Norman George
{{Short description|Cook Islands politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|caption =
|office = 7th Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament
|monarch = Elizabeth II
|1blankname = Representative
|1namedata = Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin
|primeminister = Jim Marurai
|term_start = 15 December 2004
|term_end = 2006
|predecessor = Pupuke Robati
|successor = Mapu Taia
|order2 = 8th
|office2 = Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
|term_start2 = 1 December 1999
|term_end2 = 30 July 2001
|1blankname2 = Representative
|1namedata2 = Sir Apenera Short
Laurence Greig {{small|(Acting)}}
|primeminister2 = Terepai Maoate
|predecessor2 = Tupou Faireka
|successor2 = Robert Woonton
|primeminister3 = Geoffrey Henry
Joe Williams
|1blankname3 = Representative
|1namedata3 = Sir Apenera Short
|term_start3 = 29 June 1999
|term_end3 = 15 October 1999
|predecessor3 = Inatio Akaruru
|successor3 = Tupou Faireka
|office4 = Minister of Foreign Affairs
|primeminister4 = Tom Davis
Pupuke Robati
|term_start4 = 1984
|term_end4 = 1989
|predecessor4 =
|successor4 = Inatio Akaruru
|office5 =
|term_start5 =
|term_end5 =
|primeminister5 =
|predecessor5 =
|successor5 =
|office8 =
|term_start8 =
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|office10 =
|term_start10 =
|term_end10 =
|primeminister10 =
|predecessor10 =
|successor10 =
|constituency_MP12 = Teenui–Mapumai
|parliament12 = Cook Islands
|term_start12 = 8 June 2006
|term_end12 = 9 July 2014
|predecessor12 = Upokomaki Simpson
|successor12 = Rose Toki-Brown
|majority12 =
|constituency_MP13 = Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua
|parliament13 = Cook Islands
|term_start13 = 30 March 1983
|term_end13 = 7 September 2004
|predecessor13 =
|successor13 = Eugene Tatuava
|constituency_MP14 =
|parliament14 =
|term_start14 =
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|birth_date = {{Birthdate and age|1946|7|2|df=y}}
|birth_place = Atiu, Cook Islands
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Cook Islands Democratic Party
New Alliance Party
Cook Islands Party
|alma_mater =
|website =
}}
Norman George (born 2 July 1946) is a Cook Islands politician and former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, and Cabinet Minister.
George was first elected to the Parliament of the Cook Islands in 1983. He represented the electorate of Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua for 21 years. Repeated conflicts over leadership and cabinet posts saw him quit, found, and rejoin parties, moving from the Cook Islands Democratic Party to the Alliance and back, then to the New Alliance Party before returning to the Democrats. After losing his seat in the 2004 election and serving as Speaker, he represented the seat of Teenui–Mapumai for eight years, initially as an independent, then as a member of the Cook Islands Party, then as an independent again.
George lost his seat at the 2014 Cook Islands general election.
Early life
George was born in Atiu in the Cook Islands. He worked as a police officer, first for the Cook Islands Police Service and then for the New Zealand Police.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.gov.ck/members/george.html |title=Norman George |publisher=Cook Islands Parliament |accessdate=27 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001065950/http://www.parliament.gov.ck/members/george.html |archive-date=1 October 2010 |url-status=dead }} In 1977 he won an apology and a settlement for damages and costs from then-Broadcasting Minister Tupui Henry over allegations that he and another man were "agitators" and "disturbing elements in a public place".{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334870032/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338777257&partId=nla.obj-334877677#page/n26/mode/1up |title='Sorry, sergeant', says the minister |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=48 |issue=1 |date=1 January 1977 |page=27 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}} In 1979 he was appointed as the Cook Islands' first Consul-General to New Zealand.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-337747313/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341082665&partId=nla.obj-337787409#page/n49/mode/1up |title=People |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=50 |issue=5 |page=50 |date=1 May 1979 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}} He returned to Rarotonga in 1982 where he worked as a lawyer.
Democrats and Alliance
George was first elected to the Cook Islands Parliament in the March 1983 Cook Islands general election as a candidate for the Cook Islands Democratic Party. An electoral petition against his election was unsuccessful.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339780000/view?sectionId=nla.obj-356469241&partId=nla.obj-339802539#page/n13/mode/1up |title=Tangled tale of electoral petitions in the Cooks |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=54 |issue=8 |page=14 |date=1 August 1983 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}} Following the victory of Tom Davis in the November 1983 election he was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Corrective Services, and the Crown Law Office.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339553190/view?sectionId=nla.obj-342404961&partId=nla.obj-339611638#page/n60/mode/1up |title="Strongest" cabinet in the Cooks |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=55 |issue=10 |date=1 October 1984 |page=61 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}} He later organised the toppling of Davis and his replacement by Pupuke Robati.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-338140957/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341627585&partId=nla.obj-338170284#page/n37/mode/1up |title=Exit Sir Tom... |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=58 |issue=9 |page=37 |date=1 September 1987 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}
In 1991 George contested the Democratic Party leadership, losing by a single vote to Terepai Maoate.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-341338102/view?sectionId=nla.obj-345427361&partId=nla.obj-341350416#page/n16/mode/1up |title=Bad Boy George |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=63 |issue=3 |page=17-19 |date=1 March 1993 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}} A subsequent dispute over spending saw him removed as party whip and then expelled from the party. He established the Alliance Party, which subsequently won two seats in the 1994 elections. The Alliance rejoined the Democrats, but a further struggle over the leadership between George and Terepai Maoate saw George split off again in 1997 to form the New Alliance Party. At the 1999 elections the party won four seats.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-346164529/view?partId=nla.obj-346194926#page/n49/mode/1up |title=Cook Islands king maker crows |author=Florence Syme-Buchanan |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=69 |issue=7 |page=50-51 |date=1 July 1999 |accessdate=24 July 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}} George announced that he was forming a coalition with Prime Minister Geoffrey Henry, and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/06/30/sir-geoffrey-henry-remains-cooks-islands-prime-minister-new-cabinet-ministers |title=SIR GEOFFREY HENRY REMAINS COOKS ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER, NEW CABINET MINISTERS |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=30 June 1999 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} He retained the position when Henry resigned in favour of Joe Williams,{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/08/11/cook-islands-ministerial-portfolios |title=COOK ISLANDS MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=6 August 1999 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} but was sacked in October 1999 after he defected to the opposition.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/10/15/cook-islands-opposition-waiting-introduce-no-confidence-motion |title=COOK ISLANDS OPPOSITION WAITING TO INTRODUCE NO CONFIDENCE MOTION IN |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=15 October 1999 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} He subsequently supported Terepai Maoate as Prime Minister and was reappointed as Deputy Prime Minister.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/11/18/new-cook-islands-government-takes-office |title=NEW COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT TAKES OFFICE |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=18 November 1999 |accessdate=24 July 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1999/12/02/government-cook-islands |title=Portfolio Allocations |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=1 December 1999 |accessdate=30 June 2020}}
As Deputy Prime Minister, George made controversial statements that businessmen were involved in drug-smuggling,{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2000/01/31/cook-islands-government-responds-drug-claims |title=COOK ISLAND'S GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO DRUG CLAIMS |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=31 January 2000 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} proposed removing customary land-rights from expatriate Cook Islanders,{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2000/03/10/acting-cook-islands-pm-george-suggests-land-rights-change |title=ACTING COOK ISLANDS PM GEORGE SUGGESTS LAND RIGHTS CHANGE |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=10 March 2000 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} and demanded that newspapers be licensed.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/04/23/cook-islands-deputy-pm-george-calls-newspaper-licensing |title=COOK ISLANDS DEPUTY PM GEORGE CALLS FOR NEWSPAPER LICENSING |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=23 April 2001 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} He was sacked by Maoate in July 2001 following disagreements over the budget and portfolio allocations.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/07/30/norman-george-sacked-cook-islands-deputy-prime-minister |title=NORMAN GEORGE SACKED AS COOK ISLANDS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=30 July 2001 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} Initially the coalition remained intact,{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/08/10/cook-islands-coalition-government-still-intact |title=COOK ISLANDS COALITION GOVERNMENT IS STILL INTACT |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=10 August 2001 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} but by December 2001 George reportedly planned to put forward a motion of no confidence in Maoate.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/12/07/cook-islands-faces-coalition-crisis |title=COOK ISLANDS FACES COALITION CRISIS |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=7 December 2001 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} In February 2002 he supported Maoate's ousting by Robert Woonton, and was appointed to Woonton's Cabinet.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/02/13/cook-islands-government-falls |title=COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT FALLS |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=13 February 2002 |accessdate=30 June 2020}} While Geoffrey Henry became Deputy Prime Minister, George was rewarded with a long list of Ministerial portfolios, including Justice, Attorney-General, Energy, Environment, and Outer Islands Development.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/02/18/cook-islands-prime-minister-woonton%E2%80%99s-and-norman-george%E2%80%99s-long-portfolio |title=COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER WOONTON'S AND NORMAN GEORGE'S LONG PORTFOLIO |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=18 February 2002 |accessdate=24 July 2020}}
The New Alliance Party subsequently merged with the Democratic Alliance Party,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/139381/cook-islands-prime-minister%27s-party-merges-with-new-alliance |title=Cook Islands prime minister's party merges with New Alliance |publisher=RNZ |date=10 May 2002 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} but George was sacked from Cabinet again in November 2002.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/141639/cook-islands-justice-minister-sacked-from-cabinet |title=Cook Islands justice minister sacked from cabinet |publisher=RNZ |date=8 November 2002 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} A series of scandals over conflicts of interest,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/146154/cooks-mp-norman-george-not-concerned-about-conflict-of-interest-claims |title=Cooks MP Norman George not concerned about conflict of interest claims |publisher=RNZ |date=11 November 2003 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} the apparent sale of a residency permit to New Zealand developer Mark Lyon,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/146572/cook-islands-mp-defends-lyon-permit-decision |title=Cook Islands MP defends Lyon permit decision |publisher=RNZ |date=12 December 2003 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} and a court case over "double dipping"{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/146969/cook-islands-court-clears-mp-norman-george-of-double-dipping-allegation |title=Cook Islands court clears MP Norman George of double-dipping allegation |publisher=RNZ |date=19 January 2004 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} saw George decline in popularity. When the Democratic Party did not select him as a candidate for the 2004 elections,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/148461/cook-islands-democratic-party-appears-to-confirm-nomination |title=Cook Islands Democratic Party appears to confirm nomination |publisher=RNZ |date=6 May 2004 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} he split from the party and established the Tumu Enua Party, but failed to win reelection.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/150640/senior-cook-islands-politician-appears-to-lose-seat-in-general-elections |title=Senior Cook Islands politician appears to lose seat in General Elections |publisher=RNZ |date=13 September 2004 |accessdate=25 July 2020}}
Cook Islands Party
Following his election defeat George was appointed Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152298/new-speaker-elected-in-the-cook-islands |title=New speaker elected in the Cook Islands |publisher=RNZ |date=15 December 2004 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} He subsequently returned to Parliament in the 2006 Teenui-Mapumai by-election as an independent aligned with the Cook Islands Party.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/162644/cook-islands-politician,-norman-george,-wins-atiu-by-election |title=Cook Islands politician, Norman George, wins Atiu by- election |publisher=RNZ |date=12 June 2006 |accessdate=24 July 2020}} He was re-elected in the 2006 elections as a CIP candidate.
George was re-elected at the 2010 election and was one of four candidates for the post of Deputy Prime Minister.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193806/race-begins-for-position-of-cook-islands-deputy-pm |title=Race begins for position of Cook Islands Deputy PM |publisher=RNZ |date=21 November 2010 |accessdate=7 July 2020}} He did not gain that position, and after he failed to gain a Cabinet post he refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Parliament.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/197094/cook-islands-mp-norman-george-to-face-parliamentary-privileges-committee |title=Cook Islands MP Norman George to face Parliamentary Privileges Committee |publisher=RNZ |date=12 May 2011 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} He subsequently resigned from the Cook Islands Party and became an independent again.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/195814/cook-islands-party-mp-resigns-from-party |title=Cook Islands Party MP resigns from party |publisher=RNZ |date=9 March 2011 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} In February 2012 he attempted to rejoin the Democratic Party to contest the leadership,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/202712/cook-islands-veteran-politician-swapping-parties-again |title=Cook Islands veteran politician swapping parties again |publisher=RNZ |date=20 February 2012 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} but his application to rejoin was refused.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/221204/cooks-opposition-says-george-still-cip-member |title=Cooks opposition says George still CIP member |publisher=RNZ |date=10 September 2013 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} He was eventually allowed to rejoin in November 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/226918/george-returns-to-cook-islands-democratic-party |title=George returns to Cook Islands Democratic Party |publisher=RNZ |date=6 November 2013 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} He ran for re-election at the 2014 election, but lost his seat to his niece, Rose Toki-Brown.
Disbarment and decline
In April 2015 he contested the leadership of the Democratic Party after the departure of Wilkie Rasmussen,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271229/cooks-democratic-party-looks-for-fresh-start |title=Cooks Democratic Party looks for fresh start |publisher=RNZ |date=15 April 2015 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} but lost to William (Smiley) Heather.
In September 2013 following repeated complaints over his conduct as a lawyer George was barred from taking on land cases before the Cook Islands Court for three years, and barred from appearing before the Cook Islands Court of Appeal for 18 months.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/223046/cooks-mp-george-constrained-as-lawyer |title=Cooks MP George constrained as lawyer |publisher=RNZ |date=28 September 2013 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} In October 2015 he was permanently barred from the land court after failing to obey the suspension.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/286386/high-profile-lawyer-banned-in-cook-islands |title=High profile lawyer banned in Cook Islands |publisher=RNZ |date=7 October 2015 |accessdate=25 July 2020}}
George stood for the seat of Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua at the 2018 election for the Alternative Must Ravenga Openga party on a platform of making Atiu great again.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/359006/cooks-candidate-wants-to-make-atiu-great-again |title=Cooks candidate wants to make 'Atiu great again' |publisher=RNZ |date=6 June 2018 |accessdate=25 July 2020}} He received only 7 votes and lost to Te-Hani Brown.{{cite web |url=http://www.mfem.gov.ck/elections/866-general-elections-15 |title=Cook Islands Parliamentary Elections 2018 Public Notice No.8 |publisher=MFRM |date=28 June 2018 |accessdate= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113175016/http://www.mfem.gov.ck/elections/866-general-elections-15 |archive-date=13 November 2018}}
In December 2019 George launched a private prosecution for fraud against Prime Minister Henry Puna and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown, alleging that a government-chartered aircraft had been misused. The case is still unresolved.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/405241/cook-islands-pm-deputy-pm-accused-of-fraud |title=Cook Islands PM, deputy PM accused of fraud |publisher=RNZ |date=11 December 2019 |accessdate=17 June 2020}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Norman}}
Category:Deputy prime ministers of the Cook Islands
Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of the Cook Islands
Category:Members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands
Category:Speakers of the Cook Islands Parliament
Category:New Zealand police officers
Category:Tumu Enua politicians
Category:Cook Island police officers
Category:Democratic Party (Cook Islands) politicians
Category:New Alliance Party (Cook Islands) politicians