Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament

The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament is the presiding officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. The manage the House in accordance with its Standing Orders and according to the traditions of the Westminster system.

Speaker of the
Cook Islands Parliament
Flag of the Cook Islands
Incumbent
Niki Rattle
since 22 May 2012
Inaugural holderMarguerite Story
Formation1965

The current Speaker is Niki Rattle.[1]

Election

The Speaker is elected by the House at the beginning of a parliamentary term according to the provisions of the Cook Islands Constitution and the Standing Orders. Unlike other Westminster systems the Speaker does not have to be a Member of Parliament, though they must be qualified to be one. By law they may not be a Cabinet Minister.[2]

The Constitution requires that Parliament elect the person nominated by the Prime Minister,[3] however the parliament's Standing Orders include a process for contested elections.[4]

Following their election the Speaker must present themselves to the Queen's Representative to swear an oath of allegiance and lay claim to the privileges of the House.[5]

The Speaker holds office until they cease to be an MP (or, in the case of a Speaker who is not an MP, cease to be qualified to be one), become a Minister, are removed by a vote of the House, or Parliament is dissolved.[6]

Deputy Speaker

The Speaker is assisted by a Deputy Speaker, elected by Parliament.[7] The current Deputy Speaker is Tai Tura.[8]

Holders of the office

Eight people have held the office of Speaker since the creation of Parliament.[9] A full list of Speakers is below.

Name Took Office Left Office Speaker's Party Governing Party
1Marguerite Story19651979UnknownCook Islands Party
2David Marama Hosking19791988UnknownMixed
3Raututi Taringa19891999UnknownCook Islands Party
4Ngereteina Puna19992001UnknownDemocratic Party
5Harmon Pou24 July 200124 July 2001UnknownDemocratic Party
6Sir Pupuke Robati24 July 200115 December 2004Democratic PartyDemocratic Party
7Norman George15 December 20042005UnelectedDemocratic Party
Norman George, continued20052006UnelectedCook Islands First Party
8Mapu Taia20062010Democratic PartyDemocratic Party
9Geoffrey Henry18 February 20119 May 2012Cook Islands PartyCook Islands Party
10Niki Rattle22 May 2012UnelectedCook Islands Party
Cook Islands
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
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References
  1. "Niki Rattle appointed Cook Islands Speaker of Parliament". Pacific Women in Politics. 2012-05-23. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  2. Constitution of the Cook Islands, s31 (2A).
  3. Constitution of the Cook Islands, s31 (2).
  4. Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, SO 9 and 10.
  5. Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, SO 11.
  6. Constitution of the Cook Islands, s32.
  7. Constitution of the Cook Islands, s33; Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, SO 13 - 17.
  8. Rashneel Kumar (9 April 2019). "Tura appointed deputy Speaker". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. "Former Members of the Cook Islands Parliament". Cook Islands Parliament. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
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