1st Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. A member of the Cook Islands Party, he served as prime minister from 4 August 1965 to 25 July 1978. Prior to becoming prime minister, he lived in New Zealand for several years and studied at St. Stephen's College in Auckland. Returning to the islands, be became involved in politics and was a key player in establishing self government for the islands from New Zealand. He founded the Cook Islands Party in 1965 and became a member of the Legislative Assembly. He then became prime minister. He got caught up in election irregularities in 1978 and was found guilty of electoral fraud. He was fined and placed on probation. He is best remembered for initiating the House of Ariki, a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. He also had Rarotonga's airport enlarged, oversaw thebuilding the Rarotongan Resort and helped to develop the Cook Islands into a significant international tourist destination. In 1966 he introduced a Universal Old Age Pension plan. More important, his government quickly approved the constitution, which granted autonomy to the Cook Islands while maintaining the New Zealand citizenship of its residents.
1st Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. A member of the Cook Islands Party, he served as prime minister from 4 August 1965 to 25 July 1978. Prior to becoming prime minister, he lived in New Zealand for several years and studied at St. Stephen's College in Auckland. Returning to the islands, be became involved in politics and was a key player in establishing self government for the islands from New Zealand. He founded the Cook Islands Party in 1965 and became a member of the Legislative Assembly. He then became prime minister. He got caught up in election irregularities in 1978 and was found guilty of electoral fraud. He was fined and placed on probation. He is best remembered for initiating the House of Ariki, a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. He also had Rarotonga's airport enlarged, oversaw thebuilding the Rarotongan Resort and helped to develop the Cook Islands into a significant international tourist destination. In 1966 he introduced a Universal Old Age Pension plan. More important, his government quickly approved the constitution, which granted autonomy to the Cook Islands while maintaining the New Zealand citizenship of its residents.
Bio by: letemrip
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