Teatao Teannaki is an I-Kiribati

Kiribati

Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...

 political figure.

He was first elected to represent Abiang in the House of Assembly of Kiribati

House of Assembly of Kiribati

The House of Assembly of Kiribati has 46 members, 44 elected for a four year term in single-seat and multi-seat constituencies, 1 delegate from Banaba Island and 1 ex-officio member .Created with the Constitution of 12 July 1979, its new seat is at Ambo since October 2000, on South Tarawa...

. Later, beginning in 1979, he served as Vice president

Vice president

A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...

 of Kiribati under Ieremia Tabai

Ieremia Tabai

Sir Ieremia Tienang Tabai GCMG AO was the first President of Kiribati. He had been described as being the most able leader of the Pacific island states....

. He would also serve as the minister of home affairs in 1987, and as minister of finance from 1987 to 1991.

He was narrowly elected to replace Tabai as the president of Kiribati

President of Kiribati

The President of Kiribati is the head of state and head of government of Kiribati.Following a general election, by which citizens elect the members of the House of Assembly, members select from their midst "not less than 3 nor more than 4 candidates" for the presidency. No other person may stand...

 on behalf of the National Progressive Party of Kiribati from 8 July 1991 until 1 October 1994. It is said that he predecessor Ieremia Tabai

Ieremia Tabai

Sir Ieremia Tienang Tabai GCMG AO was the first President of Kiribati. He had been described as being the most able leader of the Pacific island states....

 exerted political influence on Kiribati via Taetao Teannaki throughout his term. He also served as his government's foreign minister beginning in 1992.

He was succeeded by Teburoro Tito

Teburoro Tito

Teburoro Tito was the President and foreign minister of Kiribati from October 1, 1994 to March 28, 2003. He was elected for the first time in 1994. He was reelected in 1998 with 52% of the vote. His main opponent was Harry Tong, who later ran against his brother, current President Anote Tong...

after defeat in a September 1994 election.

Teatao Teannaki still leads the National Progressive Party.