Tom Davis (Cook Islands politician)
| Sir Tom Davis | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
|
In office 25 July 1978 – 13 April 1983 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Albert Henry |
| Succeeded by | Geoffrey Henry |
| 4th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
|
In office 16 November 1983 – 29 July 1987 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Geoffrey Henry |
| Succeeded by | Pupuke Robati |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Robert Alexander Harries Davis 11 June 1917 Rarotonga, Cook Islands |
| Died | 23 July 2007 (aged 90) Rarotonga, Cook Islands |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Pa Tepaeru Terito Ariki |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation | Physiologist, politician |
| Religion | Bahá'í |
Sir Thomas "Tom" Robert Alexander Harries Davis, KBE (11 June 1917 – 23 July 2007) was a Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and a medical researcher.
Davis was born on the island of Rarotonga, his full name being Thomas Robert Alexander Harries Davis. He was the first Cook Islands medical graduate in New Zealand, finishing his studies at the University of Otago in 1945. He then served as Medical Officer in the Cook Islands working to improve the country's health system.
In 1952, he went to Harvard University, initially completing a Master of Public Health, before joining their Department of Nutrition. Subsequently, he worked for various parts of the armed forces as a research physiologist, before joining NASA to work on the space program.
Davis was a founder of the Cook Islands Democratic Party in 1971, and became opposition leader in 1972, going on to serve as Prime Minister from 25 July 1978, until 13 April 1983, and following the short first tenure of Geoffrey Henry, again from 16 November 1983, until 29 July 1987, when he left office while the Democratic Party was still in power.
In 1985 at a South Pacific Forum meeting he announced, mostly to gain local electoral kudos and in "bone-headed stupidity", that the Cooks would reconsider the relationship with New Zealand. David Lange, who disliked Davis, said if the Cooks wanted independence he would cut aid and remove New Zealand citizenship rights. Lange also said "We can probably throw in a second-hand Orion at a knock down rate so you can do your own maritime surveillance."
On 3 August 1986 Davis became the first head of government to formally consult with the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith.
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