Rose Pihei

{{Short description|Politician}}

File:140924 - AROB women MPs.jpg

Rose Pihei is a politician in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. She was a member of the Bougainville House of Representatives from 2010 to 2015, representing the South Bougainville (Women's) constituency.{{cite web | url=http://www.pacwip.org/future-elections/papua-new-guinea/?viewdetails&candidate=78 | title=Papua New Guinea | publisher=Pacific Women in Politics | accessdate=4 November 2017}}

Prior to entering politics, Pihei had been a secretary in the provincial government, operated a printing and secretarial business, and served as a community worker in her Konnou area of Buin district. She was a founding member of the Bougainville Women's Federation and had been president for its South Bougainville sub-region. She was first elected to the House of Representatives at the June 2010 election, defeating Laura Ampa.{{cite news | url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2008-11-26/group-urges-greater-gun-control-action-in-bougainville/20894 | title=Group urges greater gun control action in Bougainville | work=Radio Australia | date=26 November 2008 | accessdate=4 November 2017}}{{cite news | title=Pihei applaud BWF | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=2 October 2012 }}{{cite web | url=https://iwda.org.au/politics-is-a-lonely-walk-reflecting-on-peace-security-and-equality-with-the-women-of-bougainville-womens-federation/ | title="POLITICS IS A LONELY WALK" – REFLECTING ON PEACE, SECURITY AND EQUALITY WITH THE WOMEN OF BOUGAINVILLE WOMEN’S FEDERATION | publisher=International Women's Development Agency | accessdate=4 November 2017}}

Following the 2010 election, President John Momis initially appointed Joan Jerome to the women's reserved position in the ministry; however, she failed to get support from the three-member women's caucus, which endorsed Pihei.{{cite web | url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaea195.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227222635/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaea195.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 27, 2017 | title=Political Parties and Democracy in Theoretical and Practical Perspectives | publisher=National Democratic Institute | accessdate=4 November 2017}} Pihei was then appointed Minister for Community, Women and Youth in June 2010.{{cite news | title=Bougainville ministerial appointments reflect need for South and Central representation | work=Radio New Zealand News International | date=24 June 2010 }} In October 2012, she was shifted to Minister for Culture and Tourism in a reshuffle following the death of minister Joseph Egilio.{{cite news | url=http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=1068200059506bb9c909c0c183693c | title=ABG Cabinet reshuffle | work=Pacific Islands News Association | date=3 October 2012 | accessdate=4 November 2017}} In September 2014, she was shifted to Minister for Health.{{cite news | title=Ministry reshuffle to see more services | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=11 September 2014 }} As Minister for Health, she raised concern about the mental health consequences of the war and the need to provide services.{{cite news | title=Victims of Bougainville crisis still need help | work=Radio New Zealand News International | date=8 October 2014 }} She recontested her seat at the 2015 election, but was defeated.{{cite news | title=More winners as counting continues | work=PNG Post-Courier | date=3 June 2015 }}

After her defeat, Pihei remained in public life as President of the Bougainville Women's Forum.{{cite web | url=http://www.pacific.undp.org/content/dam/fiji/docs/UNDP%20PO%20TSM_Womens%20Political%20Participation.pdf?download | title=Temporary Special Measures to Increase Women’s Political Participation in the Pacific: Case Studies of Implementation in the Region | publisher=United Nations Development Program | accessdate=4 November 2017}} She unsuccessfully contested the 2017 national election for the Social Democratic Party.{{cite news | url=http://bougainville.typepad.com/newdawn/2017/05/010517twelve-nominate-to-challenge-sitting-member-by-aloysius-laukai-twelve-candidates-nominated-to-contest-the-south-bougain-1.html | title=Twelve nominate to challenge sitting member | work=New Dawn FM 89.9 | date=1 May 2017 | accessdate=4 November 2017}}