Toka Hagai
Toka Hagai is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.
Toka Hagai | |
---|---|
In office 19 September 2018 – 7 November 2018 | |
Deputy | Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Cook Islands |
Preceded by | Mona Ioane |
Succeeded by | Tai Tura |
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Rakahanga | |
In office 9 July 2014 – 14 June 2018 | |
Preceded by | Taunga Toka |
Succeeded by | Tina Browne |
Personal details | |
Political party | Cook Islands Party |
Hagai stood unsuccessfully for Rakahanga at the 2010 Cook Islands general election. He was first elected to Parliament at the 2014 Cook Islands general election,[1] and was appointed Government Whip.[2] In 2016 he was part of the Cook Islands' delegation to the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco.[3]
He was re-elected on the night at the 2018 election, but subsequently resigned following allegations of treating.[4] His election was later declared void by the Court of Appeal, and his rival Tina Browne declared elected. Hagai was referred to the Police for bribery.[5] while awaiting the outcome of the electoral petition against him Hagai had been elected Deputy speaker; he was replaced by Tai Tupa.[6]
In early 2019 Prime Minister Henry Puna planned to install Hagai as a seventh, unelected, Cabinet Minister,[7] but the appointment was delayed due to the police investigation into his electoral bribery.[8]
In June 2019 it was reported that Hagai was occupying a government house in Rarotonga earmarked for low-income families and outer-island MPs.[9]
References
- "Cook Island Party leads election count". RNZ. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "PM announces key appointments". Cook Islands News. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Talks continue at climate conference". Cook Islands News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Cook Islands MP resigns amid legal action". RNZI. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- "Browne wins Cook Islands election petition on appeal". Radio New Zealand International. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- Rashneel Kumar (20 September 2018). "Rattle reappointed as Speaker of Parliament". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Cooks Opposition 'appalled' by govt plans to install cabinet minister". RNZ. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Cooks' Hagai appointment awaiting police investigation outcome". RNZ. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Cook Islands govt questioned over provision of housing for MPs". RNZ. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2020.