Tom Marsters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Marsters
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Marsters in 2025
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| King's Representative to the Cook Islands | |
| Assumed office 27 July 2013 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Preceded by | Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| In office 10 December 2010 – 10 June 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Wigmore |
| Succeeded by | Teariki Heather |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 10 December 2010 – 10 June 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Wigmore |
| Succeeded by | Henry Puna |
| In office 18 December 2004 – 12 September 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Woonton |
| Succeeded by | Wilkie Rasmussen |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 10 December 2010 – 10 June 2013 |
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| Preceded by | William (Smiley) Heather |
| Succeeded by | Henry Puna |
| Minister of Works | |
| In office 15 February 2002 – 30 January 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Ngamau Munokoa |
| Succeeded by | Tangata Vavia |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Murienua |
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| In office 1991 – 25 July 2013 |
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| Succeeded by | Kaota Tuariki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1945 Palmerston Island, Cook Islands |
| Political party | Cook Islands Party |
| Alma mater | Avele College Grimsby Institute |
Sir Tom John Marsters, KBE (born 4 August 1945) is a very important leader in the Cook Islands. He currently serves as the King's Representative. This means he acts on behalf of the King of the United Kingdom in the Cook Islands. Before this special role, he was also the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and a Foreign Minister.
Contents
Who is Sir Tom Marsters?
Early Life and Education
Sir Tom Marsters was born on Palmerston Island, a small and beautiful island in the Cook Islands. He went to primary schools in Nikao and Avarua. Later, he studied at Avele College in Samoa. He also traveled to the United Kingdom to attend the Grimsby Institute.
Before he became a politician, Sir Tom worked as a public servant. This means he worked for the government to help the community. He was also the Secretary General for the Cook Islands Party for many years, from 1968 to 1999.
Starting in Politics
Sir Tom Marsters began his journey in politics in 1991. He was first elected to the Cook Islands Parliament. He represented the people of the Murienua area. This was a big step in his career of serving his country.
Serving in Government
Important Cabinet Roles
Over the years, Sir Tom held many important jobs in the government. He served as a Minister in different Cabinets. For example, he was the Minister of Works, which means he helped manage public building projects. He also looked after Youth, Sport, and Recreation.
He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he helped manage the Cook Islands' relationships with other countries. He also held the position of Minister of Transport. This involved overseeing how people and goods move around the islands.
Leading the Opposition
At one point, Sir Tom Marsters became the leader of the opposition. This meant he led the political party that was not currently in charge of the government. His job was to question the government's decisions and offer different ideas. This is an important part of how democracy works.
Deputy Prime Minister and Key Projects
In 2010, Sir Tom was elected again, and his party won many seats. He was then appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. This is a very high position in the government. He also became the Minister of Foreign Affairs again.
As Minister of Mining and Natural Resources, he worked on important projects. He promoted the idea of seabed mining. This involves exploring for valuable minerals deep under the ocean. He also helped negotiate agreements with neighboring countries about marine boundaries. These boundaries show where the Cook Islands' ocean territory ends. He also worked with the United Nations to extend the country's continental shelf boundaries.
The King's Representative
A Special Role for the Cook Islands
On 5 June 2013, Sir Tom Marsters was given a very special role. He was appointed as the Queen's Representative. This role means he represents the British monarch in the Cook Islands. He took over from Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin. To take on this new role, he resigned from Parliament in July 2013.
Sir Tom was reappointed for this important role several times. He served a second term starting in July 2016. He was reappointed for a third term in 2019. In August 2025, he was reappointed for a fifth three-year term.
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, King Charles III became the new monarch. From that moment, Sir Tom Marsters became known as the "King's Representative."
Honored for Service
For his many years of service and dedication, Sir Tom Marsters received a great honor. In 2018, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This means he was given the title "Sir." He received this special award in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2018.
Community Contributions
Sir Tom also helped with community projects. In January 2019, he helped start the building of Marsters House. This building is a hostel for different branches of the Marsters family in Rarotonga. The hostel officially opened in July 2019. It provides a place for family members to stay and connect.
