Wilkie Rasmussen
Encyclopedia
Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen (born 21 March 1958) is a Cook Islands
politician and former Cabinet Minister
. He is deputy leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party
, and represents the constituency of Penrhyn
.
Rasmussen was born in Omoka
on the island of Penrhyn
. He attended the University of Auckland
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
, Master of Arts
, and Bachelor of Laws
. After practicising as a Barrister
and Solicitor
, he became Secretary to the Cook Islands Cabinet
, then High Commissioner
to New Zealand
from 2000 to 2002.
He first entered Parliament
in a by-election
in 2002, standing for the Cook Islands Party
. Early in his political career he challenged the eligibility of two Government MPs to sit, on the grounds that they worked as paid consultants and were therefore public servants
. The challenge was ultimately unsuccessful.
After being narrowly re-elected in the 2004 election
, Rasmussen was brought into the coalition Cabinet
of Jim Marurai
, replacing Piho Rua
as Minister of Culture and Tourism. He was later elevated to Foreign Minister
. He switched his allegiance to the Democratic Party
shortly before the 2006 elections
, and as a result was elected unopposed. He was elected deputy leader of the Democratic Party in August, 2007, replacing Tepure Tapaitau
and currently holds the portfolios of Finance & Economic Management, Attourney-General, and the Pearl Authority.
Rasmussen was Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Marine Resources, and Tourism until 28 July 2009 when he was sacked by Jim Marurai for "disloyalty". He was subsequently expelled from Cook Islands Democratic Party on 25 August 2009. He was reappointed to Cabinet in the December 2009 reshuffle following the sacking of Terepai Maoate
and resignation of Democratic party cabinet ministers. A Democratic Party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him deputy leader.
Rasmussen was co-president of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
until December 2009, replaced by Charles Milupi (Zambia
) in December 2009.
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 deputy leader 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:...
, and represents the constituency of Penrhyn
Penrhyn (Cook Islands electorate)
Penrhyn is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Wilkie Rasmussen, who has held the seat since 2002.The electorate consists of the atoll of Penrhyn....
.
Rasmussen was born in Omoka
Omoka
Omoka is the larger of the two main settlements on Penrhyn Island in the Cook Islands. It is the location of the Penrhyn island Council, and is located on Moananui Islet in the far west of the Penrhyn Atoll....
on the island of Penrhyn
Penrhyn Island
Penrhyn is the most remote and largest atoll of the 15 Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
. He attended the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
. After practicising as a Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and Solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, he became Secretary to the Cook Islands Cabinet
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....
, then High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to 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...
from 2000 to 2002.
He first 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....
in a by-election
Penrhyn by-election 2002
The Penrhyn by-election was a by-election in the Cook Islands electorate of Penrhyn. It was held in June 2002, and was precipitated by the disqualification of Tepure Tapaitau.The poll was won by the Cook Islands Party's Wilkie Rasmussen....
in 2002, standing 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....
. Early in his political career he challenged the eligibility of two Government MPs to sit, on the grounds that they worked as paid consultants and were therefore public servants
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. The challenge was ultimately unsuccessful.
After being narrowly re-elected in the 2004 election
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...
, Rasmussen was brought into the coalition Cabinet
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
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:...
, replacing Piho Rua
Piho Rua
Piho Rua is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament.Rua was born on Rakahanga and educated at Aitutaki Junior High School and Tereora College. He had a twenty year career as a police officer before becoming a public servant and serving as Chief Executive of the Prime...
as Minister of Culture and Tourism. He was later elevated to Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
. He switched his allegiance to 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:...
shortly before the 2006 elections
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 as a result was elected unopposed. He was elected deputy leader of the Democratic Party in August, 2007, replacing Tepure Tapaitau
Tepure Tapaitau
Tepure Tapaitau QSM was a Cook Islands politician, Cabinet Minister, and Deputy Leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party....
and currently holds the portfolios of Finance & Economic Management, Attourney-General, and the Pearl Authority.
Rasmussen was Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Marine Resources, and Tourism until 28 July 2009 when he was sacked by Jim Marurai for "disloyalty". He was subsequently expelled from Cook Islands Democratic Party on 25 August 2009. He was reappointed to Cabinet in the December 2009 reshuffle following the sacking of 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...
and resignation of Democratic party cabinet ministers. A Democratic Party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him deputy leader.
Rasmussen was co-president of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the European Union and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states that have signed the Cotonou Agreement.Since the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union...
until December 2009, replaced by Charles Milupi (Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
) in December 2009.
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.