Ngamau Mere Munokoa OBE (born 13 August 1944), also known as "Aunty Mau", is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. She was the third woman ever elected to the Cook Islands Parliament, ^[1] the second appointed to Cabinet, ^[2] and the first to hold the post of Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister. ^[3] She is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.

Early life

Munokoa was born in Rarotonga and attended Arorangi, Avarua and Nikao Primary schools and Tereora College. ^[4] She trained for clerical work in Auckland, New Zealand in the hope of becoming a teacher, but returned to the Cook Islands in 1962 to open a shop. ^[1]

Political career

Munokoa first ran for Parliament in 1994, but was unsuccessful. ^[1] She was elected in the 1996 Nikao–Panama by-election, defeating then- Cook Islands Party candidate Tina Browne. ^[5] In 1999 she was appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs and Works in the Cabinet of Sir Terepai Maoate. ^[6] She later served in the Cabinet of Robert Woonton, and in 2003 was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, becoming the first Cook Islands woman to hold the position. ^[3] She later resigned from Woonton's Cabinet following his decision to form a coalition with the rival Cook Islands Party, ^[7] but was reappointed in 2005 by Jim Marurai. ^[8] She continued to serve in Cabinet, holding various portfolios, ^{[9] [10]} until December 2009, when she resigned over the sacking of Democratic Party leader Terepai Maoate. ^{[11] [12]}

She was re-elected at the 2010 election, and again in 2014. She failed to be re-elected in the 2018 election, losing to Vaine Mokoroa. ^[13] Her 22-year career made her the longest-serving female MP. ^[14]

Recognition

Munokoa was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours. ^{[15] [16]} In October 2019, she was inducted into the hall of fame at the inaugural Vaine Rangatira awards for Cook Islands women. ^[17]

References