24 Jul 2007

Former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Sir Tom Davis, has died aged 90 in Rarotonga

12:28 pm on 24 July 2007

The former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Sir Tom Davis, has died aged 90 in Rarotonga.

Sir Tom, who served as Prime Minister from 1978 to 1983, and then again from late 1983 to 1987, had close links with New Zealand.

He was the the first Cook Islands medical graduate in New Zealand, studying at Otago in the early 1940s before returning to Rarotonga to practice.

Sir Tom is widely regarded as having spearheaded key improvements to the Cook Islands health system.

After leaving office in 1987, Sir Tom took up the role of High Commissioner to New Zealand.

The cause of his death is unknown.