Jon Jonassen Explained

Jon Tikivanotau Michael Jonassen (born 24 July 1949)[1] is a Cook Islands civil servant, diplomat, composer, and political scientist. From 1997 — 1999 he was the Cook Islands' High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Early life and education

Jonassen was born in Rarotonga and grew up on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.[2] He was educated at Arorangi School, Ararua School, and Tereora College in the Cook Islands, and Mount Albert Grammar School in New Zealand.[2] He later attended Brigham Young University–Hawaii, graduating with a BSc in business management and a BA in history and government, as well as studying at the University of the South Pacific.[2] He later studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, graduating with a Master of Arts in Pacific Island Studies in 1992, and a PhD in political science in 1996.[2]

Civil servant

From 1983 to 1986 he served as the Cook Islands' Secretary of Foreign Affairs.[3] In 1987 he was appointed Director of Programmes for the South Pacific Commission,[4] serving as acting secretary-General in 1989.[5] In 1991 he returned to the Cook Islands to become secretary of the new Ministry of Cultural Development.[6]

Academic

In 1993 he returned to Brigham Young University–Hawaii as a professor of political science. He took a leave of absence from 1997 to 1999 while he was serving as Cook Islands' High Commissioner to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.[3] He returned to BYU-H, where he became Director of Pacific Islands Studies.[1] He is currently Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Pacific Islands Studies.[3]

Jonassen's work has focused on document Cook Islands culture, including traditional songs and chants.[1] He published his first collection of Cook Islands legends while a university student.[7] He is also a composer, and has composed more than 500 songs, including Mou Piri, and E Tai Roimata.[8]

Recognition

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Cook Islands culture and the public service in the 2014 New Year Honours.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ‘Be proud of who you are’ . Cook Islands News . 16 January 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210117034301/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/weekend/be-proud-of-who-you-are/ . 17 January 2021.
  2. Book: A Book of Cook Islands Maori Names, Ingoa . Jon Jonassen . 2003 . 158 .
  3. Web site: Professor Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen (Associate Senior Scholar) . Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group . 22 August 2021.
  4. News: transitions . Pacific Islands Monthly . 58 . 2 . 53 . 1 February 1987 . 22 August 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  5. Web site: History . Pacific Community . 22 August 2021.
  6. News: INTERVIEW . Pacific Islands Monthly . 61 . 1 . 51 . 1 January 1991 . 22 August 2021 . National Library of Australia.
  7. Web site: "No-one was going to force me to unlearn beautiful cultural images that I had learned as a child." . CreativeNZ . 2 August 2021 . 22 August 2021.
  8. Web site: Three Cook Islanders Receive Prestigious Queen’s Honors . Pacific Islands Report . 4 June 2014 . 22 August 2021.
  9. Web site: New Year's honours announced . Cook Islands news . 4 January 2014 . 22 August 2021.