Robert Wigmore

Robert George Wigmore (8 September 1949 – 13 April 2012) was a Cook Islands politician and former Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Cabinet Minister. He was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.

Biography

Wigmore was born on Rarotonga.[1] He was educated in Titikaveka, and worked as a farmer.[2] In 1985 he was elected President of the Cook Islands Producers Federation.[2] He was first elected to Parliament as a Democratic Party candidate for the seat of Titikaveka at the 1999 election. He served as an under-secretary to Prime Minister Robert Woonton before being appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture in November 2002.[3] At the 2004 election he apparently won his seat on the night, but the result was overturned three months later by an electoral petition.[4] In the intervening period there was a leadership dispute within the Democratic party, in which Wigmore remained neutral.[5]

In 2005, in a further ruling on the 2004 electoral petition, the Cook Islands Court of Appeal upheld a High Court finding that Wigmore had bribed piggery owners in his electorate in an effort to gain their vote.[6][7]

At the 2006 election, Wigmore's election in the seat of Titikaveka was declared invalid by an electoral petition. He was re-elected in a by-election on 7 February 2007.[8]

Wigmore rejoined the Cabinet in July 2009, replacing former Tourism Minister Wilkie Rasmussen who had been sacked for disloyalty.[9] On 23 December 2009, Wigmore was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, replacing former Prime Minister and Democratic Party leader Terepai Maoate.[10] He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic party,[11] but a party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him party leader, with Rasmussen as his deputy.[12] He served as Foreign Minister and Minister of Agriculture until the 2010 election.[13]

Wigmore was re-elected at the 2010 election. In December 2011 he took a leave of absence from Parliament to allow him to be treated for prostate cancer in New Zealand.[14] He died on 13 April 2012.[2]

References
  1. "Robert Wigmore". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  2. "'Man of wisdom' honoured". Cook Islands News. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  3. "New minister joins Cook Islands cabinet". Radio New Zealand International. 17 November 2002. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  4. "Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka". Radio New Zealand International. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. "Cook Islands minister remains neutral for time being". Radio New Zealand International. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  6. "Wigmore v Matapo (2005) CKCA 1; CA 14.2004". 19 August 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  7. "Cooks PM, ex-PM and cabinet minister implicated in bribery complaint". Radio New Zealand International. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  8. "Tomorrow set down for final count from Cook Islands by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  9. "Cook Islands sacked Foreign Minister has no regrets". Radio New Zealand International. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  10. "Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout". Radio New Zealand International. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  11. "Cooks Democratic Party expels four members still in government". Radio New Zealand International. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  12. "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand International. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  13. "Ministerial portfolio allocations (as of January 5)". Cook Islands News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  14. "Wigmore on medical leave until March". Cook Islands News. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  • Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.
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