argues digital inclusion is a human issue—start with what people need (education, health, family ties), then build connectivity that actually delivers. US Critical Minerals Push: A new Trump executive order signals faster moves to secure critical minerals for defense supply chains, with American Samoa reiterating it can’t control federal waters but can shape engagement. Industry Leadership: American Ocean Minerals appointed Paul Warmé as CFO as it advances a deep-sea nodules critical-minerals supply chain. Scholarships: A Samoan student won a University of Waikato climate scholarship to return home and tackle Pacific climate impacts.

Climate Scholarships: A Samoan student, Lagi Talalupe (19), is one of three 2026 Tower Climate Change Scholarship recipients at the University of Waikato, aiming to return home to tackle climate impacts in Samoa after studying the Bachelor of Climate Change. Deep-Sea Mining & Politics: As the Cook Islands heads to a general election, coverage frames the vote as a test of public appetite for deep-sea mining and the country’s China ties, with Mark Brown defending his record and challenger Teariki Heather pushing a referendum; separate reporting also highlights campaign pressure around cost of living and water tariffs. Seabed Mining Scrutiny: A letter challenges a seabed-mining poll headline, arguing the sample was too small and the question was narrower than “opposed to seabed mining.” NOAA Expedition Science: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition reports megalodon teeth recovered from Cook Islands nodule fields, suggesting the teeth can act as nuclei for nodule growth—key for understanding deep-water history. Regional Climate Diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers back a stronger climate push ahead of COP31, prioritising climate finance, renewables investment, and Pacific leadership. Digital Inclusion: Maureen Hilyard argues digital inclusion is a human issue, not just technology, drawing on Cook Islands experience.

Climate Scholarships: A Samoan student, Lagi Talalupe (19), is one of three recipients of the 2026 Tower Climate Change Scholarship at the University of Waikato, aiming to return home to tackle climate impacts in Samoa through the university’s Bachelor of Climate Change. Deep-Sea Mining & Politics: As the Cook Islands heads to a general election, coverage frames the vote as a test of public appetite for deep-sea mining and China-linked diplomacy, with Mark Brown defending his record and challengers pushing for a referendum; separate reporting also highlights cost of living, water tariffs, and mining as top voter concerns. NOAA Ocean Science: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition is wrapping up, with megalodon teeth recovered from Cook Islands nodule fields found to act as growth nuclei for polymetallic nodules—key for understanding deep-water circulation over millions of years. Regional Climate Push: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger Pacific climate action ahead of COP31, calling for more climate finance, renewables investment, and Pacific leadership at Pre-COP31 meetings. Digital Inclusion: Maureen Hilyard argues digital inclusion is a human issue, stressing connectivity must match what people actually need—an approach drawn from Cook Islands experience.

Deep-Sea Science & Critical Minerals: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition is wrapping up, and its standout find is that ancient megalodon shark teeth recovered near the Cook Islands nodule fields often acted as the “nuclei” around which polymetallic nodules formed—key for understanding how Pacific deep-water circulation changed over millions of years. Election Tech & Policy: As the Cook Islands heads to a general election, voters are weighing deep-sea mining plans alongside China-linked diplomacy, with campaigns also focused on practical services like cost of living and Rarotonga water tariffs. Digital Inclusion: Internet governance advocate Maureen Hilyard says digital inclusion is a human issue—learn what communities actually need (education, health, family links) and build connectivity around those outcomes, drawing on her Cook Islands experience. Regional Climate Push: Pacific Forum foreign ministers backed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, endorsing a Pacific-led push for climate finance, renewable investment, and ocean-climate priorities—relevant for island tech and resilience planning. Seabed Mining Debate: A letter challenges a “majority oppose seabed mining” poll framing, arguing the sample was tiny and the question wording matters—fueling continued scrutiny of how exploration and mining risks are communicated.

Cook Islands Election: Voting begins this week in a high-stakes race shaped by deep-sea mining and China ties, with PM Mark Brown defending his deals and challenger Teariki Heather pushing for a referendum on seabed mining. Local Cost Pressures: RNZ reports cost of living and water tariffs are front and centre, with opposition proposing removal of residential and agricultural water use charges on Rarotonga. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: A poll headline sparked a letter arguing the sample was tiny and the question was framed around mining “in five years,” not opposition to mining itself. NOAA Ocean Science: A NOAA expedition (EX2605) says megalodon shark teeth recovered from the Cook Islands nodule fields may be the mineral “nuclei” around which nodules formed, linking deep-water circulation history to rare-earth signatures. Digital Inclusion: Internet governance expert Maureen Hilyard says digital inclusion is a human issue—connectivity should serve education, health, and family links, especially in outer islands. Regional Climate Push: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, endorsing Pacific-led Pre-COP31 meetings and climate finance priorities.

Cook Islands Election Tech & Resources: As Cook Islands voters head to the polls, coverage frames the race as a test of how the country balances cost-of-living pressures, water tariffs, and the polarising push for deep-sea mining—while also navigating China-West rivalry and diplomatic fallout tied to Beijing deals. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: A new poll and follow-up letters are sparking arguments over what “opposition” actually means, with critics saying the sample is too small and the question wording too narrow; meanwhile, environmental and political voices keep urging caution and clearer guardrails as exploration plans expand. NOAA Ocean Science: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition is wrapping up, with megalodon teeth recovered from the seafloor described as key “nuclei” for nodule growth—aimed at reading rare-earth signatures to track deep-water circulation changes over millions of years. Digital Inclusion: Internet governance expert Maureen Hilyard highlights that digital inclusion is fundamentally human—centred on education, health, and opportunity—drawing lessons from remote Cook Islands connectivity work. Regional Climate Push: Pacific Forum foreign ministers endorsed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, backing climate finance, renewable investment, and an ocean-climate focus, with the Cook Islands attending at senior officials level. Business & Finance: American Ocean Minerals appoints Paul Warmé as CFO as deep-sea critical minerals companies build investor-facing finance capacity.

Deep-sea mining & election: The Cook Islands begins voting in a general election widely seen as a referendum on deep-sea mining and on how far Prime Minister Mark Brown should deepen ties with China, with New Zealand’s aid freeze and a push for a mining referendum shaping the campaign. NOAA ocean science: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition is wrapping up, reporting rare megalodon shark teeth recovered from the Cook Islands seabed that appear to have acted as nuclei for nodule growth—findings that could help track deep-water circulation over millions of years. Seabed mining debate at home: A letter challenges a “majority oppose seabed mining” poll headline, arguing the sample was tiny and the question was narrower than implied. Climate diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger regional climate action ahead of COP31, including more climate finance, renewable investment, and Pacific-led momentum through Pre-COP31 meetings. Digital inclusion: A Pacific-focused interview highlights digital inclusion as a human issue, stressing connectivity that supports education, health, and family links. Internet governance & AI: A Pacific brief argues Pacific countries can use AI and digital public infrastructure to guide inclusive digital transformation. Language revival: Cook Islands Māori Language Week spotlights urgent efforts to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani as knowledge is reported at around 3% among New Zealand-born Cook Islanders.

Cook Islands Election: Voting begins in a tight general election that’s become a proxy for China-West rivalry, with deep-sea mining and diplomatic rifts with New Zealand shaping the campaign. Cost of Living & Water: Voters are focused on stability, pay, and whether Rarotonga water tariffs should be removed or restructured. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: A NOAA expedition reports megalodon teeth from the Cook Islands seabed appear to be growth “nuclei” for nodule fields—fueling both scientific interest and the political fight over what comes next. Public Opinion Pushback: A letter challenges a seabed-mining poll’s headline claims, arguing the sample was too small and the question too narrow to claim a majority. Digital Inclusion: A Pacific-focused interview argues digital inclusion is a human issue, not just connectivity—relevant for remote islands and youth opportunities. Regional Climate Diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers back stronger climate action ahead of COP31, prioritising climate finance, renewables, and an ocean-climate agenda. Corporate Moves: American Ocean Minerals appoints a new CFO as deep-sea critical minerals plans advance.

Election & Deep-Sea Mining: The Cook Islands started voting in a general election that’s become a referendum on deep-sea mining and on how far Prime Minister Mark Brown should lean into China ties, with challenger Teariki Heather pushing for a mining referendum and sharper scrutiny of Beijing-linked deals. NOAA Ocean Science: A NOAA expedition (EX2605) is wrapping up, reporting megalodon teeth recovered from the seafloor near Cook Islands nodule fields—suggesting the teeth acted as growth “nuclei” for the nodules, with planned rare-earth signature analysis to read ancient ocean circulation changes. Digital Inclusion: Internet governance and access expert Maureen Hilyard argues digital inclusion is “fundamentally a human issue,” urging connectivity to match what people actually need—education, health, and opportunity. Payments Tech: The Bank of the Cook Islands launched TakuEcom now and is rolling out TakuPOS in mid-August, aiming to help small businesses take card and online payments without costly EFTPOS hardware. Climate Diplomacy: Pacific foreign ministers backed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, endorsing the COP31 Pacific Partnership and a push for more climate finance and renewable investment. Language Revival: Cook Islands Māori Language Week highlights a drive to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani as speakers remain critically low.

Election Watch: The Cook Islands has started voting in a general election that’s being framed as a referendum on deep-sea mining and China ties, with PM Mark Brown defending his record and challenger Teariki Heather pushing for a deep-sea mining referendum amid predictions of a close race and possible coalition. Seabed Science: NOAA’s EX2605 expedition is wrapping up, reporting megalodon shark teeth recovered from the same deep-sea nodule areas—suggesting the teeth may have acted as growth “nuclei” for polymetallic nodules, with rare-earth signatures planned to track ancient ocean circulation. Cost of Living & Water: Campaign focus includes stabilising growth and tackling household pressures, with opposition proposals to remove Rarotonga water use tariffs and review the To Tatou Vai structure. Digital Payments: The Bank of the Cook Islands is rolling out TakuEcom and TakuPOS to help small businesses take card and online payments without expensive EFTPOS hardware. Climate Diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger regional climate action ahead of COP31, including more climate finance, renewable investment, and Pacific leadership. Digital Inclusion: Maureen Hilyard argues digital inclusion is a human issue—start with what communities need, not just connectivity. Language Revival: Cook Islands Māori Language Week spotlights a push to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani as speakers remain critically low.

Cook Islands Election Tech & Policy: As voters head to the polls Wednesday, the campaign is being shaped by big-ticket issues with tech and infrastructure angles—cost of living, water tariffs, and the country’s stance on deep-sea mining—while PM Mark Brown frames the vote as a test of how the Cook Islands manages geopolitics and partnerships amid China-West rivalry. Digital Payments: The Bank of the Cook Islands has launched new digital payment options—TakuEcom for online selling and TakuPOS for turning compatible Android phones into contactless payment terminals—aiming to cut hardware and monthly costs for small businesses and outer-island communities. Seabed Mining Backlash: A Cook Islands poll shows majority opposition to seabed mining, prompting leaders and groups to stress that current work is “exploration and scientific research,” even as critics warn of monopoly control and long-term risks. Ocean Science Discovery: NOAA’s deep-sea survey near the Cook Islands reports several megalodon shark teeth found on the seafloor, with researchers saying the fossils could help reconstruct ancient ocean conditions. Climate Diplomacy: Pacific foreign ministers backed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, endorsing regional climate finance and renewable energy priorities, with the Cook Islands attending at senior officials level.

Climate Diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers backed a stronger Pacific climate push ahead of COP31, urging more climate finance, faster renewable energy investment, and stronger Pacific leadership at Pre-COP31 meetings, with the Cook Islands attending at senior officials level. Election Watch (Tech & Policy): As the Cook Islands heads to the polls Wednesday, voters are focused on cost of living, water tariffs, and the country’s deep-sea mining direction amid China–West rivalry and recent diplomatic turbulence. Seabed Mining Debate: A majority of voters oppose seabed mining in a new poll, while leaders say current work is “exploration and scientific research” — and critics warn mergers could concentrate control over large parts of the Marae Moana. Digital Payments: The Bank of the Cook Islands launched TakuEcom now and TakuPOS for mid-August, turning compatible Android phones into contactless payment terminals to help small businesses sell online without costly EFTPOS hardware. Ocean Science: NOAA’s 2026 Cook Islands ROV survey found multiple megalodon teeth on the seafloor, offering fresh clues about ancient ocean life and the chemistry of deep-sea formations. Corporate Appointments: American Ocean Minerals appointed Paul Warmé as CFO as it advances its critical minerals push.

Deep-sea minerals & politics: A Cook Islands general election on Aug. 12 is being watched as a China–West test, after PM Mark Brown pushed a strategic partnership with Beijing; meanwhile, a poll says a majority of voters oppose seabed mining, with leaders insisting current work is only exploration and research. Local tech & payments: The Bank of the Cook Islands has launched TakuEcom and is rolling out TakuPOS for Android-based contactless payments, aiming to help small businesses sell online without costly EFTPOS hardware. Digital inclusion: Maureen Hilyard argues digital inclusion is a human issue—connectivity should be built around what people need for education, health, and opportunity. Science from the deep: NOAA’s Cook Islands ROV survey found several megalodon shark teeth on the seafloor, with plans to analyze chemical signatures to learn more about the ancient giant. Language revival: Cook Islands Māori Language Week highlights a push to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani as only a small share of New Zealand-born Cook Islanders know the language. Corporate leadership: American Ocean Minerals named Paul Warmé as CFO as it advances its critical minerals and rare earth supply-chain plans.

Digital Inclusion: Maureen Hilyard says “digital inclusion is fundamentally a human issue,” urging governments to start with what people actually need—education, health, family connections—then build connectivity that reaches the margins. Local Finance Tech: The Bank of the Cook Islands has launched TakuEcom and is rolling out TakuPOS in mid-August, letting compatible Android phones act as payment terminals so small businesses can accept contactless cards and sell online without costly EFTPOS hardware. Seabed Mining Backlash: A Cook Islands poll finds most voters oppose seabed mining, while leaders stress current work is exploration and scientific research—amid wider Pacific debate over whether mining should proceed at all. Ocean Science & Discovery: NOAA’s deep-sea survey near the Cook Islands turned up several megalodon shark teeth on the seafloor, with researchers planning chemical work to learn more about ancient ocean conditions. Language Revitalisation: Cook Islands Māori Language Week highlights a push to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani as experts warn the language is at a critical point. GIS for Climate Action: Pacific geospatial professionals, including Cook Islands delegates, trained in GIS and environmental data management to better tackle biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Deep-Sea Policy Debate: Commentary argues the region is moving from a simple “for or against” stance toward “follow the science, protect the environment, do no harm” as Cook Islands, Tonga, and others shape their approaches.

Seabed Mining Backlash: A new Cook Islands poll says most voters oppose seabed mining, though the government stresses current work is limited to exploration and scientific research—while critics warn recent licence-holder moves could concentrate control over a large share of the Marae Moana. Deep-Sea Science Spotlight: NOAA’s Cook Islands ROV survey found multiple megalodon shark teeth on the ocean floor, with researchers pointing to the fossils as clues to ancient marine environments. Payments Go Digital: The Bank of the Cook Islands launched TakuEcom now and TakuPOS in mid-August, aiming to let small businesses take card and contactless payments using compatible Android phones instead of costly EFTPOS hardware. GIS for the Environment: Pacific geospatial professionals, including Cook Islands delegates, trained in GIS and environmental data management to better support biodiversity, climate, and pollution action. Language Revitalisation: Cook Islands Māori Language Week highlights a push to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, with experts warning language loss has reached a critical point. Health Research: A University of Otago PhD study explores whether naturally warm lagoon bathing could support heart health for Cook Islands Māori communities.

Deep-Sea Mining Governance: A letter raises alarm over “concerning manoeuvres” among Cook Islands deep-sea licence holders, pointing to a proposed US merger that could leave one company effectively controlling much of the Marae Moana exploration area and muddy revenue-sharing terms. Digital Payments: The Bank of the Cook Islands rolls out TakuEcom (now) and TakuPOS (mid-August), aiming to help small businesses take card and online payments without costly EFTPOS hardware. Ocean Science Live: NOAA’s ROV survey near the Cook Islands has turned up large megalodon teeth on the seafloor, with researchers planning chemical analysis to learn more about ancient ocean conditions. Underwater Imaging Tech: Sony’s HDC-P50 POV camera has been modified for deep-sea live-streaming from 5,000m+ during an expedition focused on exploration and education. GIS for Environment: Pacific GIS and spatial professionals, including Cook Islands delegates, trained in environmental data management to better support biodiversity, climate and pollution action. Health Research (Culture-led): A Cook Islands Māori PhD study explores whether bathing in naturally warm lagoon waters could support heart health, blending science with community knowledge. Language Revitalisation: Cook Islands Māori Language Week spotlights a push to reconnect families with te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani as experts warn language loss has reached a critical point.