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. 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.
