Ngereteina Puna

Ngereteina Puna (born 1938) is a former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He is the older brother of Prime Minister Henry Puna.

Early life and career Puna grew up on Aitutaki. After graduating from Ardmore Teachers' Training College and the University of Auckland in New Zealand, he worked as a teacher.

Political career At the 1989 election he was elected as MP for Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara. He went on to serve as Minister of Education in the Cook Islands Party government of Geoffrey Henry from 2011 to 2012. In the 1995 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community.

Personal life Puna is currently based in Auckland, where he works as an advisor to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Puna's father, Tuakeu Manuela, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and his older brother William Estall also served as a Cabinet Minister.