Rei Jack Enoka Explained

Constituency Mp5:Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston
Parliament5:Cook Islands
Term Start5:19 January 1989
Term End5:24 March 1994
Successor5:Albert (Peto) Nicholas
Constituency Mp6:Te-au-o-Tonga
Parliament6:Cook Islands
Term Start6:30 March 1983
Term End6:2 November 1983
Predecessor6:Thomas Davis
Successor6:Thomas Davis
Party:Cook Islands Party
Birth Date:3 September 1939[1]
Birth Place:Ruatonga, Cook Islands

Moeroa o Rei Ki Kaikaveka Jack Enoka (3 September 1939 – 4 January 2023) was a Cook Islands politician and member of the Parliament of the Cook Islands.

Enoka was born in Ruatonga on the island of Rarotonga and educated at Avarua School.[1] He was active in the Cook Islands Boys Brigade as a band master, and as a boxer, and worked at the Government Printing office and as a storeowner.[1] In 1977, he was invested with the title of Uirangi Mataiapo.[1]

He stood for Parliament in the 1978 Cook Islands general election and was elected,[2] but the result was subsequently annulled after Prime Minister Albert Henry was found to have corruptly used public funds to fly in voters to influence the result.[3] He stood again in the March 1983 Cook Islands general election, when he defeated Thomas Davis in the electorate of Te-au-o-Tonga.[4] He lost his seat seven months later in the November 1983 Cook Islands general election. He was re-elected at the 1989 election in the seat of Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston, and was appointed Leader of the House.[1] He lost his seat again at the 1994 election. After leaving politics he became a farmer and grew flowers for churches and hotels. He also ran a guesthouse.[1]

He was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire for public services and services to the community in the 2016 Birthday Honours.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A leader, mentor and respected man with many talents: leaving a lasting legacy . Cook Islands News . 21 January 2023 . 28 January 2023.
  2. Book: Makiuti, Tongia . Micropolitics: The Tapere Level of Te Au O Tonga . Cook Islands Politics: The Inside Story . Davis . Thomas R. A. H. . Crocombe . Ron . Polynesian Press . 1979 .
  3. Hosking v Browne . 1978 . CKHC . 1 . High Court of the Cook Islands . 24 July 1978 . http://www.paclii.org/ck/cases/CKHC/1978/1.html . 28 January 2023 .
  4. News: Quiet election campaigning leads up to dramatic result . Pacific Islands Monthly . 54 . 5 . 15 . 28 January 2023 . National Library of Australia.