Teariki Heather Explained

Order:14th
Office:Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Primeminister:Henry Puna
Term Start:11 December 2013
Term End:14 June 2018
Predecessor:Tom Marsters
Successor:Mark Brown
Office3:Minister of Police
Term Start3:17 April 2012
Term End3:14 June 2018
Predecessor3:Henry Puna
Successor3:Vaine Mokoroa
Office4:Minister of Justice
Term Start4:3 November 2013
Term End4:15 March 2015
Predecessor4:Henry Puna
Successor4:Nandi Glassie
Office8:Minister of Infrastructure & Planning
Term Start8:3 December 2010
Term End8:14 June 2018
Predecessor8:William (Smiley) Heather
Successor8:Robert Tapaitau
Constituency Mp11:Murienua
Parliament11:Cook Islands
Term Start11:1 August 2022
Predecessor11:Patrick Arioka
Constituency Mp12:Akaoa
Parliament12:Cook Islands
Term Start12:7 September 2004
Term End12:14 June 2018
Predecessor12:Teremoana Tapi Taio
Successor12:Nooroa o Teariki Baker
Birth Place:Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Party:Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands United Party

Teariki William Heather (born 30 July 1959) is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet minister who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2013 to 2018. Previously a member of the Cook Islands Party, he is now the leader of the Cook Islands United Party.

Early life

Heather was born on Rarotonga and educated at Arorangi Primary school and Tereora College.[1] He is the younger brother of Democratic Party MP William (Smiley) Heather.[2] He was a businessman before entering politics.[1]

Political career

In March 2003 Heather founded the Cook Islands National Party with the aim of securing political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term.[3] [4] The party launched a high-profile court case against MPs Norman George and Paora Teiti in an effort to have them unseated for performing consultancy work for the government, which was seen as making them public servants and thus ineligible to hold office,[5] but the case was unsuccessful.[6] Heather contested the 2003 Rua'au by-election as a National Party candidate, but was unsuccessful.[7] [8] He subsequently disbanded the party and joined the Cook Islands Party.[9]

In the 2004 elections Heather entered Parliament after winning the seat of Akaoa.[10] The 2006 election produced a tie in the seat, forcing a by-election which Heather won.[11]

Cabinet

At the 2010 election Heather was re-elected and was one of four candidates for the post of Deputy Prime Minister.[12] He did not gain that position, but was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Infrastructure & Planning.[13] [14] Shortly after his appointment he was warned by the Public Service Commissioner about attempting to privately employ a new Head of Ministry in violation of the Public Service Act.[15] In April 2012 he was appointed Minister of Police.[16] Shortly afterwards he was accused of corruption over the allocation of government contracts to his family business.[17] Later that year he suggested amending the law to allow parents to smack their children.[18] A Cabinet reshuffle in November 2013 saw him pick up the Justice portfolio.[19] In December 2013 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Tom Marsters.[20]

Heather was re-elected at the 2014 election.[21] A further Cabinet reshuffle in March 2015 saw him yield the Justice portfolio to Nandi Glassie.[22]

In February 2016 news emerged that Heather was being investigated for corruption by the Financial Intelligence Unit.[23] Prime Minister Henry Puna refused to suspend him.[24]

Heather was not re-elected at the 2018 election, losing to Nooroa o Teariki Baker.[25] [26]

United party

Following his election loss Heather founded the Cook Islands United Party with former MP Nandi Glassie.[27] He subsequently contested the 2019 Ivirua by-election but was unsuccessful.[28] In the 2022 election he contested the seat of Murienua, promising that it would be his last term in parliament if elected.[29] He was elected along with two other United party MP's.[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mr. Teariki HEATHER . Parliament of the Cook Islands . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120220103240/http://www.parliament.gov.ck/members/heather1.html . 20 February 2012.
  2. Web site: Enough Heathers . Cook islands News . 5 March 2010 . 13 March 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707010413/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/March/Wed10/local.htm#1003050105 . 7 July 2011.
  3. Jonassen . Jon Tikivanotau M . Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events: Cook Islands . The Contemporary Pacific . 16 . 2004 . 146–153 . 10.1353/cp.2004.0014.
  4. Web site: New political party formed in Cook Islands . RNZ . 28 March 2003 . 7 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Cook Islands National Party to seek declaratory judgment against two MPs . RNZ . 15 July 2003 . 7 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Cook Islands court clears MP Norman George of double-dipping allegation . RNZ . 19 January 2004 . 7 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Cooks voters go to polls in Rarotonga by-election . Radio New Zealand International . 15 August 2003 . 7 July 2020.
  8. Web site: Geoffrey Heather wins Cook Islands by-election . RNZ . 18 August 2003 . 7 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Cook Islands MP and party joins forces with main opposition party . RNZ . 12 February 2004 . 7 July 2020.
  10. Web site: Cook Islands election results could lead to a hung parliament . RNZ . 8 September 2004 . 7 July 2020.
  11. Web site: Cook Islands Party wins Akaoa . Radio New Zealand International . 30 November 2006 . 7 July 2020.
  12. Web site: Race begins for position of Cook Islands Deputy PM . RNZ . 21 November 2010 . 7 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Cooks PM announces cabinet line up . RNZ . 3 December 2010 . 7 July 2020.
  14. Web site: Who's who in Cabinet . Cook Islands Government . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110113031353/http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/cabinet.php . 13 January 2011 .
  15. Web site: Cooks politicians reprimanded for not following proper employment process . RNZ . 10 February 2011 . 7 July 2020.
  16. Web site: COOK ISLANDS CABINET SHUFFLES POLICE PORTFOLIO . Pacific Islands Report . 4 April 2012 . 9 October 2020.
  17. Web site: Cook Islands opposition accuses minister of giving family business contracts . RNZ . 4 May 2012 . 7 July 2020.
  18. Web site: Cook Islands minister suggests law change to allow smacking . RNZ . 15 June 2012 . 7 July 2020.
  19. Web site: Long awaited cabinet shuffle announced . Cook Islands News . 3 November 2013 . 7 July 2020.
  20. Web site: Cooks PM Puna chooses Heather as his deputy . RNZ . 13 December 2013 . 7 July 2020.
  21. Web site: Cook Islands Party wins absolute majority . RNZ . 19 July 2014 . 7 July 2020.
  22. Web site: Defecting Cook Islands MP given cabinet post . RNZ . 26 March 2015 . 7 July 2020.
  23. Web site: Cooks Minister being investigated for corruption . RNZ . 9 February 2016 . 7 July 2020.
  24. Web site: Cooks PM won't suspend his deputy . RNZ . 11 February 2016 . 7 July 2020.
  25. Web site: Preliminary Results from Votes Counted 14-06-2018 . Cook Islands Ministry of Justice . 14 June 2018 . 18 June 2018.
  26. Web site: Two ministers go in early Cooks results . RNZ . 15 June 2018 . 7 July 2020.
  27. Web site: Cook Islands political party claims demand for change . RNZ . 29 November 2018 . 7 July 2020.
  28. Web site: Cook Islands Democratic Party looks to have secured Ivirua seat . RNZ . 23 January 2018 . 7 July 2020.
  29. Web site: 'Last term' for United Party leader . Cook Islands News . Caleb Fotheringham . 18 July 2022 . 19 July 2022.
  30. Web site: WARRANT DECLARING THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES AND THE NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED BY EACH CANDIDATE . Cook Islands Gazette . 11 August 2022 . 13 August 2022.

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