Teina Bishop

Teina Bishop (born 11 April 1959) is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He represents the constituency of Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu.

Bishop was born in Aitutaki and was educated at Araura Primary school, Aitutaki Junior High School, and the University of the South Pacific before working as a teacher. He was first elected to Parliament in the 1999 election.

In 2003 he resigned from parliament over budget cuts to his constituency, precipitating a by-election in which he was returned unopposed.

Bishop was elected Deputy Speaker in 2004 and held the position until 2005. He served briefly as Minister for the Environment and Outer Islands in 2006.

Bishop was again appointed to Cabinet in December 2010, after the Cook Islands party won the 2010 election. He currently holds the portfolios of education, marine resources, and tourism.

In August 2013 Bishop stood down from Cabinet following allegations of corruption and fraud in his handling of the marine resources portfolio. He was reinstated to the Education and Tourism portfolios in January 2014.

Bishop resigned again in April 2014, the day after the 2014 election was called. He subsequently established the One Cook Islands Movement to contest the elections, and was re-elected.

On 21 July 2016 Bishop was found guilty of corruption over his granting of fisheries licences while a Minister. He was removed from his seat, sparking the 2016 Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara by-election.

Bishop served a six month term of imprisonment and was released in June 2017.

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