Charles Tetaria (born 1 January 1947) is a

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

n athlete, medical doctor, politician, and former

Cabinet Minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ‘prime minister’, � ...

. He has represented

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

at the South Pacific Games. He is an advocate for the Tahitian language and a member of the Tahitian Academy. Tetaria was born in

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The Communes of France, commune of Papeete is located on the isl ...

, but moved to

at the age of 15 to pursue his athletic career. He competed in the

1963 South Pacific Games The 1963 South Pacific Games, held from 29 August to 9 September 1963 at Suva in Fiji, was the first edition of the South Pacific Games. The multisport games were established to engender bonds of friendship amongst peoples in the Pacific, after an ...

Suva Suva () is the capital and largest city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rewa Province, Central Divi ...

, winning gold in the 110m hurdles and bronze in the long jump. At the

1966 South Pacific Games The 1966 South Pacific Games, held at Nouméa in New Caledonia from 8–18 December 1966, was the second edition of the South Pacific Games. Participating countries Fourteen Pacific nations or territories participated in the Games: Sports Twel ...

in Nouméa,

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

, winning gold in the long jump, silver in the 110m hurdles, and bronze in the relay. At the

1969 South Pacific Games The 1969 South Pacific Games, held from 13–23 August 1969 at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, was the third edition of the South Pacific Games. A total of 1,150 athletes participated in the games. Participating countries Twelve Pacific nations ...

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...

, he won silver in the 110m hurdles and bronze in the decathlon. At the

1971 South Pacific Games The 1971 South Pacific Games, held at Papeete in Tahiti from 25 August to 5 September 1971, was the fourth edition of the South Pacific Games. Approximately 1,500 male athletes and 500 female athletes participated in the games. Participating co ...

in Pirae he won gold in the decathlon and relay, and bronze in the 110m hurdles. After training as a medical doctor, he returned to French Polynesia in 1976. He worked in a blood transfusion centre and medical laboratories, and as a volunteer for the Olympic Committee of French Polynesia. He was elected to the

Assembly of French Polynesia The Assembly of French Polynesia (french: Assemblée de la Polynésie française, Tahitian: Te apo'ora'a rahi o te fenua Mā'ohi) is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic. It is located at Plac ...

as a Tahoera'a Huiraatira candidate at the 1982 French Polynesian legislative election and appointed Minister of Health and Social Affairs. In November 2006 he was appointed Minister of Health again in the government of Oscar Temaru, following the resignation of Pia Hiro. He held the position until the Temaru government was toppled in December. He was reappointed with Temaru's other cabinet ministers in September 2007, holding office until February 2008. When Temaru returned as president following a confidence vote in April 2011 he was appointed Minister of Health and Solidarity. He lost the position following the 2013 election. In June 2017, he was appointed to the Tahitian Academy, replacing Patua Coulin. In June 2019, he was appointed a Knight of the

Order of Tahiti Nui The Order of Tahiti Nui was established on 5 June 1996 by the Assembly of French Polynesia to reward distinguished merit and achievements in the service to French Polynesia. History The Order of Tahiti Nui was established June 5, 1996 by resolu ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tetaria, Charles Living people 1947 births People from Papeete French Polynesian athletes French Polynesian long jumpers French Polynesian medical doctors Members of the Assembly of French Polynesia Health ministers of French Polynesia Tahoera'a Huiraatira politicians Members of the Tahitian Academy Knights of the Order of Tahiti Nui