Former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament Niki Rattle is the country’s new Ombudsman.

At her swearing-in ceremony yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Brown acknowledged the contribution Rattle has already made to the Cook Islands and is confident that she will perform well in this new role.

In her response, Rattle noting that the position had once been held by the Prime Minister’s father Henry Brown, said: “I am thrilled to be asked again to serve my country in a public position. It is a great honour.”

She said she gracefully accepted the challenge “because while I considered it would not be easy, I also consider it important enough to make my time available”.

Rattle is a registered nurse, was the secretary general for Red Cross Cook Islands for 18 years, and more recently was the Speaker of Parliament from 2012 to 2021. She stepped down from that role in February last year.

Born on the northern island of Manihiki, at the age of 10 Rattle moved to Rarotonga for studies and then on to New Zealand later for her nursing training. She worked as a nurse for some years in the Bay of Plenty and has fond memories of her time at Whakatane hospital. She is passionate about all aspects of nursing generally with particular interest in obstetrics/gynaecology and theatre nursing.

Rattle gave back to her own people when she returned to be the village nurse at Tukao, Manihiki.

In her time as Speaker of the House, she participated in international affairs by serving as an officer of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association including training and mentoring new Commonwealth Parliamentary Speakers; and also, was the chairperson of the Small Branches of 42 Legislatures up to the end of her role as Speaker.

Rattle replaces Nooapii Tearea who resigned from the position at the end of last year, after a career spanning more than four decades in the public service, the last three serving as Ombudsman.

Rattle is married to well-known local jeweller Colin Rattle, they have three children and three grandsons.