Albert Nicholas (Cook Islands)
Albert Taaviri Kaitara Nicholas is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party. He is the son of former MP Albert Nicholas.
Nicholas was first elected to parliament in the 2014 election as a representative of the Democratic Party. He represents the seat of Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston.
In March 2015, Nicholas switched his support to the government of Henry Puna in exchange for a cabinet post as Minister of Internal Affairs, Youth and Sport, the Ombudsman, and the Punanga Nui market. He was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party.
In 2016, he was part of the Cook Islands' delegation to the second Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Wellington, New Zealand. In April 2017 he resigned from parliament in order to end speculation over his defection from the Democrats. He was re-elected in the resulting 2017 Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston by-election.
He was re-elected at the 2018 election. On 21 September 2018 Nicholas was sacked from cabinet without explanation while overseas for health reasons. He was replaced by Vaine Mokoroa.
In January 2019, Nicholas was charged in New Zealand with "unlawfully taking a motor vehicle", a rental car. He entered a plea of not guilty the following month, and was released on bail, returning to the Cook Islands. He failed to appear at a second hearing at Manukau District Court on 26 March, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued. He was nonetheless sworn back into parliament on 9 April. As of June 2019, the arrest warrant remains active, and Nicholas will be arrested if he returns to New Zealand.
In February 2020 Nicholas was seriously injured in a car accident. In March 2020 Nicholas admitted that he had pledged his support to the government of Henry Puna in exchange for a bridge being built in his electorate.
