Jim Marurai Explained

Order:10th
Office:Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
1Blankname:Queen's Representative
1Namedata:Frederick Tutu Goodwin
2Blankname:Deputy
2Namedata:Geoffrey Henry
Terepai Maoate
Robert Wigmore
Successor:Henry Puna
Term Start:14 December 2004
Term End:29 November 2010
Office2:Minister of Education
Term Start2:29 June 1999
Term End2:29 November 2010
Primeminister2:Geoffrey Henry
Joe Williams
Terepai Maoate
Robert Woonton
Himself
Successor2:Teina Bishop
Office3:Minister of Police
Primeminister3:Himself
Term Start3:29 September 2005
Term End3:29 November 2010
Predecessor3:Peri Vaevae Pare
Successor3:Henry Puna
Office4:Minister of Foreign Affairs
Term Start4:2009
Term End4:23 December 2009
Predecessor4:Terepai Maoate
Successor4:Robert Wigmore
Term Start5:28 July 2009
Term End5:2009
Predecessor5:Wilkie Rasmussen
Successor5:Terepai Maoate
Constituency Mp12:Ivirua
Parliament12:Cook Islands
Term Start12:1994
Term End12:5 July 2017
Successor12:Tony Armstrong
Birth Date:9 July 1947
Birth Place:Ivirua, Mangaia, Cook Islands
Death Place:Ivirua, Mangaia, Cook Islands
Spouse:Tuaine Marurai (deceased)
Party:New Alliance Party
Cook Islands First Party
Democratic Party
Children:Jason Marurai, Anna Marurai, Eion Marurai, Tokoa Marurai, R Marurai
Alma Mater:University of Otago

Jim Marurai (9 July 1947 – November 2020) was a Cook Islands politician who served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Personal life

Marurai was born in Ivirua, Mangaia.[1] He attended Ivirua and Oneroa Primary school and then Tereora College on Rarotonga and Napier Boys' High School in New Zealand. He later studied to be a teacher at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.[1] [2]

Marurai's wife, Tuaine Marurai, died on 14 September 2005 in Auckland, New Zealand at the age of 56 after suffering from cancer. She was buried on her home island of Mangaia.[3] [4]

In March 2020 Marurai went missing from his home but was found after two days.[5] He died in the first week of November 2020 in his home in Ivirua.[6] [7]

Political career

Marurai was first elected to Parliament in a by-election in 1994.[1] He served as an opposition backbencher for his first term, and joined Norman George in splitting from the Democrats to form the New Alliance Party.[8] Following the 1999 election he was appointed Minister of Education in the coalition Cabinets of Geoffrey Henry[9] and Joe Williams.[10] He retained the portfolio under both succeeding Prime Ministers, Terepai Maoate[11] and Robert Woonton.[12]

Prime Minister

Marurai was re-elected at the 2004 election. When Prime Minister Robert Woonton was expelled from the Democratic party for forming a coalition with the Cook Islands Party, Marurai joined him in the newly formed Demo Party Tumu (later known as Cook Islands First).[13] When an electoral petition found Woonton's seat was a dead tie, Woonton resigned, and Marurai was elected Prime Minister.[14] Initially he governed in coalition with the Cook Islands Party as part of a power-sharing deal which would see CIP leader Geoffrey Henry become Prime Minister after two years,[14] but in August 2005 the agreement broke down and Marurai formed a new coalition with the Democrats.[15] Terepai Maoate became Deputy Prime Minister again, and a month later the remaining CIP Cabinet Ministers were sacked and replaced by Democrats.[16] [17]

In October 2005 Marurai suspended Police Minister Peri Vaevae Pare from Cabinet over an allegation of wrongful use of public funds;[18] Pare was subsequently asked to resign after he was convicted in January 2006.[19] In March 2006 two government MP's crossed the floor and sided with the opposition in an unsuccessful plot to bring down the government.[20] The High Commissioner to New Zealand, former Prime Minister Rober Woonton, was sacked for his involvement in the plot.[21] The resulting deadlock in Parliament was broken when Environment Minister Teina Bishop resigned and joined the opposition[22] and the Cook Islands Party won the 2006 Matavera by-election.[23] To avoid a confidence vote, Marurai dissolved Parliament and called a snap election.[24] The Democratic Party won the resulting 2006 election[25] and agreed to back Marurai as Prime Minister again.[26] Shortly after the election his government pushed a controversial Media Standards Bill to regulate the media.[27] In May 2007 Marurai attended the 8th Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders in Washington, D.C., and expressed disappointment with the lack of commitments by the United States.[28] In August 2007 he hosted New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand,[29] and in October he made a state visit to China.[30]

Marurai's coalition came under strain in early 2008, with an outbreak of bickering and calls for Ministers to be sacked.[31] [32] In late 2008 Foreign Minister Wilkie Rasmussen publicly called for both Marurai and his deputy Maoate to step down.[33] In July 2009 Rasmussen was sacked for plotting with the opposition.[34] [35] In December, a million dollar legal settlement from a failed bid to buy the Toa fuel tank farm led to the sacking of Maoate and a walkout of Democrats from Cabinet.[36] [37] [38] Marurai was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party.[39] In January 2010, with both the Democrats and the Cook Islands Party opposed to his premiership,[40] Marurai announced that he would not be "calling parliament for at least several months" as no sitting was required until it was necessary to pass a budget.[41] He later announced that he had no intention of calling Parliament until September.[42]

Marurai was readmitted to the Democratic party at a party conference in June 2010.[43] He subsequently announced that he would not continue as Prime Minister if the Democratic Party won the 2010 election.[44] Marurai was re-elected to his Ivirua seat in the 2010 elections, but his party was ousted.[45] He resigned as Prime Minister on 29 November 2010,[46] but continued to serve as a backbench MP.

Despite saying that the 2010 term would be his last, Marurai stood again for Ivirua in the 2014 election and was elected unopposed.[47] He resigned for health reasons in 2017.[48] The subsequent 2017 Ivirua by-election was won by Tony Armstrong.[49]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hon. Jim MARURAI . Parliament of the Cook Islands . 29 November 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101001065857/http://www.parliament.gov.ck/members/marurai.html . 1 October 2010 . dead .
  2. Web site: Jim Marurai: The unexpected prime minister . Cook Islands News . Emmanuel Samoglou . 7 November 2020 . 9 November 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108025306/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/memory-lane/jim-marurai-the-unexpected-prime-minister/ . 8 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Mrs Marurai to be laid to rest in Mangaia . Cook Islands Government Online . 13 September 2005 . 29 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101001070035/http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=753 . 1 October 2010 .
  4. Web site: Cook Islands makes preparations for funeral of PM's wife . RNZ . 17 September 2005 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709043359/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/157544/cook-islands-makes-preparations-for-funeral-of-pm's-wife . live .
  5. Web site: Former Cooks' PM found after going missing for two days . RNZ . 11 March 2020 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709131307/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411483/former-cooks-pm-found-after-going-missing-for-two-days . live .
  6. News: ‘Gentleman Jim’ – a man for the people. Cook Island News. 6 November 2020. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108024451/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/politics/gentleman-jim-a-man-for-the-people/. live.
  7. News: Former Cook Islands PM Jim Marurai dies. 6 November 2020. Radio New Zealand. 6 November 2020. 6 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106001413/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/430001/former-cook-islands-pm-jim-marurai-dies. live.
  8. Cook Islands in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 . Wilkie Rasmussen . The Contemporary Pacific . 11 . 1 . 1999 . 209–210.
  9. Web site: SIR GEOFFREY HENRY REMAINS COOKS ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER, NEW CABINET MINISTERS . Pacific Islands Report . 30 June 1999 . 8 July 2020 . 8 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708121352/http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/06/30/sir-geoffrey-henry-remains-cooks-islands-prime-minister-new-cabinet-ministers . live .
  10. Web site: COOK ISLANDS MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS . Pacific Islands Report . 11 August 1999 . 8 July 2020 . 8 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708074053/http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/08/11/cook-islands-ministerial-portfolios . live .
  11. Web site: Portfolio Allocations . Pacific Islands Report . 2 December 1999 . 5 July 2020 . 1 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200701051951/http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/12/02/government-cook-islands . live .
  12. Web site: COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER WOONTON’S AND NORMAN GEORGE’S LONG PORTFOLIO . Pacific Islands Report . 18 February 2002 . 8 July 2020 . 8 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708091559/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/02/18/cook-islands-prime-minister-woonton%E2%80%99s-and-norman-george%E2%80%99s-long-portfolio . live .
  13. Web site: Cook Islands prime minister forms new party . RNZ . 1 December 2004 . 30 June 2020 . 2 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200702214909/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152009/cook-islands-prime-minister-forms-new-party . live .
  14. Web site: Jim Marurai is new Cook Islands prime minister . RNZ . 15 December 2004 . 9 July 2020 . 11 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711064244/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152306/jim-marurai-is-new-cook-islands-prime-minister . live .
  15. Web site: Cook Islands deputy PM dumped, new government formed . RNZ . 9 August 2005 . 9 July 2020 . 10 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710223930/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/156780/cook-islands-deputy-pm-dumped,-new-government-formed . live .
  16. Web site: Cook Islands PM sacks two more ministers . RNZ . 12 September 2005 . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712020448/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/157432/cook-islands-pm-sacks-two-more-ministers . live .
  17. Web site: Viceroy swears in two new Cabinet ministers in the Cook Islands . RNZ . 16 September 2005 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709141123/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/157536/viceroy-swears-in-two-new-cabinet-ministers-in-the-cook-islands . live .
  18. Web site: Cooks police probe cabinet minister Vaevae Pare . RNZ . 3 October 2005 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709043344/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/157862/cooks-police-probe-cabinet-minister-vaevae-pare . live .
  19. Web site: CONVICTED COOKS MINISTER ASKED TO RESIGN . Pacific Islands Report . 31 January 2006 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709134706/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2006/01/31/convicted-cooks-minister-asked-resign . live .
  20. Web site: Attempt to bring down government failed, says Cooks PM . RNZ . 3 March 2006 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709043344/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/160664/attempt-to-bring-down-government-failed,-says-cooks-pm . live .
  21. News: Cook Islands envoy sacked for plot to oust own PM . 7 March 2006 . . 5 November 2011 . 22 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121022234047/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10371398 . live .
  22. Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007: Cook Islands . Jonassen . Jon Tikivanotau M. . The Contemporary Pacific . 20 . 1 . 216–22 . 7 July 2020 . 7 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200707192747/https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/14066/v20n1-216-222-politicalrev.pdf . live .
  23. Web site: Cook Islands government plays wait and see game . RNZ . 21 July 2006 . 9 July 2020 . 13 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200713090440/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/163513/cook-islands-government-plays-wait-and-see-game . live .
  24. Web site: Cooks parliament dissolved . RNZ . 25 July 2006 . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712114306/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/163567/cooks-parliament-dissolved . live .
  25. Web site: Democratic Party in Cook Islands begins celebrating . RNZ . 28 September 2006 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709125109/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/164987/democratic-party-in-cook-islands-begins-celebrating . live .
  26. Web site: Cook Islands Democratic Party back Marurai re-appointment . RNZ . 29 September 2006 . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712090438/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/165038/cook-islands-democratic-party-back-marurai-re-appointment . live .
  27. Web site: COOKS PRIME MINISTER BACKS CONTROVERSIAL MEDIA BILL . Pacific Islands Report . 24 April 2007 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709043345/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2007/04/24/cooks-prime-minister-backs-controversial-media-bill . live .
  28. Web site: COOKS DISAPPOINTED IN WASHINGTON CONFERENCE . Pacific Islands Report . 4 June 2007 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709055822/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2007/06/04/cooks-disappointed-washington-conference . live .
  29. Web site: NZ Governor General to visit Cooks . RNZ . 16 August 2007 . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712090418/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/172022/nz-governor-general-to-visit-cooks . live .
  30. Web site: COOK ISLANDS LEADER BOUND FOR CHINA RED CARPET . Pacific Islands Report . 2 October 2007 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709044920/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2007/10/02/cook-islands-leader-bound-china-red-carpet . live .
  31. Web site: Cooks PM concerned over bickering among cabinet ministers . RNZ . 22 January 2008 . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712013720/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/175040/cooks-pm-concerned-over-bickering-among-cabinet-ministers . live .
  32. Web site: Cooks PM gets info about party visit through local media . RNZ . 22 January 2008 . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712020501/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/175045/cooks-pm-gets-info-about-party-visit-through-local-media . live .
  33. Web site: Cook Islands Foreign Minister says Marurai and Maoate should step down . RNZ . 30 December 2008 . 9 July 2020 . 11 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711120144/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/181158/cook-islands-foreign-minister-says-marurai-and-maoate-should-step-down . live .
  34. Web site: Cooks Foreign Minister sacked for plotting against PM . RNZ . 30 July 2009 . 9 July 2020 . 10 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710221426/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/185125/cooks-foreign-minister-sacked-for-plotting-against-pm . live .
  35. Web site: COOKS PRIME MINISTER FIRES FOREIGN MINISTER . Pacific Islands Report . 30 July 2009 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709133248/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2009/07/30/cooks-prime-minister-fires-foreign-minister . live .
  36. Web site: Cook Islands opposition accuses govt of mismanagement . RNZ . 29 December 2009 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709043407/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/9422/cook-islands-opposition-accuses-govt-of-mismanagement . live .
  37. Web site: Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout . RNZ . 24 December 2009 . 9 July 2020 . 5 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200705034657/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/187947/cooks-deputy-prime-minister-replaced,-prompting-a-walkout . live .
  38. Web site: Cabinet Ministers Resign in Support of Party Leader . Democratic Party – Cook Islands . 23 December 2009 . 25 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110709011911/http://www.democookislands.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129%3Acabinet-ministers-resign-in-support-of-party-leader&catid=1%3Alatest-news . 9 July 2011 .
  39. Web site: PM sacked by Demo Party . Cook Islands Herald . 23 December 2009 . 27 December 2009 . 18 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110318031038/http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h491a.htm . live .
  40. Web site: Cook Islands Party says current political stand-off unacceptable . RNZ . 18 January 2010 . 9 July 2020 . 11 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711002641/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/188254/cook-islands-party-says-current-political-stand-off-unacceptable . live .
  41. Web site: Fearing ouster, Cooks PM won't recall parliament for months . RNZ . 21 January 2010 . 9 July 2020 . 11 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711031533/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/188319/fearing-ouster,-cooks-pm-won't-recall-parliament-for-months . live .
  42. Web site: Cooks PM holds off parliament for another seven months . RNZ . 23 February 2010 . 9 July 2020 . 11 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711122914/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/188878/cooks-pm-holds-off-parliament-for-another-seven-months . live .
  43. Web site: New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party . Radio New Zealand International . 4 June 2010 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709124411/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/190693/new-leadership-for-cook-islands-democratic-party . live .
  44. Web site: PM confirms his passing of the baton after the election . Cook Islands herald . 10 June 2010 . 11 June 2010 . 18 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110318041914/http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h515a.htm . live .
  45. Web site: Preliminary results show Democrats ousted in Cook Islands election . Radio New Zealand International . 18 November 2010 . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709043352/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193777/preliminary-results-show-democrats-ousted-in-cook-islands-election . live .
  46. Web site: Marurai stands down . Cook Islands News . 30 November 2010 . 5 December 2010 . 31 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120731014353/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/December/Wed01/local.htm#1011300102 . live .
  47. Web site: Marurai waltzes into office . Emmanuel Samoglou . Cook Islands News . 10 July 2014 . 10 July 2014 . 14 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151646/http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/item/47537-marurai-waltzes-into-office . live .
  48. Web site: Former Cook Islands PM Jim Marurai To Resign From Parliament . Pacific Islands Report . 5 July 2017 . 14 June 2020 . 14 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200614103441/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/07/05/former-cook-islands-pm-jim-marurai-resign-parliament . live .
  49. Web site: Ivirua by-election has predictable result . Cook Islands News . 24 August 2017 . 14 June 2020 . 14 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200614103439/http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/65600-ivirua-by-election-has-predictable-result/65600-ivirua-by-election-has-predictable-result . live .

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