Inatio Akaruru

Inatio Akaruru, who lived from 31 March 1937 to 31 January 2014, was a Cook Islands politician, cabinet minister and Deputy Prime Minister who also made his mark in bowls. Born on Pukapuka, he was a public servant before being elected its member of parliament in 1968 and served in the government of Albert Henry and as deputy to Geoffrey Henry. In sport he was President of the Cook Islands Bowling Association from 1984 to 2006 and represented the Cook Islands in bowls at the 1990 Auckland and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. He was a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, appointed in the 1992 New Year Honours, and held the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal from 1977.