Wilkie Rasmussen

Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen (born 21 March 1958) is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is Leader of the Opposition and 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.[1] 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.[2]

He first entered Parliament in a by-election in 2002, standing for the Cook Islands Party.[3] 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.[4] The challenge was ultimately unsuccessful.[5]

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.[6] He was later elevated to Foreign Minister. He switched his allegiance to the Democratic Party shortly before the 2006 elections,[7] and as a result was elected unopposed.[8] He was elected deputy leader of the Democratic Party in August, 2007, replacing Tepure Tapaitau[9] and currently holds the portfolios of Finance & Economic Management, Attourney-General, and the Pearl Authority.[10]

Rasmussen was Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Marine Resources, and Tourism until 28 July 2009[11] when he was sacked by Jim Marurai for "disloyalty".[12] He was subsequently expelled from Cook Islands Democratic Party on 25 August 2009.[13] He was reappointed to Cabinet in the December 2009 reshuffle following the sacking of Terepai Maoate and resignation of Democratic party cabinet ministers.[14] A Democratic Party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him deputy leader.[15]

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. He became Leader of the Opposition in February 2012 after Democratic party leader Robert Wigmore was granted medical leave from Parliament.[16] Following Wigmore's death in April 2012 he became acting leader of the Democratic Party.[17] His position as party leader was confirmed in August 2012.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Wilkie Rasmussen". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  2. ↑ "Changes announced to Ministries". Cook Islands Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  3. ↑ "Rasmussen provisional winner in Cooks by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 1 July 2002. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  4. ↑ "Cooks opposition wants clarify seat vacancies". Radio New Zealand International. 4 July 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "Cook Islands court clears MP Norman George of double-dipping allegation". Radio New Zealand International. 18 January 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  6. ↑ "Cook Islands Party MP gets sworn in as new minister for Tourism and Culture". Radio New Zealand International. 2 May 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cooks foreign minister Rasmussen switches party". Radio New Zealand International. 11 August 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  8. ↑ Jonassen, Jon Tikivanotau M (2007). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events: Cook Islands". The Contemporary Pacific 20: 216–222. doi:10.1353/cp.2008.0015.
  9. ↑ "Cook Islands Democratic Party elects a new deputy leader". Radio New Zealand International. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  10. ↑ "Ministerial portfolio allocations (as of January 5)". Cook Islands News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  11. ↑ Cook Islands News Wednesday, 29 July 2009
  12. ↑ Cook Islands minister sacked
  13. ↑ "Rasmussen expelled from Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand International. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  14. ↑ "Cook Islands’ latest Cabinet reshuffle shows more back room dealing – reformer". Radio New Zealand International. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  15. ↑ "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand International. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  16. ↑ "Rasmussen takes over as opposition leader". Cook Islands News. 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  17. ↑ "Salute to Wigmore". Cook Islands News. 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  18. ↑ "Demos confirm leader, plan ahead". Cook Islands News. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-20.

External links