Marguerite Story
Encyclopedia
Marguerite Henry Story was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
of the Cook Islands
from 1965 to 1979. Story was the first woman elected to the Cook Islands Parliament and was also the first woman in the Commonwealth
to become speaker of a national parliament.
Marguerite Henry was born in Mangaia
to Geoffrey Henry and Metua Tetaura. She was a brother to Albert Henry
, the first Premier
of the Cook Islands and the founder of the Cook Islands Party
(CIP). She married Fred Story and resided for most of her like in Aitutaki
.
In the 1965 Cook Islands election
, Albert Henry was not able to stand for parliament because he had not resided in the Cook Islands for the requisite three years, even though he was the leader of the CIP, which was the largest party in the Cook Islands. Story ran as a "placeholder" for her brother and was elected in the Te-au-o-Tonga constituency, one of the Rarotonga
ridings. After the election, the government—which as expected was controlled by Henry's CIP—reduced the residency requirements for a member of the Legislative Assembly from three years to three months. Story resigned her seat to allow her brother to run in a by-election
. Henry won the by-election for the Te-au-o-Tonga seat and in return the government elected Story as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
, a position she held until 1979. During the brief period of time Story was a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1965, she served in the Cabinet and was the first female member of the Cabinet in the Cook Islands.
In the 1980s, Story was a community officer for the Ministry of Social Development. She was involved in Girl Guides
and was the founder of the Nikao Youth Club and the Cook Islands Women’s Federation. She was also a netball
umpire and coach.
Story died at the Rarotonga Hospital in Avarua
and was buried in Aitutaki. Story and her husband were the parents of eight children.
Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament
The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament is the presiding officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. The manage the House in accordance with its Standing Orders and according to the traditions of the Westminster system....
of the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
from 1965 to 1979. Story was the first woman elected to the Cook Islands Parliament and was also the first woman in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
to become speaker of a national parliament.
Marguerite Henry was born in Mangaia
Mangaia
Mangaia is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga.-Geography:...
to Geoffrey Henry and Metua Tetaura. She was a brother to Albert Henry
Albert Henry
Albert Royle Henry was the first Premier of the Cook Islands. He was forced to resign from that post in a 1978 voting scandal for which he was later convicted of fraud...
, the first Premier
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands is the official rsponsible for heading Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's government in the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The office was established in 1965, when self-government was first granted to the islands...
of the Cook Islands and the founder of the Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands Party
The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the Islands' politics since 1965....
(CIP). She married Fred Story and resided for most of her like in Aitutaki
Aitutaki
Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The capital is Arutanga on the west side.-Geography:Aitutaki is an "almost...
.
In the 1965 Cook Islands election
Cook Islands general election, 1965
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 20 April 1965 to elect 22 MPs to the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party and saw Albert Henry become the Cook Islands' first Prime Minister....
, Albert Henry was not able to stand for parliament because he had not resided in the Cook Islands for the requisite three years, even though he was the leader of the CIP, which was the largest party in the Cook Islands. Story ran as a "placeholder" for her brother and was elected in the Te-au-o-Tonga constituency, one of the Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
ridings. After the election, the government—which as expected was controlled by Henry's CIP—reduced the residency requirements for a member of the Legislative Assembly from three years to three months. Story resigned her seat to allow her brother to run in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
. Henry won the by-election for the Te-au-o-Tonga seat and in return the government elected Story as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament
The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament is the presiding officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. The manage the House in accordance with its Standing Orders and according to the traditions of the Westminster system....
, a position she held until 1979. During the brief period of time Story was a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1965, she served in the Cabinet and was the first female member of the Cabinet in the Cook Islands.
In the 1980s, Story was a community officer for the Ministry of Social Development. She was involved in Girl Guides
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
and was the founder of the Nikao Youth Club and the Cook Islands Women’s Federation. She was also a netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
umpire and coach.
Story died at the Rarotonga Hospital in Avarua
Avarua
Avarua is a town and district in the north of Rarotonga Island, the national capital of the Cook Islands...
and was buried in Aitutaki. Story and her husband were the parents of eight children.