Tangata Vavia
Encyclopedia
Tangata Mouauri Vavia is a Cook Islands
politician and former Cabinet Minister
. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party
.
Vavia was born in Mitiaro
in the Cook Islands. He was educated in Mitiaro then at Avarua, Nikao, Nikao Side School and Tereora College. He worked as a postal clerk, then as a police constable before being elected to Parliament
as member for Mitiaro in the 1994 elections
.
Vavia was appointed Deputy Speaker in 1999. He subsequently served in the Cabinet of Sir Terepai Maoate
as Minister of Justice and Outer Islands. He lost his position when Robert Woonton
replaced Maoate, but was reappointed briefly in 2003 when Woonton's coalition with the Cook Islands Party
fell apart. A further coalition realignment in November of that year saw him resign his portfolios and join the opposition.
In 2005, following the demise of Jim Marurai
's "partnership government", he rejoined Cabinet as Minister for Outer Islands Administration. He was re-elected in the 2006 election
, and appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Cook Islands Investment Corporation, and Transport.
Vavia resigned his portfolios in December 2009 in protest at the sacking from Cabinet of Democratic Party leader Terepai Maoate
. He was re-elected at the 2010 election
.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
politician and former Cabinet Minister
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....
. He is a member of the Cook Islands 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:...
.
Vavia was born in Mitiaro
Mitiaro
Mitiaro, the fourth island in the Cook Islands group, is of volcanic origin. Standing in water 14,750 feet deep it is four miles across at its widest point.-Geography:...
in the Cook Islands. He was educated in Mitiaro then at Avarua, Nikao, Nikao Side School and Tereora College. He worked as a postal clerk, then as a police constable before being elected to Parliament
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....
as member for Mitiaro in the 1994 elections
Cook Islands general election, 1994
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 24 March 1994 to elect 25 MPs to the Parliament. The election was a landslide victory for the Cook Islands Party, which won 20 seats. The Democratic Party won three seats, and the newly-established Alliance Party two....
.
Vavia was appointed Deputy Speaker in 1999. He subsequently served in the Cabinet of Sir Terepai Maoate
Terepai Maoate
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate, KBE was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party...
as Minister of Justice and Outer Islands. He lost his position when Robert Woonton
Robert Woonton
Dr Robert Woonton was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 11 February 2002 until 11 December 2004, and is a member of the centrist Democratic Party. A medical doctor by training, he became a Member of Parliament for the island of Manihiki...
replaced Maoate, but was reappointed briefly in 2003 when Woonton's coalition with 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....
fell apart. A further coalition realignment in November of that year saw him resign his portfolios and join the opposition.
In 2005, following the demise of Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai is a Cook Islands politician and former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Personal life:...
's "partnership government", he rejoined Cabinet as Minister for Outer Islands Administration. He was re-elected in the 2006 election
Cook Islands general election, 2006
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on September 27, 2006 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The Democratic Party remained in power, winning 15 of 24 seats. A total of 8,497 voters turned out to vote....
, and appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Cook Islands Investment Corporation, and Transport.
Vavia resigned his portfolios in December 2009 in protest at the sacking from Cabinet of Democratic Party leader Terepai Maoate
Terepai Maoate
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate, KBE was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party...
. He was re-elected at the 2010 election
Cook Islands general election, 2010
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats...
.
External links
- Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.