Science and policy strengthens our outlook

It’s not very often that a Leader stands at a pivotal crossroads of science and policy but I had the opportunity to do just that by addressing two organisations in as many days, this week.
This honour came in New Caledonia when on Monday evening in Noumea I delivered the Keynote address at the 29th Annual Meeting of the STAR Network – an independent body of scientists, which provides valuable input to the work of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) through the SOPAC Division.
And on Tuesday, I gathered with fellow Pacific nations at the SPC headquarters to provide opening remarks to the Second Meeting of the SOPAC Division – a meeting at which the Cook Islands was the outgoing Chair. Keu Mataroa was on hand to pass on the Chair’s gavel, and over the past year, he has helped steer the SOPAC proceedings with an experienced hand.
The STAR scientists work closely with the technical professionals and policy developers in the scope of the SOPAC programme of activities, and the Cook Islands in particular has benefitted greatly from both of these institutions.
The Cook Islands for example, has been a member of SOPAC since its inception in 1972, benefiting throughout the 1970s in seabed mapping for manganese deposits, coastal and bathymetry mapping. The STAR Network has also been actively engaged in the Cook Islands over many years, especially in Penrhyn and other Northern islands.
Activities have related to issues as varied as: deep sea mineral exploration; coastal and atoll island and lagoon studies, both in the Northern and Southern Cook Islands; water and sanitation; disaster risk management; maritime boundaries determination; and wave energy.
With deep appreciation, I noted that whilst STAR is an independent body, it does in effect provide an invaluable ‘no fee for service and advice’ to our Island countries.
At this ‘crossroads of science and policy’, I have a role to play in helping to develop and strengthen the link between the scientific community and policy makers: bridging the distance between scientists and politicians at the highest levels.
There are many examples where we have already achieved a lot in our region. These highlights for Cook Islands during the past year include my signing of two maritime boundary bilateral agreements with Niue and Kiribati. In fact, a record number of eight boundaries were signed at one time during the Pacific Islands Forum – an achievement unlikely to be repeated.
Also during the Forum, I received from Dr Jimmie Rodgers of the SPC, on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, the Regional Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Deep Sea Minerals Exploration and Exploitation.
Much of the work programme of the SOPAC Division directly and indirectly impacts on the sustainable use of our marine resources and the protection of our marine environment.
Prospects for economic opportunity lie in our ocean space and we must engage in proper stewardship by practicing a precautionary approach based on compelling and conclusive science. To do this, we need to build our scientific and technical data and monitoring capability, which can – over time – be turned in to information products that enhance our understanding and knowledge.
All of this underpins sound policy decision-making across all levels in our countries. The role of the SOPAC Division work programme is vital, and in this context will continue to add value to national capacities, and help meet the demands associated with our limited resources and expertise.
I believe that STAR and SOPAC can lift their working relationship to new levels of cooperation. In fact the scientific community of the STAR Network is poised to engage in a more expansive way with the SPC and its programmes and services.
The organisation can develop a deeper reach into the policy arena of governance structures, which can work to the benefit of us all. And if those governing bodies embrace and develop that relationship, the science/policy link can better address the Pacific issues into the future.

Herald Issue 608 21 March
- Terms of one China Policy document should be reviewed
- Pacific Media Assistance Scheme Seeks Innovation
- Successful NZ visit by PM
- Rerekura Teaurere New Climate Change Coordinator
- News Briefs