Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry was a Cook Islands politician, lawyer, educator and sports administrator who served twice as Prime Minister, led the Cook Islands Party for many years, held numerous ministerial portfolios, and later became Speaker of the Parliament and president of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee.
Background
Geoffrey Arama Henry was born on 16 November 1940 on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. He was the fourteenth of sixteen children of Arama Henry and Mata Uritaua Henry; his father was a deacon of the Cook Islands Christian Church on Aitutaki. Henry was a first cousin of Albert Henry, the founding leader of the Cook Islands Party and the Cook Islands' first Premier. In June 1965 he married Louisa Olga Hoff, whose family connections included Ngati Uritaua and Ngati Marama. They had six children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Henry died at his home in Takuvaine, Rarotonga, on 9 May 2012, aged 71, after suffering from kidney cancer.
Education
Henry attended St George's Preparatory School and Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand before studying at Victoria University of Wellington and the University of the South Pacific. His education included English, education and law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education and later undertook legal studies associated with Victoria University of Wellington. In 2000 he received an honorary Doctor of the University of the South Pacific, where he subsequently served as Chancellor from 1993 to 1995.
Career
Henry began his working life as a teacher at the Junior High School and Avarua Primary School, while also entering public life as an elected representative. He was first elected to the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly in 1965 as an independent member for Aitutaki and served in Parliament until his death. During the early 1970s he worked as a research officer in the Premier's Department and as a landowners' agent, acting in private practice and as counsel in High Court matters. He joined the Cook Islands Party in 1972 and held a succession of ministerial responsibilities, including education, justice, lands and survey, finance, financial services and postal affairs. He became Deputy Prime Minister in 1984–1985 and served as Prime Minister briefly from 13 April to 16 November 1983. After returning to the opposition, he regained the premiership on 1 February 1989 and remained Prime Minister until 29 July 1999. During his second premiership he also held major responsibilities for finance, foreign affairs, tourism, crown law, public works, cultural development, state-owned enterprises and the Prime Minister's Department. He remained a leading Cook Islands Party politician after leaving office, serving as a government councillor and Deputy Prime Minister at different points between 2002 and 2005, including responsibility for finance and economic management. He retired from parliamentary politics and the leadership of the Cook Islands Party in 2006. Henry later served as president of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee from 2009 until his death, and on 18 February 2011 was elected Speaker of the Parliament of the Cook Islands. He also contributed to regional diplomacy, including work connected with the establishment of the South Pacific Forum and representation of Cook Islands interests in international and regional meetings.
Achievements
Led the Cook Islands Party from 1979 until 2006 and helped establish it as a major force in Cook Islands politics.
Served twice as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, including the country's first premiership under his leadership in 1983 and a second term from 1989 to 1999.
Helped develop the working papers that led to the establishment of the South Pacific Forum, now known as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Served as Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific from 1993 to 1995.
Served as president of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee from 2009 until 2012.
Inducted into the Cook Islands Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Sir Geoffrey Henry National Culture Centre in Avarua was named in his honour.
Politics
Henry was a long-serving leader of the Cook Islands Party, leading it from 1979 until his retirement from politics in 2006. He first entered Parliament as an independent member for Aitutaki in 1965 and later joined the Cook Islands Party in 1972.
Membership
Henry led the Cook Islands Party from 1979 until 2006. He served as Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific from 1993 to 1995, was a member of the International Religious Liberty Association's Committee of Honour in 1993, and belonged to the Lions Club. His later sporting and civic affiliations included the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee, the Cook Islands Golf Association and the Aotearoa Society.
Lions Club
November 30, 1999 - November 30, 1999
Member of the Committee of Honour.
International Religious Liberty Association
1993 - 1993
Vice president.
Aotearoa Society
,
New Zealand
March 11, 2009 - May 9, 2012
Inaugural patron.
Cook Islands Golf Association
,
Cook Island
2009 - May 9, 2012
Personality
Henry was remembered for immaculate manners, forceful oratory, a strong attachment to the Cook Islands and an intense commitment to public service. Contemporary descriptions portrayed him as an energetic advocate for his country and an active sportsman.
Quotes from others about the person
He was remembered as one of the forefathers of Cook Islands politics and as an elder statesman who regarded the wellbeing of the Cook Islands and its people as his central concern.
Interests
Henry was an active sportsman. He represented the Cook Islands in golf at the 1979 South Pacific Games, participated in rugby, tennis, cricket, athletics and fishing, and was inducted into the Cook Islands Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Sport & Clubs
Rugby union, rugby league, tennis, golf, athletics and fishing.
Connections
Henry was the first cousin of Albert Henry, the founding leader of the Cook Islands Party. He was married to Louisa Olga Hoff, later known as Lady Louisa Henry, and they had six children. His eldest son Walter Henry later accepted a parliamentary recognition award on behalf of the family.
Father:
Arama Henry
Henry's father was a deacon of the Cook Islands Christian Church on Aitutaki.
Mother:
Mata Uritaua
Henry's mother.
Spouse:
Louisa Olga Hoff
Married Geoffrey Henry in June 1965; she was later known as Lady Louisa Henry.
Collegue :
Albert Henry
Henry's first cousin and the founding leader of the Cook Islands Party; Geoffrey Henry later succeeded him as party leader.
Colourful politician and elder statesman
Documents Henry's family background, marriage, children, education, legal and teaching work, honours, sports interests, regional activities and death.
2012
Geoffrey Henry: Prime Minister, Cook Islands
Provides a contemporary profile of Henry's early parliamentary career, leadership of the Cook Islands Party, ministerial experience and views on economic development and regional relations.
1990
Sir Geoffrey Henry history and honours
Documents Henry's political career, honours, sports achievements, university service and leadership of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee.
