Henry Puna

10th Secretary General of Pacific Islands Forum, former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands

Henry Tuakeu Puna[1] (born 29 July 1949) is a Cook Islands politician. He has been the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands since November 2010. He is the leader of the Cook Islands Party.

Henry Puna
9th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office
30 November 2010 – 1 October 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
RepresentativeFrederick Tutu Goodwin
Tom Marsters
DeputyTeariki Heather
Mark Brown
Preceded byJim Marurai
Succeeded byMark Brown
Additional Ministries
Minister of Energy
In office
3 December 2010 – 1 October 2020
Preceded byWilliam (Smiley) Heather
Succeeded byMark Brown
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
3 November 2013 – 1 October 2020
Preceded byTom Marsters
Succeeded byMark Brown
Minister of Marine Resources
In office
3 November 2013 – 1 October 2020
Preceded byTeina Bishop
Succeeded byMark Brown
Minister of Education
In office
17 December 2014[source?] – 4 June 2020
Preceded byMona Ioane
Succeeded byVaine Mokoroa
Minister of Transport
In office
3 November 2013 – 20 September 2018
Preceded byTom Marsters
Succeeded byRobert Tapaitau
Minister of Police
In office
March 2020 – 1 October 2020
Preceded byVaine Mokoroa
Succeeded byMark Brown
In office
3 December 2010 – 17 April 2012
Preceded byJim Marurai
Succeeded byTeariki Heather
Minister for the Environment
In office
3 December 2010 – 3 November 2013
Preceded byCassey Eggelton
Succeeded byKiriau Turepu
Minister of Justice
In office
3 December 2010 – 3 November 2013
Preceded byApii Piho
Succeeded byTeariki Heather
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament
for Manihiki
Assumed office
17 November 2010
Preceded byApii Piho
In office
8 February 2005 – 27 September 2006
Preceded byRobert Woonton
Succeeded byApii Piho
Personal details
Born (1949-07-29) 29 July 1949 (age 74)
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Political partyCook Islands Party
Spouse(s)Akaiti Puna
ChildrenHenry
Edwin
Abraham
Tina
Vivienne
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
University of Tasmania

Puna was elected to the Parliament of the Cook Islands at the 2005 Manihiki by-election. He lost his seat at the 2006 election, but regained it in the CIP victory at the 2010 election.

In June 2020, Puna announced his intention to retire as Prime Minister in September in order to become Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum.

References change

  1. Parliamentary General Election – Main Electoral Roll – Manihiki, Cook Islands Registrar of Electors, 10 May 2010.