Jim Marurai
Encyclopedia
Jim Marurai is a Cook Islands
politician and former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
and Napier Boys High school in New Zealand
. He later studied at the University of Otago
in Denedin, New Zealand.
Marurai's wife, Tuaine Marurai, died on 14 September 2005 in Auckland, New Zealand at the age of 56 after suffering from cancer. She was buried on her home island of Mangaia
.
and Joe Williams
. Following the election of a Democratic Party 1999 election
he served in the Cabinet of Terepai Maoate
. Following Maoate's ousting in February 2002 he continued to serve as a Minister under Robert Woonton
.
. Due to internal disputes, he left the Democrats in 2005 to form the Cook Islands First Party
, governing in coalition with the Cook Islands Party
. This agreement later broke down, and he formed a new coalition with the Democrats. He returned to the Democrats before the 2006 elections, remaining Prime Minister but not becoming party leader.
In May 2006, Marurai had a private audience and courtesy call with Emperor
Akihito
of Japan
at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Marurai visit was part of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 2006), which was held in Okinawa on 26-27 May 2006.
On 23 December 2009, Marurai sacked his Deputy Prime Minister, Terepai Maoate
, sparking a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party.
In January 2010, facing the prospect of a vote of no confidence supported by a majority of Members of Parliament
, Marurai announced that he would not be "calling parliament for at least several months". He said that no parliamentary sitting was needed until it became necessary to vote the budget
, the deadline for which was 1 July. Both major political parties – the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party
- jointly asked the Queen's Representative
to recall Parliament, but the latter is constitutionally prevented from acting except on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Marurai was readmitted to the Democratic party at a party conference in June 2010. He subsequently announced that he would not continue as Prime Minister if the Democratic Party won the 2010 election
. Marurai was re-elected to his Ivirua seat in the 2010 elections, but his party was ousted. He resigned as Prime Minister on 29 November 2010, and continues to serve as a backbench MP.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
politician and former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands is the official rsponsible for heading Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's government in the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The office was established in 1965, when self-government was first granted to the islands...
. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
The Democratic Party is a liberal political party in the Cook Islands. It is currently the Opposition party in the Cook Islands Parliament.-Early years:...
.
Personal life
Marurai was born in Mangaia. He attended Ivirua and Oneroa Primary school and then Tereora College on RarotongaRarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
and Napier Boys High school in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He later studied at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in Denedin, New Zealand.
Marurai's wife, Tuaine Marurai, died on 14 September 2005 in Auckland, New Zealand at the age of 56 after suffering from cancer. She was buried on her home island of Mangaia
Mangaia
Mangaia is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga.-Geography:...
.
Political career
Marurai was first elected to Parliament in a by-election in 1994. He served as an opposition backbencher until June 1999, when he was appointed to the coalition Cabinets of Geoffrey HenryGeoffrey Henry
Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry KBE is a Cook Island politician who was twice the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was leader of the Cook Islands Party from 1979 to 2006.-Early life:...
and Joe Williams
Joe Williams (Cook Islands)
Joe Williams, QSO, is a Cook Islands politician who served briefly as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands in 1999. Williams trained as a doctor, and has principally resided in Auckland, New Zealand....
. Following the election of a Democratic Party 1999 election
Cook Islands general election, 1999
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 16 June 1999 to elect 25 MPs to the Parliament. The Cook Islands Party won 11 seats, the Democratic Alliance Party 10 seats, and the New Alliance Party 4 seats....
he served in the Cabinet of Terepai Maoate
Terepai Maoate
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate, KBE was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party...
. Following Maoate's ousting in February 2002 he continued to serve as a Minister under Robert Woonton
Robert Woonton
Dr Robert Woonton was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 11 February 2002 until 11 December 2004, and is a member of the centrist Democratic Party. A medical doctor by training, he became a Member of Parliament for the island of Manihiki...
.
Prime Minister
Marurai was elected Prime Minister in December 2004 after Woonton resigned in the wake of the 2004 electionCook Islands general election, 2004
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004. Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin, but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed, delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December...
. Due to internal disputes, he left the Democrats in 2005 to form the Cook Islands First Party
Cook Islands First Party
The Cook Islands First Party was a political party in the Cook Islands. The party was originally a faction within the Cook Islands Democratic Party which supported Prime Minister Robert Woonton over Terepai Maoate...
, governing in coalition with the Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands Party
The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the Islands' politics since 1965....
. This agreement later broke down, and he formed a new coalition with the Democrats. He returned to the Democrats before the 2006 elections, remaining Prime Minister but not becoming party leader.
In May 2006, Marurai had a private audience and courtesy call with Emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
Akihito
Akihito
is the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Marurai visit was part of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 2006), which was held in Okinawa on 26-27 May 2006.
On 23 December 2009, Marurai sacked his Deputy Prime Minister, Terepai Maoate
Terepai Maoate
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate, KBE was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party...
, sparking a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party.
In January 2010, facing the prospect of a vote of no confidence supported by a majority of Members of Parliament
Parliament of the Cook Islands
The Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand colonial rule, it became the national legislature on independence in 1965....
, Marurai announced that he would not be "calling parliament for at least several months". He said that no parliamentary sitting was needed until it became necessary to vote the budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
, the deadline for which was 1 July. Both major political parties – the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands Party
The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the Islands' politics since 1965....
- jointly asked the Queen's Representative
Queen's Representative
The Queen's Representative is the formal title given to the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of New Zealand, in the Cook Islands....
to recall Parliament, but the latter is constitutionally prevented from acting except on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Marurai was readmitted to the Democratic party at a party conference in June 2010. He subsequently announced that he would not continue as Prime Minister if the Democratic Party won the 2010 election
Cook Islands general election, 2010
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats...
. Marurai was re-elected to his Ivirua seat in the 2010 elections, but his party was ousted. He resigned as Prime Minister on 29 November 2010, and continues to serve as a backbench MP.