Teariki Heather

Teariki William Heather (born 30 July 1959) was Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2013 to 2018. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.

Heather was born on Rarotonga and educated at Arorangi Primary school and Tereora College. He is the younger brother of Democratic Party MP William (Smiley) Heather.[1] He was a businessman before entering politics.

In March 2003 Heather founded the Cook Islands National Party with the aim of securing political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term.[2][3] The party launched a high-profile court case against MPs Norman George and Paora Teiti in an effort to have them unseated for performing consultancy work for the government, which was seen as making them public servants and thus ineligible to hold office,[4] but the case was unsuccessful.[5] Heather contested the 2003 Rua'au by-election as a National Party candidate, but was unsuccessful.[6][7] He subsequently disbanded the party and joined the Cook Islands Party.[8]

In the 2004 elections Heather entered Parliament after winning the seat of Akaoa. The 2006 election produced a tie in the seat, forcing a by-election which Heather won.[9]

Cabinet

Heather was appointed to Cabinet in December 2010, after the Cook Islands party won the 2010 election.[10][11] He currently serves as Minister of Infrastructure & Planning and Justice.[12]

In December 2013 Heather was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Tom Marsters.[13]

Heather was not re-elected at the 2018 election, losing to Nooroa o Teariki Baker.[14]

References
  1. "Enough Heathers". Cook islands News. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  2. Jonassen, Jon Tikivanotau M (2004). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events: Cook Islands". The Contemporary Pacific. 16: 146–153. doi:10.1353/cp.2004.0014.
  3. "New political party formed in Cook Islands". Radio New Zealand International. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  4. "Cook Islands National Party to seek declaratory judgment against two MPs". Radio New Zealand International. 14 July 2003. Retrieved 13 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. "Cooks voters go to polls in Rarotonga by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 14 August 2003. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  7. "Geoffrey Heather wins Cook Islands by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 18 August 2003. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  8. "Cook Islands MP and party joins forces with main opposition party". Radio New Zealand International. 12 February 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  9. "Cook Islands Party wins Akaoa". Radio New Zealand International. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  10. "Cooks PM announces cabinet line up". Radio New Zealand International. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  11. "Who's who in Cabinet". Cook Islands Government. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  12. Emmanuel Samoglou (4 November 2013). "Long awaited cabinet shuffle announced". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  13. Emmanuel Samoglou (12 December 2013). "Heather announced as DPM". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  14. "Preliminary Results from Votes Counted 14-06-2018". Cook Islands Ministry of Justice. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  • Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.


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