Tamaiva Tuavera

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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|name = Tamaiva Tuavera

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|constituency_MP5 = Ngatangiia

|parliament5 = Cook Islands

|term_start5 = 9 July 2014

|term_end5 = 1 August 2022

|predecessor5 = Atatoa Herman

|successor5 = Tukaka Ama

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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|04|10|df=y}}

|birth_place = Matavera, Rarotonga

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|party = Cook Islands Democratic Party

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Tamaiva Tuavera (born 10 April 1958){{Cite web |last=parliamentci |title=Mr Tama Tuavera |url=https://parliament.gov.ck/team/mr-tama-tuavera/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Parliament of the Cook Islands |language=en-US}} is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.

Tuavera was born in Matavera on Rarotonga.{{cite web |url=http://enjoycookislands.com/stories/from-top-gunner-to-muri-lagoon |title=From top gunner to Muri Lagoon |author=Alastair Blount |publisher=Enjoy Cook Islands |date=3 July 2020 |accessdate=3 July 2020}} He was educated at Tereora College and at Rutherford High School in Auckland. He dropped out of school, and after working a variety of jobs joined the New Zealand Army in 1976 at the age of 17. He served as a rifleman and instructor, and was posted in Singapore. After being medically discharged in 1991, he returned to Rarotonga, where he married and started a tourism business.

Tuavera was first elected to Parliament in the 2014 Cook Islands general election. In 2015, he was appointed opposition spokesperson for Police, Marine Resources and Culture.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/item/55126-party-allocates-shadow-portfolios |title=Party allocates 'shadow' portfolios |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=18 November 2015 |accessdate=5 July 2020}} His re-election at the 2018 election was challenged on the basis of alleged bribery, but the electoral petition was unsuccessful.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/70413-captain-tama-is-a-happy-man/70413-captain-tama-is-a-happy-man |title='Captain Tama' is a happy man |author=Rashneel Kumar |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=16 August 2018 |accessdate=3 July 2020}} In February 2020 he was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Police and Marine Resources.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/item/75992-demos-gunning-for-change |title=Demos gunning for change |author=Melina Etches |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=19 February 2020 |accessdate=3 July 2020}}

In 2017 he saved the lives of three children on holiday who were swept away while swimming.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/341755/cooks-mp-saves-three-children-from-drowning |title=Cooks MP saves three children from drowning |publisher=RNZ |date=18 October 2017 |accessdate=3 July 2020}}

He lost his seat in the 2022 Cook Islands general election.{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/winners-are-grinners-new-mps-ready-to-serve/ |title=Winners are grinners: New MPs ready to serve |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=12 August 2022 |access-date=13 August 2022}}