Tararo Jane Ariki II (26 May 1910 – 23 December 1982) was a Cook Islands chiefess and politician. An ariki of Mauke island, she was also the first woman to become a member of the islands' Legislative Council.
Tararo Jane Ariki II | |
|---|---|
| Tararo Ariki of Mauke | |
| In office 1934–1982 | |
| Preceded by | Tararo Jane Ariki I |
| Succeeded by | Tararo Tapoki-Kiri I |
| Member of the Legislative Council | |
| In office 1947–1948, 1951 | |
| Constituency | Mauke |
| Member of the House of Ariki | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 May 1910[1] Mauke, Cook Islands |
| Died | 23 December 1982 |
Biography
editTararo was born in 1910 in Mauke.[1] She became the Tararo ariki of Mauke in 1934,[1] succeeding her mother. She married George Cowan,[1] and the couple had a daughter Hilda who was born in 1937 but died the following year. During the 1930s she formed a dance group consisting of family members and other people from Oiretumu village.[2]
The first indirect elections were held for the Legislative Council in 1947, in which members were elected by island councils. A member of Mauke Island Council, Tararo was elected as the island's representative, becoming the only women in the Legislative Council. She served until the following year, and again in 1951.[3] Following its creation, she became a member of the House of Ariki.[1] She also served on the General Assembly of the Cook Islands Christian Church and worked as an adviser on Maori customs, choreographer and costume designer.[1]
In 1977 she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal and appointed Commissioner of the Cook Islands Judiciary.[1] Construction work began on a palace for her in 1982, but was abandoned due to political disputes within the Tararo group.[4]