Albert Taaviri Kaitara Nicholas (born 2 September 1971)[1] is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party. He is the son of former MP Albert (Peto) Nicholas.[2]
Albert Nicholas | |
|---|---|
 Nicholas in 2017 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands | |
| Assumed office 16 February 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Brown |
| Preceded by | Robert Tapaitau |
| Minister of National Environment Services | |
| Assumed office 23 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Tapaitau |
| Minister of Infrastructure & Planning | |
| Assumed office 23 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Tapaitau |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | |
| In office 15 March 2015 – 21 September 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Henry Puna |
| Preceded by | Nandi Glassie |
| Succeeded by | Vaine Mokoroa |
| Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston | |
| Assumed office 9 July 2014 | |
| Preceded by | John Henry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1971 |
| Political party | Democratic Party Cook Islands Party |
| Relations | Albert (Peto) Nicholas |
Nicholas was born on Rarotonga and educated at Avarua School and Tereora College.[1] He worked as a public servant for Customs before becoming self-employed.[1] He first elected to parliament in the 2014 election as a representative of the Democratic Party. He represents the seat of Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston.
In March 2015, Nicholas switched his support to the government of Henry Puna in exchange for a cabinet post as Minister of Internal Affairs, Youth and Sport, the Ombudsman, and the Punanga Nui market.[2][3] He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party.[4]
In 2016, he was part of the Cook Islands' delegation to the second Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Wellington, New Zealand.[5] In April 2017 he resigned from parliament in order to end speculation over his defection from the Democrats.[6] He was re-elected in the resulting 2017 Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston by-election.[7]
He was re-elected at the 2018 election.[8] On 21 September 2018 Nicholas was sacked from cabinet without explanation while overseas for health reasons. He was replaced by Vaine Mokoroa.[9]
In January 2019, Nicholas was charged in New Zealand with "unlawfully taking a motor vehicle", a rental car. He entered a plea of not guilty the following month, and was released on bail, returning to the Cook Islands.[10] He failed to appear at a second hearing at Manukau District Court on 26 March, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued. He was nonetheless sworn back into parliament on 9 April.[11] As of June 2019, the arrest warrant remains active, and Nicholas will be arrested if he returns to New Zealand.[12]
In February 2020 Nicholas was seriously injured in a car accident.[13] In March 2020 Nicholas admitted that he had pledged his support to the government of Henry Puna in exchange for a bridge being built in his electorate.[14]
Following the election of Mark Brown as Prime Minister he was appointed Associate Minister for the Cook Islands Investment Corporation.[15]
He was re-elected at the 2022 Cook Islands general election.[16] In December 2022 he was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Infrastructure, and National Environmental Services.[17]
In February 2024 following the conviction of Robert Tapaitau for fraud he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Albert Taaviri Kaitara NICHOLAS". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b Phillipa Webb (16 March 2015). "Nicholas jumps to the other side". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Defecting Cook Islands MP given cabinet post". RNZ International. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Defecting MP expelled from Cook Islands Democratic party". RNZ. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "MPs represent country in NZ". Cook Islands News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ "Resigned Cooks Minister expected to contest by-election". RNZ. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Cooks' Nicholas has big win in by-election". RNZ. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Preliminary Results from Votes Counted 14-06-2018". Cook Islands Ministry of Justice. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "Cook Islands cabinet minister sacked". Radio New Zealand International. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Nicholas enters not guilty plea in NZ". Cook Islands News. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Man wanted for arrest in NZ sworn in as Cook Islands MP". Radio New Zealand. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Arrest warrant for Nicholas still active". Cook Islands News. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Rashneel Kumar (27 March 2020). "MP returns after three weeks injured in hospital". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Rashneel Kumar (19 March 2020). "'I could have caused headaches for the PM'". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Emmanuel Samoglou and Rashneel Kumar (8 October 2020). "PM takes on 17 portfolios". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "WARRANT DECLARING THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES AND THE NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED BY EACH CANDIDATE" (PDF). Cook Islands Gazette. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Cabinet Minister Albert Nicholas to Take on Four Portfolios". Parliament of the Cook Islands. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Albert Nicholas appointed Deputy Prime Minister". Cook Islands News. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
