Geoffrey Henry
| Geoffrey Henry | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Geoffrey Arama Henry 16 November 1940 |
| Died | May 9, 2012 (aged 71) |
| Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington |
| Known for | Former Cook Island Prime Minister |
| Title | Sir |
| Term | 1983, 1989-1999 |
| Political party | Cook Islands Party |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Louisa Henry |
Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry KBE (16 November 1940 – 9 May 2012) was a Cook Island politician who was twice the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was leader of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) from 1979 to 2006.
Henry was a native of Aitutaki. He received a law degree from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He was married to Lady Louisa Henry.
Henry initially entered parliament in the opposition party aged 24 because of the corruption and excesses of the governing Cook Islands Party led by his cousin Albert Henry. However, in 1972 he joined the CIP: "family pressure was unbearable, and he could not personally tolerate being ostracised by the family again". Despite distrust from Albert Henry’s powerful wife Elizabeth, his talent in a mediocre party meant he became finance minister.
Henry became leader of the CIP in 1979 after his cousin Albert Henry was forced to resign. Geoffrey Henry's first tenure as Prime Minister was from 13 April 1983 to 16 November 1983. From 1983 to 1989 he was the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of the Cook Islands. Henry's second tenure as Prime Minister began on 1 February 1989 and ended on 29 July 1999, when he resigned rather than face the break-up of the CIP due to party dissidents who opposed his leadership.Joe Williams replaced Henry as Prime Minister, but Henry remained as leader of the CIP.
In November 2004, Henry became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in a coalition government led by Robert Woonton. Henry continued in this position until 2006, when he retired from politics and as leader of the CIP.Henry Puna succeeded Henry as leader of the CIP.
On 13 June 1992, while serving as Prime Minister, Henry was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
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