Teariki Heather
Encyclopedia
Teariki William Heather is a Cook Islands
politician and Cabinet Minister
. He represents the constituency of Akaoa
for the Cook Islands Party
.
Heather was born on Rarotonga
and educated at Arorangi Primary school and Tereora College. He is the younger brother of Democratic Party
MP William (Smiley) Heather
. He was a businessman before entering politics.
In March 2003 Heather founded the Cook Islands National Party
with the aim of securing political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term. The party launched a high-profile court case against MPs Norman George
and Paora Teiti in an effort to have them unseated for performing consultancy work for the government, which was seen as making them public servants and thus ineligible to hold office, but the case was unsuccessful. Heather contested the 2003 Rua'au by-election
as a National Party candidate, but was unsuccessful. He subsequently disbanded the party and joined the Cook Islands Party
.
In the 2004 elections
Heather entered Parliament
after winning the seat of Akaoa. The 2006 election
produced a tie in the seat, forcing a by-election
which Heather won.
. He currently serves as Minister of Education.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
politician and 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 represents the constituency of Akaoa
Akaoa (Cook Islands electorate)
Akaoa is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Teariki Heather, who has held the seat since 2004....
for 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....
.
Heather was born 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...
and educated at Arorangi Primary school and Tereora College. He is the younger brother of 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:...
MP William (Smiley) Heather
William (Smiley) Heather
William Kati Heather is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He represents the seat of Ruaau in the Cook Islands Parliament....
. He was a businessman before entering politics.
In March 2003 Heather founded the Cook Islands National Party
Cook Islands National Party
The Cook Islands National Party was a political party in the Cook Islands. The party was launched on 24 March 2003 by Teariki Heather, a Rarotonga businessman...
with the aim of securing political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term. The party launched a high-profile court case against MPs Norman George
Norman George
Norman George is a Cook Islands politician and former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, and Cabinet Minister....
and Paora Teiti in an effort to have them unseated for performing consultancy work for the government, which was seen as making them public servants and thus ineligible to hold office, but the case was unsuccessful. Heather contested the 2003 Rua'au by-election
Rua'au by-election 2003
The Rua'au by-election was a by-election in the Cook Islands seat of Rua'au. It took place on 14 August 2003, and was precipitated by the death of Democratic Party MP Maria Heather....
as a National Party candidate, but was unsuccessful. He subsequently disbanded the party and joined 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....
.
In the 2004 elections
Cook Islands general election, 2004
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004. Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin, but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed, delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December...
Heather entered 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....
after winning the seat of Akaoa. 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....
produced a tie in the seat, forcing a by-election
Akaoa by-election 2006
The Akaoa by-election was a by-election in the Cook Islands seat of Akaoa. It took place on 29 November 2006, and was precipitated by the seat being a dead tie in the 2006 general election. After a judicial recount, the High Court ordered a by-election....
which Heather won.
Cabinet
Heather was appointed to Cabinet in December 2010, after the Cook Islands party won the 2010 electionCook 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...
. He currently serves as Minister of Education.
External links
- Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.