Terepai Maoate

Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate KBE (1 September 1934 – 9 July 2012) was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He was a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.

Sir Terepai Maoate
KBE
6th Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office
9 August 2005 – 23 December 2009
Prime MinisterJim Marurai
Queen's RepresentativeFrederick Tutu Goodwin
Preceded byGeoffrey Henry
Succeeded byRobert Wigmore
In office
30 January 2003 – 5 November 2003
Prime MinisterRobert Woonton
RepresentativeFrederick Tutu Goodwin
Preceded byGeoffrey Henry
Succeeded byNgamau Munokoa
In office
1985 – 1 February 1989
Prime MinisterTom Davis
Pupuke Robati
Queen's RepresentativeTangaroa Tangaroa
Preceded byGeoffrey Henry
Succeeded byInatio Akaruru
8th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office
18 November 1999 (1999-11-18) – 11 February 2002 (2002-02-11)
MonarchElizabeth II
DeputyNorman George
Robert Woonton
Queen's RepresentativeApenera Short
Laurence Greig (Acting)
Frederick Tutu Goodwin
Preceded byJoe Williams
Succeeded byRobert Woonton
ConstituencyNgatangiia
Personal details
Born1 September 1934
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Died9 July 2012(2012-07-09) (aged 77)
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseLady Marito (née Mapu)
ChildrenTerepai Maoate Jnr

Maoate was born in Rarotonga on 1 September 1934, and educated at Ngatangiia Primary School, Fiji School of Medicine, and the University of Auckland (New Zealand). He worked as a medical doctor before becoming Director of Clinical Services for the Ministry of Health in 1976.[1]

Maoate was elected to the Cook Islands Parliament as MP for Ngatangiia in the March 1983 general election. He subsequently served as Minister of Health and Agriculture in the Democratic cabinet of Tom Davis, and between 1985 and 1989 was also Deputy Prime Minister.[1]

In 1998, Maoate became Leader of the Democratic party and Leader of the Opposition. The 1999 election produced a hung Parliament, and following several coalition realignments, Maoate became Prime Minister.[2] He was ousted by his former Deputy Prime Minister Robert Woonton on 11 February 2002,[3] and subsequently became Leader of the Opposition.

In early 2003 the Democratic Party re-merged,[4] and Maoate was reappointed to cabinet, replacing Cook Islands Party leader Geoffrey Henry as Deputy Prime Minister.[5] However the arrangement did not last, with Maoate resigning[6] and tabling a motion of no-confidence in the government in November.[7] Continued factional infighting saw Maoate fail to become Prime Minister after the 2004 elections, when a group of Democratic Party MPs split to back Jim Marurai. However, a coalition realignment in 2005 saw Maoate reappointed as Deputy Prime Minister again.[8] In July 2009, he was given the additional position of Foreign Minister.

In December 2009 Maoate was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister in favour of Robert Wigmore, sparking a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members[9][10] and the withdrawal of support for the government.[11] He was subsequently replaced as Democratic Party leader by Wigmore in June 2010.[12]

In September 2010 he failed to be reselected for his Ngatangiia seat after losing a run-off.[13] He subsequently decided to run as an independent,[14] but was unsuccessful.[15]

Maoate was knighted in 2007.[16]

Maoate died on 9 July 2012 aged 77.[17]

References
  1. "Terepai Maoate". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  2. "History of the Cook Islands". Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  3. Robert Lee (14 February 2002). "Terepai Maoate Ousted As Cook Islands PM". TaxNews.com. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  4. "Cook Islands deputy PM wants strong party for elections". Radio New Zealand International. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  5. "Cook Islands deputy PM sacked". Radio New Zealand International. 30 January 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  6. "Two Cook Islands cabinet ministers resign". Radio New Zealand International. 5 November 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  7. "Cook Islands Parliament debates Deputy Prime Minister's call for early election". Radio New Zealand International. 5 November 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  8. "Cook Islands deputy PM dumped, new government formed". Radio New Zealand International. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  9. "Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout". Radio New Zealand International. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  10. "Cabinet Ministers Resign in Support of Party Leader". Democratic Party – Cook Islands. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  11. "Marurai Wilkie coalition falling apart". Democratic Party – Cook Islands. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  12. "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand International. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  13. "Sir Terepai Maoate loses selection run off in Cook Islands constituency". Radio New Zealand International. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  14. "Former Cook Islands Prime Minister to run as independent". Radio New Zealand International. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  15. "Preliminary results show Democrats ousted in Cook Islands election". Radio New Zealand International. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  16. "The newly knighted Terepai Maoate credits family and friends for his honour". Radio New Zealand International. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  17. "Former Cook Islands PM, Sir Terepai Maoate, has died". RNZ. Radio New Zealand International. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  • Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.
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