Ngatupuna Matepi (1909–1977) was a Cook Islands politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1958 until his death, had two spells in the cabinet between 1962 and 1965, and became the first official Leader of the Opposition in 1968.
Biography Matepi was born in Rarotonga in 1909.Matepi, Ngatupuna 1909– WorldCat After finishing his education in New Zealand, he worked as a schoolteacher in Mangaia for 33 years. He then established several businesses, including a bakery, cinema and store.Mr Ngatupuna Matepi Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1977, p97
Having previously served as a member of the Legislative Council, in the 1958 elections to the new Legislative Assembly Matepi successfully contested the Mangaia seat. In the 1961 elections he was indirectly elected to the Assembly by Mangaia Island Council. In 1962 he was appointed to the new Executive Committee.They'll work towards Self-government Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1962, p21 The following year he was a candidate to become the first Leader of Government Business in 1963, but lost a vote to Dick Charles Brown by 11 votes to 10.Speedy and far-reaching changes in South Seas political scene Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1963, p7 Shortly afterwards he was also defeated in a vote to become the Speaker, losing to Teariki Tuavera.Talks Soon On Political Future Of The Cooks Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1964, p35
After Julian Dashwood was sacked from the cabinet in 1964, Brown appointed Matepi as his replacement, giving him the portfolios of Health and Social Development.Cook Is. Minister Fired–But No One Quite Knows Why Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1964, p35 He was directly elected again in 1965 as a representative of the United Political Party but lost his place in the cabinet as the Cook Islands Party won the elections. He was re-elected in 1968 as a United Cook Islanders candidate, after which he became Leader of the Opposition,Report of the Maori and Island Affairs Department and the Maori Trust Office and the Board of Maori Affairs 1969, p24 serving for a year before handing over to Tangaroa Tangaroa as part of an agreement to rotate the post between the party's MLAs.David J. Stone (1971) Self rule in the Cook Islands: The government and politics of a new micro-state He joined the Democratic Party after it was formed in 1971 and was re-elected again in 1972 and 1974.
In 1977, Matepi was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. He died in Rarotonga in 1977 at the age of 68.
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