Teariki Heather
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Teariki Heather | |
|---|---|
| 14th Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| In office 11 December 2013 – 14 June 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Henry Puna |
| Preceded by | Tom Marsters |
| Succeeded by | Mark Brown |
| Minister of Police | |
| In office 17 April 2012 – 14 June 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Puna |
| Succeeded by | Vaine Mokoroa |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 3 November 2013 – 15 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Puna |
| Succeeded by | Nandi Glassie |
| Minister of Infrastructure & Planning | |
| In office 3 December 2010 – 14 June 2018 | |
| Preceded by | William (Smiley) Heather |
| Succeeded by | Robert Tapaitau |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Murienua | |
| Assumed office 1 August 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Arioka |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Akaoa | |
| In office 7 September 2004 – 14 June 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Teremoana Tapi Taio |
| Succeeded by | Nooroa o Teariki Baker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1959 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.
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]