Teima Onorio (also as Teimwa) (born 1963) is an I-
Kiribati
Kiribati (), officially the Republic of Kiribati ( gil, ibaberikiKiribati),[Kiribati]
''The Wor ...
politician who has been a Member of the
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level.
Historically, in British Crown colonies
A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony adm ...
since 1998. She served as
Vice President of Kiribati
The vice-president of Kiribati ( gil, Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) is the deputy head of State of the Republic of Kiribati. His or her constitutional functions are to exercise the duties of the President of Kiribati, temporarily or permanently, should ...
from 2003 to 2016.
["Historical Information on the Parliament of Kiribati"](_blank)
, Kiribati Parliament website
Early life
Onorio is the daughter of
Rota Onorio
Rota Erimariki Onorio (26 October 1919 – 14 September 2004) was an I-Kiribati politician who served as Acting President as Chairman of the Council of State of Kiribati from 10 December 1982 to 18 February 1983, and also as Speaker of the House ...
, president of Council of State and acting President of Kiribati from 10 December 1982 until 18 February 1983. She was educated at
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand.
The university is well kn ...
(BA) and the
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a public research university in Norwich, England. Established in 1963 on a campus west of the city centre, the university has four faculties and 26 schools of study. The annual income of the institution f ...
(MA, 1990).
Career
Onorio served as Member of Parliament for the
Arorae
Arorae (spelling variants: Arorai, Arurai; also known as Hope Island or Hurd Island“Captain Patterson, commanding the brig ''Elizabeth'', called it Hope Island: “Hope Island, in 2° 43′ S and 176° 56′ 25″ E, was the first discovery, t ...
constituency from 1998 to 2002.
She has also held the post of Minister for Internal and Social Affairs since 2012. She was Minister for Education, Youth and Sports Development from 2003 to 2007, before heading the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives from 2007 to 2008 and then returning to Education, Youth and Sports Development from 2008 to 2012.
As Vice-President of Kiribati, she has represented the
Alliance of Small Island States
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is an intergovernmental organization of low-lying coastal and small island countries. AOSIS was established in 1990, ahead of the Second World Climate Conference. The main purpose of the alliance is to co ...
at the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...
, speaking on the topic of
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
.
"Assemblée générale : appels épars au respect du protocole de Kyoto"
UN News Centre, September 21, 2009
President Anote Tong
Anote Tong (; born 11 June 1952 in Tabuaeran, Line Islands) is an I-Kiribati politician for the Pillars of Truth party and environmental activist with half Chinese heritage, who served as President of Kiribati, from 2003 to 2016. He won the elect ...
reappointed Onorio to a third consecutive term as Vice President on 19 January 2012, as part of his cabinet appointees.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onorio, Teima
1963 births
Living people
Vice-presidents of Kiribati
Members of the House of Assembly (Kiribati)
Pillars of Truth politicians
Victoria University of Wellington alumni
Alumni of the University of East Anglia
20th-century I-Kiribati women politicians
20th-century I-Kiribati politicians
21st-century I-Kiribati women politicians
21st-century I-Kiribati politicians
Women vice presidents
Women government ministers of Kiribati
Education ministers of Kiribati
Industry ministers of Kiribati
Sports ministers of Kiribati
Trade ministers of Kiribati
Youth ministers of Kiribati