Siblings Akaiti Puna, Member of Parliament for Manihiki, and Tukaka “Kaka” Ama, the new MP for Ngatangiia, have fulfilled their parents’ dream.

The two stood under the banner of the governing Cook Islands Party at the 2022 general election in August.

After the swearing in ceremony on Tuesday, Ama said: “I’m very proud and honoured to be in Parliament with my older sister Akaiti, in a way it’s sort of fulfilling our parents’ dreams. They were very heavily involved in politics during their time so for her and I to be on this journey together it’s an honour to our parents – we’ve come a long way.”

“It’s a relief for me as a first time MP and I’m excited. I can’t wait to do the work that I want to be doing, working for my community and the people of Ngatangiia.

“I’m very excited, and also to be part of Government to be able to make a difference for the people of the Cook Islands.”

Ama contested the 2018 general election but lost to Democratic Party’s Tamaiva Tuavera, the former Ngatangiia MP. He was successful at the last election held on August 1, 2022.

Ama previously worked as chief of protocol for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and received his long service award in 2019 from the then Queen’s Representative, now King’s Rep Sir Tom Marsters.