Wilkie Rasmussen
Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen (born 21 March 1958) is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. From 2013 to 2015 he was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
Wilkie Rasmussen | |
---|---|
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Penrhyn (electorate) | |
In office June 2002 – 9 July 2014 | |
Preceded by | Tepure Tapaitau |
Succeeded by | Willie John |
Personal details | |
Born | 21 March 1958 Omoka |
Political party | Cook Islands Party Cook Islands Democratic Party |
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 practising 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]
Rasmussen was defeated at the 2014 election, and stepped down as Democratic Party leader in April 2015.[19]
References
- "Wilkie Rasmussen". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- "Changes announced to Ministries". Cook Islands Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
- "Rasmussen provisional winner in Cooks by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 1 July 2002. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- "Cooks opposition wants clarify seat vacancies". Radio New Zealand International. 4 July 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- "Cook Islands court clears MP Norman George of double-dipping allegation". Radio New Zealand International. 18 January 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- "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.
- "Cooks foreign minister Rasmussen switches party". Radio New Zealand International. 11 August 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- 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.
- "Cook Islands Democratic Party elects a new deputy leader". Radio New Zealand International. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- "Ministerial portfolio allocations (as of January 5)". Cook Islands News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- Cook Islands News Wednesday, 29 July 2009
- Cook Islands minister sacked
- "Rasmussen expelled from Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand International. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- "Cook Islands' latest Cabinet reshuffle shows more back room dealing – reformer". Radio New Zealand International. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
- "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand International. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- "Rasmussen takes over as opposition leader". Cook Islands News. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- "Salute to Wigmore". Cook Islands News. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- "Demos confirm leader, plan ahead". Cook Islands News. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- "Cook Islands Democratic Party Leader Steps Down". Pacific Islands Report. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
External links
- Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.