Henry Puna

The Honourable
Henry Puna
Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum
In office
24 May 2021 – 23 May 2024[1]
Preceded byMeg Taylor
Succeeded byBaron Waqa
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office
30 November 2010 – 1 October 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
DeputyTom Marsters
Teariki Heather
Mark Brown
Queen's RepresentativeFrederick Tutu Goodwin
Tom Marsters
Preceded byJim Marurai
Succeeded byMark Brown
Additional Ministries
Minister of Energy
In office
3 December 2010 – 1 October 2020
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded bySmiley Heather
Succeeded byMark Brown
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
3 November 2013 – 1 October 2020
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byTom Marsters
Succeeded byMark Brown
Minister of Marine Resources
In office
3 November 2013 – 1 October 2020
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byTeina Bishop
Succeeded byMark Brown
Minister of Education
In office
17 December 2014 – 4 June 2020
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byMona Ioane
Succeeded byVaine Mokoroa
Minister of Transport
In office
3 November 2013 – 20 September 2018
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byTom Marsters
Succeeded byRobert Tapaitau
Minister of Police
In office
March 2020 – 1 October 2020
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byVaine Mokoroa
Succeeded byMark Brown
In office
3 December 2010 – 17 April 2012
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byJim Marurai
Succeeded byTeariki Heather
Minister for the Environment
In office
3 December 2010 – 3 November 2013
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byCassey Eggelton
Succeeded byKiriau Turepu
Minister of Justice
In office
3 December 2010 – 3 November 2013
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byApii Piho
Succeeded byTeariki Heather
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament
for Manihiki
In office
17 November 2010 – 24 March 2021
Preceded byApii Piho
Succeeded byAkaiti Puna
In office
8 February 2005 – 27 September 2006
Preceded byRobert Woonton
Succeeded byApii Piho
Personal details
Born (1949-07-29) 29 July 1949 (age 75)
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Political partyCook Islands Party
SpouseAkaiti Puna
Children5
EducationUniversity of Auckland
University of Tasmania

Henry Tuakeu Puna[2] (born 29 July 1949)[3] is a Cook Islands politician. He most recently served as the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum from May of 2021 to 2024.[4] He was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from November 2010 to October 2020. Since 2006 he has been leader of the Cook Islands Party.[5]

Puna was elected to the Parliament of the Cook Islands at the 2005 Manihiki by-election. He lost his seat at the 2006 election, but regained it in the CIP victory at the 2010 election which saw him elected prime minister. During his time as prime minister, he held various ministerial portfolios, including Foreign affairs, Marine Resources, and Energy.

In June 2020 Puna announced his intention to stand down as prime minister in September to compete for the role of secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. He stepped down from office on 1 October 2020.[6] On 4 February 2021 he was elected as secretary-general, replacing Meg Taylor.[7]

  1. ^ "RELEASE: Statement of the Forum Chair, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown on the Transition in Leadership at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat". forumsec.org. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  2. ^ Parliamentary General Election – Main Electoral Roll – Manihiki, Cook Islands Registrar of Electors, 10 May 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference cinsworn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "RELEASE: Statement of the Forum Chair, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown on the Transition in Leadership at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat | Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat". forumsec.org. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference partyleader was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Cook Islands parliament electing new PM". Radio New Zealand. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Former Cook Islands PM is the new Secretary General of the PIF". Radio New Zealand. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.