Geoffrey Henry
Sir Geoffrey Henry Queen's Representative | Sir Gaven Donne | |
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Sir Tom Davis | |
Succeeded by | Sir Tom Davis | |
Personal details | ||
Born | Geoffrey Arama Henry 16 November 1940 Aitutaki, Cook Islands | |
Died | 9 May 2012 Takuvaine, Rarotonga, Cook Islands | (aged 71)|
Political party | Cook Islands Party | |
Spouse | Lady Louisa Henry | |
Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington | |
Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry KBE (16 November 1940 – 9 May 2012) was a Cook Island politician who was twice the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was leader of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) from 1979 to 2006.
Early life
Henry was a native of Aitutaki. His father was the deacon of the Cook Islands Christian Church on the island. He was also first cousin to Albert Henry.[1] He received a law degree from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He was married to Lady Louisa Henry.
Political career
Henry initially entered parliament in the opposition party aged 24 because of the corruption and excesses of the governing Cook Islands Party led by his cousin Albert Henry. However, in 1972 he joined the CIP: "family pressure was unbearable, and he could not personally tolerate being ostracised by the family again".[2] Despite distrust from Albert Henry's powerful wife Elizabeth, his talent in a mediocre party meant he became finance minister.[3]
Henry became leader of the CIP in 1979 after his cousin Albert Henry was forced to resign. Geoffrey Henry's first tenure as Prime Minister was from 13 April 1983 to 16 November 1983. From 1983 to 1989 he was the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of the Cook Islands. Henry's second tenure as Prime Minister began on 1 February 1989 and ended on 29 July 1999, when he resigned rather than face the break-up of the CIP due to party dissidents who opposed his leadership.[4] Joe Williams replaced Henry as Prime Minister, but Henry remained as leader of the CIP.
In November 2004, Henry became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in a coalition government led by Robert Woonton.[5] Henry continued in this position until 2006, when he retired from politics and as leader of the CIP.[6] Henry Puna succeeded Henry as leader of the CIP.
Honours and awards
In 1977, Henry was awarded the
Post-political career
On 16 April 2009, Henry was elected to a four-year term as president of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee.[8] The Sir Geoffrey Henry National Culture Centre in Avarua is named in Henry's honour.
On 18 February 2011 he was elected Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament.[9]
On 9 May 2012, Henry died at the age of 71 at his home in Takuvaine, Rarotonga. In the days preceding his death he had been receiving treatment for cancer.[10]
2010 Air New Zealand "terrorist" incident
In August 2010, Henry was removed from an
Notes
- ^ The Christian Science Monitor, 7 January 1982 – Politics under the palms. For the tiny Cook Islands, scandals in miniature By Stewart McBride
- ^ Ron Crocombe, "Nepotism" in Cook Islands Politics: The Inside Story (Auckland: Polynesian Press, 1979) p. 30 at p. 33.
- The Dominion Post [Wellington], 19 May 2012, p. C6.
- ^ "Cook Island PM resigns". The New Zealand Herald. 30 July 1999. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ "Sir Geoffrey sworn in as deputy prime minister" Archived 1 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Cook Islands Government Press Release, 16 November 2004.
- Radio New Zealand International. 3 August 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "Sir Geoffrey new CISNOC head" Archived 15 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Cook Islands News 22 April 2009.
- ^ "Sir Geoffrey back in parliament". Cook Islands News. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ "Ex-Cook Islands PM dies", Yahoo! News New Zealand, 10 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Former Cook Islands PM in terror alert". Radio New Zealand. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ a b c Nerys Case, "No terrorist", Cook Islands News, 1 September 2010.