Tuakeu Tangatapoto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tuakeu Tangatapoto | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Cook Islands | |
| Assumed office 9 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Tai Tura |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Mitiaro | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Tangata Vavia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 February 1970 |
| Party | Cook Islands Party |
Tuakeu Tangatapoto (born 4 February 1970)[1] is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.
Tangatapoto is from Mangaia and was educated at Mitiaro School, Tereora College, and the University of the South Pacific.[1] He worked as a government builder, acting Island secretary for Mitiaro, and as chief executive of Mitiaro's island government.[1][2]
He contested the seat of Mitiaro in the 2014 election, and gained an exact tie with his rival Tangata Vavia.[3] The tie was confirmed by a recount, and a by-election called, but the count was delayed by a court order.[4] The court found that one person had voted illegally in the general election, and as a result Vavia was declared the winner and the by-election votes discarded without being counted.[5] Tangatapoto subsequently defeated Vavia in the 2018 election.
He was re-elected at the 2022 Cook Islands general election.[6] In February 2024, Tangatapoto was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament.[7][8]
