Tamaiva Tuavera

Tamaiva Tuavera
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament
for Ngatangiia
In office
9 July 2014 – 1 August 2022
Preceded byAtatoa Herman
Succeeded byTukaka Ama
Personal details
Born (1958-04-10) 10 April 1958 (age 66)
Matavera, Rarotonga
Political partyCook Islands Democratic Party

Tamaiva Tuavera (born 10 April 1958)[1] is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.

Tuavera was born in Matavera on Rarotonga.[2] He was educated at Tereora College and at Rutherford High School in Auckland.[2] He dropped out of school, and after working a variety of jobs joined the New Zealand Army in 1976 at the age of 17.[2] He served as a rifleman and instructor, and was posted in Singapore. After being medically discharged in 1991, he returned to Rarotonga, where he married and started a tourism business.[2]

Tuavera was first elected to Parliament in the 2014 Cook Islands general election. In 2015, he was appointed opposition spokesperson for Police, Marine Resources and Culture.[3] His re-election at the 2018 election was challenged on the basis of alleged bribery, but the electoral petition was unsuccessful.[4] In February 2020 he was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Police and Marine Resources.[5]

In 2017 he saved the lives of three children on holiday who were swept away while swimming.[6]

He lost his seat in the 2022 Cook Islands general election.[7]

References

  1. ^ parliamentci. "Mr Tama Tuavera". Parliament of the Cook Islands. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Alastair Blount (3 July 2020). "From top gunner to Muri Lagoon". Enjoy Cook Islands. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Party allocates 'shadow' portfolios". Cook Islands News. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ^ Rashneel Kumar (16 August 2018). "'Captain Tama' is a happy man". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ Melina Etches (19 February 2020). "Demos gunning for change". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Cooks MP saves three children from drowning". RNZ. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Winners are grinners: New MPs ready to serve". Cook Islands News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.


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