Tuvalu, NZ deepen ties as PM Teo calls for cautious approach to deep sea mining

Following his visit to Christchurch on Thursday, Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo met in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Wednesday to discuss closer ties and shared regional priorities.

The leaders signed a Statement of Partnership, a step towards a formal treaty-level agreement marking 50 years of diplomatic relations by 2028.

Speaking to media in Auckland during a joint press conference with Luxon on Thursday, Teo said Tuvalu is taking a “precautionary approach” to seabed mining.

Teo emphasised the need for more scientific evidence before making a decision.

“In terms of deep sea mining, we've expressed our concern, but we've taken a precautionary approach where we need more information on the impact of deep sea mining before we actually take a decision whether to support it or not to support it,” Teo said.

“At the moment in the Pacific, there is a split between the pro-mining and those that promote a moratorium.

Christopher Luxon and Feleti Teo at government house in Auckland. Photo/PMN News/Candice Ama

“Tuvalu sits in the middle, taking the precautionary approach and hoping to access as much science information before we make a decision.”

Teo’s comments come amid growing regional debate over deep sea mining, with some Pacific nations like Palau, Fiji, and Sāmoa backing calls for a pause due to environmental concerns, while others see economic opportunities.

Luxon highlighted Aotearoa’s interest in critical minerals, which are key for clean energy technologies like solar panels and electric vehicle batteries.

The highest point in Tuvalu is only 4.6 metres above sea level, located on the island of Niulakita. Photo/Supplied

“What we've been talking about here in New Zealand is a recognition that we do have critical minerals, and critical minerals are absolutely important if you want to make the transition to clean energy, to a green economy,” Luxon said.

“You think about how solar panels are made, you think about where lithium batteries are for EVs that come from.

“It comes from critical minerals, and so as a country, that is something that we are interested in exploring to see what we think we have.”

He acknowledged that Pacific nations hold differing views and said the issue should be addressed collectively through the Pacific Islands Forum.

Both leaders spoke about elevating relations to a formal treaty-level partnership.

Teo said the idea had received a “positive reception” from New Zealand, and both sides are now exploring what such an agreement could look like.

Both leaders singed a renewed New Zealand–Tuvalu Statement of Partnership. Photo/PMN News/William Terite

The goal is to have a treaty in place by 2028, marking 50 years of diplomatic ties. Luxon described the agreement as a “next level platform” that builds on existing cooperation in areas such as climate resilience, fisheries, and development support.

The Statement of Partnership signed alongside the talks sets priorities guiding cooperation through to 2029, grounded in five principles: understanding, friendship, joint benefit, collective ambition, and sustainability.

Luxon said New Zealand is not planning major changes to migration settings, despite ongoing calls across the Pacific for easier movement.

“We've worked very, very hard to speed up the processing and put some fast-track options in for when Pacific friends tend to come back home to New Zealand for funerals or for events,” Luxon says.

“There's always more to do. We'll continue to take a risk-based approach to those settings, but with respect to the treaty, there's a lot for us to think about how we want that to be between our two countries.”

Watch Feleti Teo's visit to his old high school below.

Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and to working through Pacific-led institutions, including the Pacific Islands Forum.

New Zealand will host the Forum leaders' summit in Auckland in 2027.