Hon.
Mapu Tangatatutai TAIA, OBE
-
Member for Mauke Island
Southern Cook Islands
Member of the DEMOCRATIC PARTY
DOB: 28th April 1939
POB: Mauke, Cook Islands
Parliamentary Services:
First elected as a Member of Parliament in the General Election of 1999. And re-elected at the General Election of 2004 and on 26th September 2006, Snap-General Election. Appointed Deputy-Speaker 1999-2005 and Speaker of Parliament on 13th December 2006.
Ministerial Appointments:
No Ministerial appointments.
Committee Service:
No Committee appointments.
Service Information:
- Teaching Services:
Primary School Teacher 1959-1962
School Principal Mitiaro School 1963-1971
Deputy & later Principal Mauke College 1972-1996
Retired from teaching in 1996 after 40 years of service (1956-1996) - Justice of the Peace 1994-1999
- Elected Member of Parliament for the first time on 16th June 1999
- 2008 Awarded by the Queen the medal - OBE (Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)
Visits, Conferences and Delegations:
- 2001 Speakers and Clerks Conference, Norfolk Island
- 2003 Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, Papua New Guinea
- 2004 Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, Tuvalu
- 2006 Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, Rarotonga
- 2006 CPA Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, Rarotonga
- 2007 PPAPD Conference, Apia, Samoa
Community Services:
Church: Hon. Taia is a strong Cook Islands Christian Church member and serves as a Deacon of the Oiretumu CICC church on Mauke since 1986.
Culture: Hon. Taia is a well known and respected "Tumu Korero" (historian & orator of Mauke); He holds the traditional title - 'Kakemaunga Mataiapo'
A strong supporter of all community activities of Mauke whether it be culture, church, sports or youth related.
Education:
Attended Mauke Primary School and continued post-primary schooling in Rarotonga at Avarua School and Nikao Maori School. Continued secondary school at Tereora College and in 1956 began teachers traininga at Nikao Teachers Trainning College.
Qualifications: Cook Islands Teachers Diploma 1958; Certificate in Small Business, USP 1990. Partial completion of Bachelor of Education and Law, USP.
Personal:
Married to Moeroa Maui (nee Low) from Aitutaki and they have eleven (11) children - 9 girls and 2 boys with 25 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.