Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa MBE

MBE

MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...

, (May 6, 1921 - May 23, 2009), was a Cook Islands

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...

 politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

.

He started his professional life as a government radio operator (1939–1954). In 1955 he became a shipping clerk which he remained until 1963

Tangaroa was elected in 1958 to the country's first Legislative Assembly, and subsequently served as member for Penrhyn

Penrhyn Island

Penrhyn is the most remote and largest atoll of the 15 Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...

 in the Parliament of the Cook Islands

Parliament of the Cook Islands

The Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand colonial rule, it became the national legislature on independence in 1965....

 until 1983. In 1969 to 1970, he was the leader of the now-defunct United Cook Islanders

United Cook Islanders

The United Cook Islanders was a political party in the Cook Islands. It was established on 16 February 1968 in order to challenge the then-dominant Cook Islands Party and provide a more organised opposition. The party was organised by David Hosking and Taira Rere. Prominent members included...

 party.

Tangaroa later became a member of the Democratic Party

Democratic Party (Cook Islands)

The Democratic Party is a liberal political party in the Cook Islands. It is currently the Opposition party in the Cook Islands Parliament.-Early years:...

, and he served in Democratic Party Cabinets

Cook Islands Cabinet

The Cabinet of the Cook Islands is the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch of the Cook Islands Government. It consists of the Prime Minister and a number of other Ministers, who are collectively responsible to Parliament....

 in the late 1970s.

In 1985, he was the first Cook Islander to be appointed Queen's Representative

Queen's Representative

The Queen's Representative is the formal title given to the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of New Zealand, in the Cook Islands....

. He held the position until 1990, when he was succeeded by Apenera Short

Apenera Short

Sir Apenera Pera Short KBE was a Cook Islands politician and from 1990 to 2000 was the Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands....

.

The Cook Islands government website points out that in 2003 he "has the distinction of being the only Cook Islander to have been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...

".

Sir Tangaroa died in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 in late May 2009. He received a state funeral

State funeral

A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...

 on 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...

.