Queen's Representative

The Queen's Representative is the formal title given to the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of New Zealand, in the Cook Islands. The office of Queen's Representative is established by the Constitution of the Cook Islands. They are appointed by the Queen for a term of three years, and may be reappointed.[1]

Queen's Representative to the Cook Islands
Coat of Arms of the Cook Islands
Flag of the Queen's Representative
Incumbent
Sir Tom Marsters

since 27 July 2013
Viceroy
SeatAvarua
NominatorPrime Minister of the Cook Islands
AppointerMonarch of New Zealand
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term length3 years
renewable
PrecursorHigh Commissioner of the Cook Islands
Formation1982
First holderGaven Donne

The Queen's Representative fills the role normally filled by a governor-general in the Westminster system of a Commonwealth realm, being both a representative of the monarch and the titular head of executive government. They appoint the Prime Minister and Cabinet[2] and chair the Cook Islands Executive Council.[3] In performing their duties, they must act on advice.[4]

Originally these duties were performed by the High Commissioner of New Zealand to the Cook Islands, but in 1982 these powers were repatriated.[5] The Governor-General of New Zealand still represents the Queen in matters pertaining to the entire Realm.[6][7]

List of queen's representatives

Portrait Name Term of Office Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office Length of Office
1 Sir Gaven Donne 1982 18 September 1984 2 years, 258 days Elizabeth II Tom Davis
Geoffrey Henry
Tom Davis
- Sir Graham Speight
Acting Queen's Representative
18 September 1984 19 December 1984 93 days
2 Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa 19 December 1984 19 December 1990 6 years, 1 day
Pupuke Robati
Goeffrey Henry
3 Sir Apenera Pera Short 19 December 1990 14 November 2000 9 years, 327 days
Joe Williams
Terepai Maoate
- Lawrence Greig
Acting Queen's Representative
14 November 2000 9 February 2001 88 days
4 Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin 9 February 2001 27 July 2013 12 years, 169 days
Robert Woonton
Jim Marurai
Henry Puna
5 Sir Tom Marsters 27 July 2013 Incumbent 7 years, 197 days
Mark Brown

See also

References

  1. "Constitution of the Cook Islands". PACLII. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. Constitution of the Cook Islands, section 13.
  3. Constitution of the Cook Islands, section 25.
  4. Constitution of the Cook Islands, section 5.
  5. "Constitution Amendment (No 10) Act 1981-82". PACLII. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  6. "Government of the Cook Islands". Jarvy Web. 11 October 2014.
  7. Townend, Andrew (2003). "The strange death of the Realm of New Zealand: The implications of a New Zealand republic for the Cook Islands and Niue" (PDF). Victoria University of Wellington Law Review. 34 (3): 571–607. Retrieved 26 August 2016.


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