Robert Woonton | |
|---|---|
| 9th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| In office 11 February 2002 – 11 December 2004 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Queen's Representative | Laurence Greig (Acting) Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin |
| Deputy | Geoffrey Henry Terepai Maoate Ngamau Munokoa |
| Preceded by | Terepai Maoate |
| Succeeded by | Jim Marurai |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| In office 30 July 2001 – 11 February 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Terepai Maoate |
| Preceded by | Norman George |
| Succeeded by | Geoffrey Henry |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1 December 1999 – 11 December 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Terepai Maoate Himself |
| Preceded by | Joe Williams |
| Succeeded by | Robert Wigmore |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 1 December 1999 – 20 February 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Terepai Maoate |
| Preceded by | Joe Williams |
| Succeeded by | Terepai Maoate |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Manihiki | |
| In office 24 March 1994 – 7 September 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Ben Toma |
| Succeeded by | Henry Puna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1949 (age 74–75) |
| Political party | Democratic Party Cook Islands First Party |
| Spouse | Sue Woonton |
Robert Woonton (born 1949) is a Cook Islands politician and diplomat. He served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 11 February 2002 until 11 December 2004, and later as High Commissioner to New Zealand. He was a member of the centrist Democratic Party.
Woonton trained as a medical doctor. He was first elected to the Cook Islands Parliament at the 1994 election. He was re-elected at the 1999 election. Following the premiership of Joe Williams, he was appointed to the Cabinet of Terepai Maoate as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Transport.[1] In February 2001 he was removed as Transport Minister, but retained his Foreign Affairs portfolio.[2] In July 2001, following the sacking of Norman George, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.[3]