Cook Islands National Party

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The Cook Islands National Party was a political party in the Cook Islands. The party was launched on 24 March 2003 by Teariki Heather, a Rarotonga businessman. [1] [2] Its policies included a shorter parliamentary term.

A political party is an organized group of people, often with common views, who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. The party agrees on some proposed policies and programmes, with a view to promoting the collective good or furthering their supporters' interests.

Cook Islands state in the South Pacific Ocean

The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It comprises 15 islands whose total land area is 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi). The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi) of ocean.

Teariki William Heather was Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2013 to 2018. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.

In July 2003 the party sought a declaratory judgement from the High Court that the seats of MPs Norman George and Paora Teiti were vacant after it was learned that the two were being paid as government consultants. [3] The court subsequently ruled that the consultancy work did not constitute holding a position in the public service, and both retained their seats. [4]

Norman George is a Cook Islands politician and former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, and Cabinet Minister.

Heather contested the 2003 Rua'au by-election as a National Party candidate, but was unsuccessful. [5] [6]

The party was disbanded in February 2004 when Heather joined the Cook Islands Party. [7] [8]

Cook Islands Party

The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the islands' politics since 1965.

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Akaoa (Cook Islands electorate)

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References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ "New political party formed in Cook Islands". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-03-27. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  3. ↑ "Cook Islands National Party to seek declaratory judgment against two MPs". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-07-14. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  4. ↑ "Cook Islands court clears MP Norman George of double-dipping allegation". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-01-18. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Cooks voters go to polls in Rarotonga by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-08-14. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  6. ↑ "Geoffrey Heather wins Cook Islands by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2003-08-18. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  7. ↑ "Cook Islands MP and party joins forces with main opposition party". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-02-12. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  8. ↑ Jonassen, Jon Tikivanotau M (2005). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events: Cook Islands". The Contemporary Pacific. 17: 185–193. doi:10.1353/cp.2005.0016.
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