Henry Puna
| Henry Puna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 30 November 2010 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Representative | Frederick Tutu Goodwin Tom Marsters |
| Preceded by | Jim Marurai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1949 Aitutaki, Cook Islands |
| Political party | Cook Islands Party |
| Spouse(s) | Akaiti Puna |
| Children | Henry Edwin Abraham Tina Vivienne |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland University of Tasmania |
| Religion | Congregationalism |
Henry Tuakeu Puna[1] (born 29 July 1949)[2] is the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is leader of the Cook Islands Party.[3]
Early life
Puna grew up in Aitutaki.[2] He was educated on Aitutaki and Rarotonga before studying law at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Tasmania in Australia.[2] He worked as a lawyer before entering politics.[2]
Puna's father, Tuakeu Manuela, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and his older brothers William Estall and Ngereteina Puna both served as Cabinet Ministers, also his brother Manuela Puna served as Clerk of the Cook Islands Parliament.[2]
Political career
Puna first stood for Parliament at the 2004 election, contesting Prime Minister Robert Woonton's seat of Manihiki.[4] He narrowly lost the seat on election night,[5] but challenged the result in an election petition.[6] The petition was upheld, with several voters being disqualified; the subsequent recount produced a tie,[7] precipitating a by-election which Puna ultimately won.[8]
In September 2006, following the retirement of party leader Geoffrey Henry, Puna was elected leader of the Cook Islands Party.[9] He subsequently lost his seat in the Manihiki constituency to Apii Piho in the 2006 election,[10] but continued to serve as leader outside Parliament. Because he was not a member of Parliament, Puna was not the leader of the opposition; this position was filled by Tom Marsters. Puna worked as a lawyer and pearl farmer during his time out of parliament.[11][12]
In September 2009, Puna was unanimously re-elected party leader.[13]
Prime Minister
Puna was elected as MP for Manihiki during the 2010 election, in which his party won 16 of the 24 seats. On 30 November 2010 he was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands.[14]
Puna made his first official visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister in August 2011.[3]
It was under Puna's premiership that the Cook Islands became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.[15][16][17]
References
- ↑ Parliamentary General Election – Main Electoral Roll – Manihiki, Cook Islands Registrar of Electors, 10 May 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "New PM sworn in today". Cook Islands News. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Race begins for Position of Cook Islands Deputy PM". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ↑ "Cooks opposition warns of prime minister losing seat over pearl industry decline". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-06. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "Cooks PM Woonton retains seat". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-14. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "Cook Islands prime minister named in election petition". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "Cooks to vote for new Prime Minister after election draw leads to by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-12. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "Preliminary results show Puna wins Cook Islands by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2005-02-10. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "Henry Puna elected as leader of Cook Islands Party". Radio New Zealand International. 2006-09-04. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "Leader of Cook Islands Party at a loss over election result". Radio New Zealand International. 2006-10-01. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ Manihiki airport case given more time, The Cook Islands Herald, 4 August 2008.
- ↑ Wong, Helen: Government Instability In The Cook Islands – Causes And Effects, Australian National University, 21 September 2007.
- ↑ "Henry Puna still CIP leader". Cook Islands News. 2009-09-23. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ↑ "New Cook Islands PM sworn in". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
- ↑ "NZ may be invited to join proposed ‘Polynesian Triangle’ ginger group", Pacific Scoop, 19 September 2011
- ↑ "New Polynesian Leaders Group formed in Samoa", Radio New Zealand International, 18 November 2011
- ↑ "American Samoa joins Polynesian Leaders Group, MOU signed", Savali, 19 November 2011
| Assembly seats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Woonton |
Member of Parliament for Manihiki 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by Apii Piho |
| Preceded by Apii Piho |
Member of Parliament for Manihiki 2010–present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Geoffrey Henry |
Leader of the Cook Islands Party | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Jim Marurai |
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands 2010–present |
Incumbent |
