The former Police Commissioner and Government Minister, Tepure Tapaitau, is the new Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, the country's top diplomatic post..
Radio Cook Islands says Prime Minister Jim Marurai, announced the appointment and said it ends a lengthy gap in the country's diplomatic representation in Wellington.
Mr Tapaitau graduated in law from Auckland University.
He rose through the ranks to become the first Cook Islander appointed Police Commissioner.
Later as Member of Parliament for the northern island of Penrhyn he was Minister for Police and Minister of Marine Resources.
More recently he advised the Government in efforts to reform the financial sector and combat money laundering.
