Robert Wigmore

Robert George Wigmore (8 September 1949 – 13 April 2012) was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party from 2010 - 2012, and Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2009 - 2010. He served as a Minister in the Cabinets of Robert Woonton and Jim Marurai.

Robert Wigmore
12th Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office
23 December 2009 – 30 November 2010
Prime MinisterJim Marurai
Preceded byTerepai Maoate
Succeeded byTom Marsters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
23 December 2009 – 30 November 2010
Preceded byJim Marurai
Succeeded byTom Marsters
Minister of Agriculture
In office
31 July 2009 – 30 November 2010
Preceded byNgamau Munokoa
Succeeded byNandi Glassie
In office
16 November 2002 – 7 September 2004
Minister of Tourism
In office
31 July 2009 – 30 November 2010
Preceded byWilkie Rasmussen
Succeeded byTeina Bishop
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament
for Titikaveka
In office
7 February 2007 – 13 April 2012
Preceded byTekaotiki Matapo
Succeeded bySelina Napa
In office
16 June 1999 – 7 September 2004
Preceded byTekaotiki Matapo
Succeeded byTekaotiki Matapo
Personal details
Born8 September 1949
Rarotonga
Died13 April 2012(2012-04-13) (aged 62)
Political partyCook Islands Democratic Party

Early life

Wigmore was born on Rarotonga.[1] He was educated in Titikaveka, and worked as a farmer, running Wigmore Farms and the Wigmore Superstore, the largest supplier of supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables in the Cook Islands.[2] He served as president of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, and in 1985 he was elected President of the Cook Islands Producers Federation.[2] He

Political career

Wigmore was first elected to Parliament as a Democratic Party candidate for the seat of Titikaveka at the 1999 election. He served as an under-secretary to Prime Minister Robert Woonton before being appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture in November 2002.[3] At the 2004 election he apparently won his seat on the night, but the result was overturned three months later by an electoral petition.[4] In the intervening period there was a leadership dispute within the Democratic party, in which Wigmore remained neutral.[5]

In 2005, in a further ruling on the 2004 electoral petition, the Cook Islands Court of Appeal upheld a High Court finding that Wigmore had bribed piggery owners in his electorate in an effort to gain their vote.[6][7]

At the 2006 election, Wigmore's election in the seat of Titikaveka was declared invalid by an electoral petition. He was re-elected in a by-election on 7 February 2007.[8]

Wigmore rejoined the Cabinet in July 2009, replacing former Tourism Minister Wilkie Rasmussen who had been sacked for disloyalty.[9][10] On 23 December 2009, Wigmore was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, replacing former Prime Minister and Democratic Party leader Terepai Maoate.[11] He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic party,[12] but a party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him party leader, with Rasmussen as his deputy.[13] He served as Foreign Minister and Minister of Agriculture until the 2010 election.[14]

Wigmore was re-elected at the 2010 election. In December 2011 he took a leave of absence from Parliament to allow him to be treated for prostate cancer in New Zealand.[15] He died on 13 April 2012.[2]

References
  1. "Robert Wigmore". Cook Islands Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  2. "'Man of wisdom' honoured". Cook Islands News. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  3. "New minister joins Cook Islands cabinet". RNZ. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  4. "Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka". RNZ. 11 December 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  5. "Cook Islands minister remains neutral for time being". RNZ. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  6. "Wigmore v Matapo (2005) CKCA 1; CA 14.2004". 19 August 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  7. "Cooks PM, ex-PM and cabinet minister implicated in bribery complaint". RNZ. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. "Tomorrow set down for final count from Cook Islands by-election". RNZ. 9 February 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  9. "Sacked Cook Islands Foreign Minister has no regrets". RNZ. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  10. "Ministers & their portfolios". Cook Islands News. 31 July 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2009.
  11. "Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout". RNZ. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  12. "Cooks Democratic Party expels four members still in government". RNZ. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". RNZ. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  14. "Ministerial portfolio allocations (as of January 5)". Cook Islands News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  15. "Wigmore on medical leave until March". Cook Islands News. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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