Selina Napa
MBE
Selina Napa in 2016
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament
for Titikaveka
In office
21 June 2012 – 1 August 2022
Preceded byRobert Wigmore
Succeeded bySonny Williams
Personal details
Born17 October 1964
Political partyCook Islands Democratic Party

Selina Matenga-Napa MBE (born 17 October 1964)[1] is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. She is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party. She is the daughter of former MP Dr Teariki Matenga.[2]

Early life and sporting career

Napa was born on Mangaia and educated at Titikaveka School and Tereora College.[1] She has a long involvement in Netball, playing at a village level as a child before being part of the Cook Islands national netball team at the 1981 South Pacific Mini Games.[3] She played for the Cook Islands throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including at the 1987 World Netball Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and the 1989 World Games in Germany.[3] Eventually she rose to be team captain.[3] She later played for and coached the Titikaveka Pearls,[4] and was part of the selection panel for the Cook Islands women's national cricket team.[5]

Political career

Napa worked for the Business Trade and Investment board, and then as campaign manager for Titikaveka MP Robert Wigmore for four election campaigns.[6] She was later an administrator and spokesperson for the Democratic Party.[7] Following Wigmore's death she was elected to Parliament in the 2012 Titikaveka by-election, which was also contested by her brother.[8][9] In April 2013 she attended the inaugural Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Wellington, New Zealand.[10]

Napa was re-elected in the 2014 election. In 2015, she was appointed opposition spokesperson for Environment, Telecommunications, Tourism, and Youth and Sport.[11] In 2016, she was part of the Cook Islands' delegation to the second Pacific Parliamentary Forum.[12] She was re-elected again at the 2018 election. In December 2019 she was part of a protest by women MPs to permit the wearing of ei katu (floral crowns) in Parliament.[13] In February 2020 she was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Health, Environment, Justice, and the Trade and Investment Board.[14]

She lost her seat in the 2022 Cook Islands general election.[15]

Honours

Napa was awarded an MBE for services to sport, youth and the community in the 2007 New Year Honours.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Selina NAPA, MBE". Cook Islands Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Eric Parnis (9 May 2012). "Selina sets sights". Cook Islands News. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Captain's Call: Selina Napa". Cook Islands Women in Sport 20/20. Cook Islands Sports National Olympic Commission. 24 May 2020. p. 35-38. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Titikaveka Pearls too good for competition". Cook Islands News. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Big guns to pick new national team". Cook Islands News. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sel's good at attack and defence". Cook Islands News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Opposition name shadow cabinet". Cook Islands News. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Brother versus sister in Titikaveka". Cook Islands News. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Selina Napa wins Cooks by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Cook Islanders speak in NZ House". Cook Islands News. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Party allocates 'shadow' portfolios". Cook Islands News. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "MPs represent country in NZ". Cook Islands News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Positively blooming in parliament". Cook Islands News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Melina Etches (19 February 2020). "Demos gunning for change". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "Winners are grinners: New MPs ready to serve". Cook Islands News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "The newly knighted Terepai Maoate credits family and friends for his honour". RNZ. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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