Teariki William Heather was born on 30 July 1959 and is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet minister who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2013 to 2018.
10 Facts About Teariki Heather
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Teariki Heather is the younger brother of Democratic Party MP William Heather.
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In March 2003 Teariki Heather founded the Cook Islands National Party with the aim of securing political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term.
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Teariki Heather contested the 2003 Rua'au by-election as a National Party candidate, but was unsuccessful.
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Teariki Heather subsequently disbanded the party and joined the Cook Islands Party.
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At the 2010 election Teariki Heather was re-elected and was one of four candidates for the post of Deputy Prime Minister.
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In February 2016 news emerged that Teariki Heather was being investigated for corruption by the Financial Intelligence Unit.
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Teariki Heather subsequently contested the 2019 Ivirua by-election but was unsuccessful.
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Teariki Heather was elected along with two other United party MP's.
10.
In early February 2025, Teariki Heather voiced opposition to Prime Minister Mark Brown's abortive Cook Islands passport proposal and a partnership agreement with China.