Ngereteina Puna

Ngereteina Puna (born 1938) is a former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He is the older brother of Prime Minister Henry Puna.[1]

Puna grew up on Aitutaki. After graduating from the University of Auckland in New Zealand he worked as a teacher.[2] At the 1979 election he was elected as MP for Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara.[2] He went on to serve as Minister of Education in the Cook Islands Party government of Geoffrey Henry.[2] After retiring from politics at the 1999 election he was appointed Speaker of the House, a position he held until 2001.[2][3]

Puna is currently based in Auckland, where he works as an advisor to Te Wananga O Aotearoa.[2]

Puna's father, Tuakeu Manuela, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and his older brother William Estall also served as a Cabinet Minister.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "New PM sworn in today". Cook Islands News. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Family gathers". Cook Islands News. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Former Members of the Cook Islands Parliament". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 2010-12-05.