Teremoana Tapi Taio

Teremoana Tapi Taio (28 January 1945 – 3 June 2024) was a Cook Islands politician and Cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.

Life and career

Taio was elected to the Cook Islands Parliament for the electorate of Akaoa at the 1999 election. He served in the cabinet of Robert Woonton, and was responsible for the Finance portfolio following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Terepai Maoate from the Cabinet in 2003.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/145987/two-cook-island-cabinet-ministers-given-larger-portfolios |title=Two Cook Island Cabinet Ministers given larger portfolios |publisher=RNZ |date=10 November 2003 |access-date=10 June 2024}} He lost his seat at the 2004 election,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/150588/cook-islands-election-results-could-lead-to-a-hung-parliament |title=Cook Islands election results could lead to a hung parliament |publisher=RNZ |date=8 September 2004 |access-date=10 June 2024}} and did not contest it in 2006 for family reasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/November/Wed17/other.htm#1011151003 |title=Taio wants to return to parliament |publisher=Cook Islands news |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=26 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617063458/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/November/Wed17/other.htm#1011151003 |archive-date=17 June 2012}}

Taio was managing director of Taio Shipping.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/139658/cooks-shipping-company-continues-to-reduce-services |title=Cooks shipping company continues to reduce services |publisher=RNZ |date=5 June 2002 |access-date=10 June 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2009/August/Wed26/local.htm#1 |title=Govt explores options for Maeva Nui travel |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=20 August 2009 |access-date=1 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314040221/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2009/August/Wed26/local.htm#1 |archive-date=14 March 2010}} He was appointed a director of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=249 |title=No fees for CIIC director |publisher=Cook Islands Government |date=30 July 2003 |access-date=1 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040827074847/http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=249 |archive-date=27 August 2004}} He was partly of Norwegian descent.{{Cite web|date=8 January 2001|title=Sydhavsparadis ønsker norsk gruvedrift velkommen|url=http://img.nrk.no/programmer/radioarkiv/sann_er_livet/samfunn/arbeids__og_neringsliv/660826.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171510/http://img.nrk.no/programmer/radioarkiv/sann_er_livet/samfunn/arbeids__og_neringsliv/660826.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=9 June 2021|website=img.nrk.no}}

In September 2010, he resigned from the Cook Islands Investment Corporation board in order to stand for election.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed29/local.htm#1009290109 |title=Board members resign |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=29 September 2010 |accessdate=2 October 2010}} He ran for the seat of Akaoa in the 2010 elections, but was unsuccessful.

Taio died on 3 June 2024, at the age of 79.{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/memory-lane/papa-tapi-taio-leaves-lasting-legacy/ |title=Papa Tapi Taio leaves lasting legacy |publisher=Cook Islands News |author=Losirene Lacanivalu |date=7 June 2024 |access-date=10 June 2024}}

References

Category:1945 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:People from Rarotonga

Category:Cook Island businesspeople

Category:Democratic Party (Cook Islands) politicians

Category:Members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands

Category:Government ministers of the Cook Islands