Robert Wigmore
Robert Wigmore | |
|---|---|
| 12th Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| In office 23 December 2009 – 30 November 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Jim Marurai |
| Preceded by | Terepai Maoate |
| Succeeded by | Tom Marsters |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 23 December 2009 – 30 November 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Marurai |
| Succeeded by | Tom Marsters |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 31 July 2009 – 30 November 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Ngamau Munokoa |
| Succeeded by | Nandi Glassie |
| In office 16 November 2002 – 7 September 2004 | |
| Minister of Tourism | |
| In office 31 July 2009 – 30 November 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Wilkie Rasmussen |
| Succeeded by | Teina Bishop |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Titikaveka | |
| In office 7 February 2007 – 13 April 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Tekaotiki Matapo |
| Succeeded by | Selina Napa |
| In office 16 June 1999 – 7 September 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Tekaotiki Matapo |
| Succeeded by | Tekaotiki Matapo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 September 1949 Rarotonga |
| Died | 13 April 2012 (aged 62) |
| Political party | Cook Islands Democratic Party |
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.
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]
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
- ^ "Robert Wigmore". Cook Islands Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
- ^ a b c "'Man of wisdom' honoured". Cook Islands News. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "New minister joins Cook Islands cabinet". RNZ. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka". RNZ. 11 December 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Cook Islands minister remains neutral for time being". RNZ. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Wigmore v Matapo (2005) CKCA 1; CA 14.2004". 19 August 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
- ^ "Cooks PM, ex-PM and cabinet minister implicated in bribery complaint". RNZ. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Tomorrow set down for final count from Cook Islands by-election". RNZ. 9 February 2007. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Sacked Cook Islands Foreign Minister has no regrets". RNZ. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Ministers & their portfolios". Cook Islands News. 31 July 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2009.
- ^ "Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout". RNZ. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Cooks Democratic Party expels four members still in government". RNZ. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". RNZ. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Ministerial portfolio allocations (as of January 5)". Cook Islands News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ "Wigmore on medical leave until March". Cook Islands News. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2012.