Tom Marsters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Marsters
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Marsters in 2017
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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 |
| Prime Minister | Henry Puna Mark Brown |
| 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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| Prime Minister | Henry Puna |
| 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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| Prime Minister | Jim Marurai |
| 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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| Prime Minister | Robert Woonton |
| 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 (born 4 August 1945) is a key political figure in the Cook Islands. He currently serves as the King's Representative, which means he is the official representative of King Charles III in the country. Before taking on this important role, he was the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and a leading member of the Cook Islands Party.
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Early Life and Career
Marsters was born on Palmerston Island, a remote part of the Cook Islands. He attended primary school there before going to Avele College in Samoa for his secondary education. He also studied at the Grimsby Institute in the United Kingdom.
Before entering politics, Marsters worked for the government. He was also deeply involved with the Cook Islands Party, serving as its Secretary General from 1968 to 1999.
Journey in Parliament
Entering Politics
In 1991, Marsters was elected to the Parliament to represent the people of Murienua. This marked the beginning of a long and successful career in politics.
Serving in Government
Over the years, Marsters held many important government jobs, known as Cabinet positions. A Cabinet is a team of top leaders, called ministers, who help the Prime Minister run the country.
He was a minister for several different departments, including Works, Youth, Sport, and Foreign Affairs. Due to political changes, he sometimes left his government roles but often returned to serve again.
Becoming Deputy Prime Minister
In the 2010 election, the Cook Islands Party won a majority of seats. Henry Puna became the Prime Minister, and he chose Tom Marsters as his Deputy Prime Minister. This made him the second-most powerful person in the government.
During this time, he was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He worked on important issues for the Cook Islands, such as exploring for minerals on the seabed and officially setting the country's sea boundaries with its neighbors.
The King's Representative
A New Royal Role
On 27 July 2013, Marsters was appointed to the special role of Queen's Representative, acting on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. To accept this position, he had to resign from Parliament.
His title officially changed to King's Representative on 8 September 2022, after King Charles III became the monarch. The King's Representative has important duties, like making sure the government follows the country's constitution.
In 2016, he made a key decision that confirmed the government was still officially in charge after a political challenge. He has been reappointed to the role several times, showing the trust placed in him.
Receiving a Knighthood
In 2018, Queen Elizabeth II honored him for his many years of service to the Cook Islands. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). This is a very high honor, and it is why he is now called Sir Tom Marsters. He received the award in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London.
Family and Community
Sir Tom Marsters has strong family roots. In 2019, he helped start the construction of Marsters House in Rarotonga. This building serves as a gathering place and hostel for members of the large Marsters family who live on or visit the island.
