Sir Robert Richmond Rex (25 January 190912 December 1992) was the first Premier of the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...
island state of
Niue
Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tonga ...
.
Early life and family
Rex was born to parents Leslie Lucas Richmond Rex, a European trader on Niue, and Fisimonomono Tufaina of
Avatele Village in the south of Niue. He later settled down in Alofi, the capital of Niue, with his wife of that village,
Patricia Rex, (1918–2004).
Rex was the great uncle of the rugby player
Frank Bunce.
Political career
Rex was Premier of Niue from its establishment as a self-governing territory on 19 October 1974 until his death in 1992. Upon his death in office, he was succeeded by Mititaiagimene
Young Vivian
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician and diplomat, who served as Premier of Niue twice, the first time from December 1992 to March 1993 following the death of Sir Robert Rex, and the second from 2002 to 2008. He also served as ...
, until General Elections the following year resulted in the election of
Frank Fakaotimanava Lui into office. Having served 18 years in office, he is Niue's longest serving Premier.
Although Rex was opposed to party politics on Niue, he was supported by the
Niue People's Action Party after its formation in 1987. During his almost two decades in office, Rex held virtually all Government ministerial portfolios from time to time. His Cabinet of Ministers included prominent Niuean figures such as Dr
Enetama Lipitoa, Mititaiagimene
Young Vivian
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician and diplomat, who served as Premier of Niue twice, the first time from December 1992 to March 1993 following the death of Sir Robert Rex, and the second from 2002 to 2008. He also served as ...
and
Frank Fakaotimanava Lui, the latter two also going on to become Premiers of Niue.
Honours
In the
1973 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 1973 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1973 to celebra ...
, Rex was made an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
, for valuable services to the people of Niue. He was appointed a
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III.
It is named in hono ...
in the
1977 Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours.
Rex was the first Niuean to receive a knighthood, being appointed a
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
in the
1984 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 1984 were appointments by most of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countrie ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rex, Robert
1909 births
1992 deaths
Premiers of Niue
Members of the Niue Assembly
Niue People's Party politicians
New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
Niuean knights
20th-century New Zealand politicians