Selina Napa

Selina Napa MBE
Selina Napa in 2016
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Titikaveka
In office 21 June 2012 – 1 August 2022
Preceded by	Robert Wigmore
Succeeded by	Sonny Williams
Personal details
Born	17 October 1964
Political party	Cook Islands Democratic Party

Selina Matenga-Napa MBE (born 17 October 1964)[1] is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. She is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party. She is the daughter of former MP Dr Teariki Matenga.[2]

Early life and sporting career

Napa was born on Mangaia and educated at Titikaveka School and Tereora College.[1] She has a long involvement in Netball, playing at a village level as a child before being part of the Cook Islands national netball team at the 1981 South Pacific Mini Games.[3] She played for the Cook Islands throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including at the 1987 World Netball Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and the 1989 World Games in Germany.[3] Eventually she rose to be team captain.[3] She later played for and coached the Titikaveka Pearls,[4] and was part of the selection panel for the Cook Islands women's national cricket team.[5]

Political career

Napa worked for the Business Trade and Investment board, and then as campaign manager for Titikaveka MP Robert Wigmore for four election campaigns.[6] She was later an administrator and spokesperson for the Democratic Party.[7] Following Wigmore's death she was elected to Parliament in the 2012 Titikaveka by-election, which was also contested by her brother.[8][9] In April 2013 she attended the inaugural Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Wellington, New Zealand.[10]

Napa was re-elected in the 2014 election. In 2015, she was appointed opposition spokesperson for Environment, Telecommunications, Tourism, and Youth and Sport.[11] In 2016, she was part of the Cook Islands' delegation to the second Pacific Parliamentary Forum.[12] She was re-elected again at the 2018 election. In December 2019 she was part of a protest by women MPs to permit the wearing of ei katu (floral crowns) in Parliament.[13] In February 2020 she was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Health, Environment, Justice, and the Trade and Investment Board.[14]

She lost her seat in the 2022 Cook Islands general election.[15]

Honours

Napa was awarded an MBE for services to sport, youth and the community in the 2007 New Year Honours.[16]

References

1. "Selina NAPA, MBE". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
2. Eric Parnis (9 May 2012). "Selina sets sights". Cook Islands News. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
3. "Captain's Call: Selina Napa". Cook Islands Women in Sport 20/20. Cook Islands Sports National Olympic Commission. 24 May 2020. pp. 35–38. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
4. "Titikaveka Pearls too good for competition". Cook Islands News. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
5. "Big guns to pick new national team". Cook Islands News. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
6. "Sel's good at attack and defence". Cook Islands News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
7. "Opposition name shadow cabinet". Cook Islands News. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
8. "Brother versus sister in Titikaveka". Cook Islands News. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
9. "Selina Napa wins Cooks by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
10. "Cook Islanders speak in NZ House". Cook Islands News. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
11. "Party allocates 'shadow' portfolios". Cook Islands News. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
12. "MPs represent country in NZ". Cook Islands News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
13. "Positively blooming in parliament". Cook Islands News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
14. Melina Etches (19 February 2020). "Demos gunning for change". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
15. "Winners are grinners: New MPs ready to serve". Cook Islands News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
16. "The newly knighted Terepai Maoate credits family and friends for his honour". RNZ. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2020.