| Tamaiva Tuavera | |
| Constituency Mp5: | Ngatangiia |
| Parliament5: | Cook Islands |
| Term Start5: | 9 July 2014 |
| Term End5: | 1 August 2022 |
| Predecessor5: | Atatoa Herman |
| Successor5: | Tukaka Ama |
| Birth Date: | 10 April 1958 |
| Birth Place: | Matavera, Rarotonga |
| Party: | Cook Islands Democratic Party |
Tamaiva Tuavera (born 10 April 1958)[1] is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
Tuavera was born in Matavera on Rarotonga.[2] He was educated at Tereora College and at Rutherford High School in Auckland.[2] He dropped out of school, and after working a variety of jobs joined the New Zealand Army in 1976 at the age of 17.[2] He served as a rifleman and instructor, and was posted in Singapore. After being medically discharged in 1991, he returned to Rarotonga, where he married and started a tourism business.[2]
Tuavera was first elected to Parliament in the 2014 Cook Islands general election. In 2015, he was appointed opposition spokesperson for Police, Marine Resources and Culture.[3] His re-election at the 2018 election was challenged on the basis of alleged bribery, but the electoral petition was unsuccessful.[4] In February 2020 he was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Police and Marine Resources.[5]
In 2017 he saved the lives of three children on holiday who were swept away while swimming.[6]
He lost his seat in the 2022 Cook Islands general election.[7]