Robert Wigmore Explained

Order:12th
Office:Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Primeminister:Jim Marurai
Term Start:23 December 2009
Term End:30 November 2010
Predecessor:Terepai Maoate
Successor:Tom Marsters
Office2:Minister of Foreign Affairs
Term Start2:23 December 2009
Term End2:30 November 2010
Predecessor2:Jim Marurai
Successor2:Tom Marsters
Office3:Minister of Agriculture
Term Start3:31 July 2009
Term End3:30 November 2010
Predecessor3:Ngamau Munokoa
Successor3:Nandi Glassie
Term Start4:16 November 2002
Term End4:7 September 2004
Office5:Minister of Tourism
Term Start5:31 July 2009
Term End5:30 November 2010
Predecessor5:Wilkie Rasmussen
Successor5:Teina Bishop
Constituency Mp10:Titikaveka
Parliament10:Cook Islands
Term Start10:7 February 2007
Term End10:13 April 2012
Predecessor10:Tekaotiki Matapo
Successor10:Selina Napa
Term Start11:16 June 1999
Term End11:7 September 2004
Predecessor11:Tekaotiki Matapo
Successor11:Tekaotiki Matapo
Birth Date:8 September 1949
Birth Place:Rarotonga
Party:Cook Islands Democratic Party

Robert George Wigmore (8 September 1949 – 13 April 2012) was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party from 2010 – 2012, and Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2009 to 2010. He served as a Minister in the Cabinets of Robert Woonton and Jim Marurai.

Early life

Wigmore was born on Rarotonga.[1] He was educated in Titikaveka, and worked as a farmer, running Wigmore Farms and the Wigmore Superstore, the largest supplier of supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables in the Cook Islands. He served as president of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, and in 1985 he was elected President of the Cook Islands Producers Federation.

Political career

Wigmore was first elected to Parliament as a Democratic Party candidate for the seat of Titikaveka at the 1999 election. He served as an under-secretary to Prime Minister Robert Woonton before being appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture in November 2002.[2] At the 2004 election he apparently won his seat on the night, but the result was overturned three months later by an electoral petition.[3] In the intervening period there was a leadership dispute within the Democratic party, in which Wigmore remained neutral.[4]

In 2005, in a further ruling on the 2004 electoral petition, the Cook Islands Court of Appeal upheld a High Court finding that Wigmore had bribed piggery owners in his electorate in an effort to gain their vote.[5] [6]

At the 2006 election, Wigmore's election in the seat of Titikaveka was declared invalid by an electoral petition. He was re-elected in a by-election on 7 February 2007.[7]

Wigmore rejoined the Cabinet in July 2009, replacing former Tourism Minister Wilkie Rasmussen who had been sacked for disloyalty.[8] [9] On 23 December 2009, Wigmore was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, replacing former Prime Minister and Democratic Party leader Terepai Maoate.[10] He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic party,[11] but a party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him party leader, with Rasmussen as his deputy.[12] He served as Foreign Minister and Minister of Agriculture until the 2010 election.[13]

Wigmore was re-elected at the 2010 election. In December 2011 he took a leave of absence from Parliament to allow him to be treated for prostate cancer in New Zealand.[14] He died on 13 April 2012.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robert Wigmore . Cook Islands Parliament . 24 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090326003632/http://www.parliament.gov.ck/members/wigmore.html . 26 March 2009.
  2. Web site: New minister joins Cook Islands cabinet . RNZ . 16 November 2002 . 19 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka . RNZ . 11 December 2004 . 19 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Cook Islands minister remains neutral for time being . RNZ . 19 November 2004 . 19 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Wigmore v Matapo (2005) CKCA 1; CA 14.2004 . 19 August 2005 . 24 December 2009.
  6. Web site: Cooks PM, ex-PM and cabinet minister implicated in bribery complaint . RNZ . 9 November 2005 . 19 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Tomorrow set down for final count from Cook Islands by-election . RNZ . 9 February 2007 . 19 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120516055708/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=30023 . 16 May 2012 . live .
  8. Web site: Sacked Cook Islands Foreign Minister has no regrets . RNZ . 31 July 2009 . 19 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Ministers & their portfolios . Cook Islands News . 31 July 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090811052343/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2009/August/Wed05/local.htm#6 . 11 August 2009.
  10. Web site: Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout . RNZ . 24 December 2009 . 19 July 2020.
  11. Web site: Cooks Democratic Party expels four members still in government . RNZ . 8 April 2010 . 19 July 2020.
  12. Web site: New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party . RNZ . 4 June 2010 . 19 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Ministerial portfolio allocations (as of January 5) . Cook Islands News . 6 January 2010 . 8 January 2010.
  14. Web site: Wigmore on medical leave until March . Cook Islands News . 8 December 2011 . 1 July 2012.
  15. Web site: 'Man of wisdom' honoured . Cook Islands News . 4 April 2012 . 9 March 2021.