Vaitoti Tupa

{{Short description|Cook Islands politician}}

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

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|constituency_MP5 = Matavera

|parliament5 = Cook Islands

|term_start5 = 14 June 2018

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|predecessor5 = Kiriau Turepu

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|birth_date = 23 July 1957

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|party = Cook Islands Democratic Party

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Vaitoti Tupa (born 23 July 1957){{cite web |url=https://parliament.gov.ck/team/mr-vaitoti-tupa/ |title=Vaitoti TUPA |publisher=Cook Islands Parliament |access-date=14 August 2022}} is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party. He is the son of former MP Ngai Tupa.{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2009/07/17/cooks-audit-finds-nepotism-agency-hire |title=COOKS AUDIT FINDS NEPOTISM IN AGENCY HIRE |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=17 July 2009 |access-date=4 July 2020}}

Tupa was born on Rarotonga and educated at Avarua School and Tereora College. He later attended the University of the South Pacific, graduating with an MBA.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/item/40357-usp-campus-extensions-unveiled |title=USP campus extensions unveiled |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=4 July 2020}} Trained as a surveyor, he worked as a public servant in the Survey Department. In 2000 he was appointed as the director of the National Environment Services. He was reappointed to the position in 2009, but a report from the national audit office subsequently found that the reappointment decision had been unduly influenced by his mother and had been made on the basis of political interest, not merit. Disagreement over the appointment had led to a cabinet reshuffle, with the environment portfolio been removed from Kete Ioane by Prime Minister Jim Marurai and given to Ngamau Munokoa so that she could make the appointment. Despite this, he remained in the position until 2015, when he was unexpectedly not reappointed after 15 years service.{{cite web |url=http://cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/item/53636-turepu-defends-hom-action |title=Turepu defends HOM action |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=1 September 2015 |access-date=4 July 2020}}

Tupa is a traditional drummer{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/item/38953-drum-gifts-draw-sound-advice |title=Drum gifts draw sound advice |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=8 July 2012 |access-date=4 July 2020}} and a member of the Te Korero Maori Cultural Performing Arts Group.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/item/38683-te-korero-maori-a-big-hit |title=Te Korero Maori a big hit |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=23 July 2012 |access-date=4 July 2020}} He has performed in France, the UK and Hawaii.

Tupa was elected to Parliament at the 2018 Cook Islands general election, defeating agriculture minister Kiriau Turepu to win the Matavera electorate.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/359705/puna-retains-his-seat-as-all-cooks-preliminary-election-results-are-in |title=Puna retains his seat as all Cooks preliminary election results are in |publisher=RNZ |date=16 June 2008 |access-date=4 July 2020}} In 2019 he was the opposition's nominee for Deputy Speaker, but was defeated by Tai Tura.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/item/72421-tura-appointed-deputy-speaker |title=Tura appointed deputy Speaker |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=9 April 2019 |access-date=4 July 2020}} In February 2020 he was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Agriculture, Cultural Development, Finance and Economic Development. He will also share the Environment and the Cook Islands Investment Corporation portfolios with senior MPs.{{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 |access-date=3 July 2020}} At the 2022 election he was the only Democrat MP on Rarotonga to retain his seat.{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/demos-lone-rarotonga-minister-for-parliament-has-a-lot-to-offer/ |title=Demos lone Rarotonga MP has a lot to offer |publisher=Cook Islands News |author=Melina Etches |date=3 August 2022 |access-date=4 August 2022}}