Raui Pokoati

Papa Raui Pokoati (1911 – 25 March 1981) was a Cook Islands politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly for his home island of Mitiaro between 1965 and 1978.

Raui Pokoati
Member of the Legislative Assembly
In office
1965–1978
Preceded byTiki Tetava Ariki
Succeeded byDavid Tetava
ConstituencyMitiaro
Personal details
Born1911
Mitiaro, Cook Islands
Died25 March 1981 (aged 69)
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Political partyCook Islands Party

Biography

Pokoati was born on Mitiaro in 1911,[1] the son of one of the island's three Ariki.[2] He attended the local London Missionary Society school and went on to become a poultry farmer, planter and a pastor for the Cook Islands Christian Church. He was employed by the Department of Agriculture.[1][2]

In 1964 Pokoati was a founder member of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) and part of its central committee.[2] Although he had lived on Rarotonga for several years,[2] he was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Mitiaro in 1965, defeating his cousin Titi Tetava Ariki.[2] In mid-1966 he was appointed Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development.[2] He was re-elected unopposed in 1968 and 1972.

Pokoati was re-elected again in 1974, but prior to the 1978 elections he left the CIP,[3] establishing the Unity Party.[4] He lost the election to David Tetava of the CIP. When Tetava's victory was annulled, Titi Tetava Ariki was elected.[1]

In 1977, Pokoati was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[5]

He died in March 1981 in Rarotonga hospital at the age of 69, survived by his wife and nine children.[1]

References

  1. Papa Raui Pokoati Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1971, p98
  2. David J. Stone Self rule in the Cook Islands: The government and politics of a new micro-state
  3. Cook Islands' election stakes Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1978, p32
  4. Michael T. Tavoni (1979). "The Unity Movement". In Davis, Thomas R. A. H.; Crocombe, R. G. (eds.). Cook Islands Politics: The Inside Story. Auckland: Polynesian Press. pp. 76–84. ISBN 0-908597-002.
  5. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). "Recipients of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: nominal roll of New Zealand recipients including Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau". Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 432. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
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