Tuakeu Tangatapoto | |
---|---|
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Mitiaro | |
Assumed office 14 June 2018 | |
Preceded by | Tangata Vavia |
Personal details | |
Born | 4 February 1970 |
Political party | Cook Islands Party |
Tuakeu Tangatapoto (born 4 February 1970) [1] is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.
Tangatapoto is from Mangaia and was educated at Mitiaro School,Tereora College,and the University of the South Pacific. [1] He worked as a government builder,acting Island secretary for Mitiaro,and as chief executive of Mitiaro's island government. [1] [2]
He contested the seat of Mitiaro in the 2014 election,and gained an exact tie with his rival Tangata Vavia. [3] The tie was confirmed by a recount,and a by-election called,but the count was delayed by a court order. [4] The court found that one person had voted illegally in the general election,and as a result Vavia was declared the winner and the by-election votes discarded without being counted. [5] Tangatapoto subsequently defeated Vavia in the 2018 election.
He was re-elected at the 2022 Cook Islands general election. [6] In February 2024,Tangatapoto was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament. [7] [8]