Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader

11 May 2012

Winston Peters to Attend Funeral of Former Cook Islands PM

New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters will travel to the Cook Islands to attend the funeral of their long-serving former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry who died earlier this week, aged 71.

Mr Peters says Sir Geoffrey will be remembered as a good natured man who led the Cook Islands with panache.

“He had the difficulty of inheriting the legislation which brought about the Winebox Inquiry which was a very traumatic time for the Cook Islands. He then worked through legislation that transformed the country into the viable economy it is today.

“That must have presented all sorts of challenges for Sir Geoffrey but he rose to them and will be remembered as a very significant Pacific leader,” says Mr Peters.

Sir Geoffrey was twice Prime Minister of the Cook Islands – for seven months in 1983, and again from 1989 till 1999. He was knighted in 1992.

His funeral will be held in the Cook Islands tomorrow (Saturday NZ time).

ENDS

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