Teatao Teannaki (15 June 1935– 11 October 2016) was an I-

Kiribati Kiribati (), officially the Republic of Kiribati ( gil, ibaberikiKiribati),Kiribati
''The Wor ...

political figure A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

who served as President of Kiribati from 1991 until 1994. He was first elected to represent

Abaiang Abaiang, also known as Apaiang, Apia, and in the past, Charlotte Island, in the Northern Gilbert Islands, is a coral atoll of Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean. Abaiang was the island of the first missionary to arrive in the G ...

in the House of Assembly of the Gilbert Islands. Teatao Teannaki, Minister of State in the previous government of Chief Minister

Naboua Ratieta Naboua T. Ratieta (26 April 1938 – 12 June 1986) was an I-Kiribati politician who became the first Chief Minister of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1974. The Ellice Islands separated from the colony the following year, and he remained Chie ...

, became Minister for Education, Training and Culture in March 1978. At independence on 12 July 1979, Tabai immediately nominated Teannaki as Vice-president. He served as

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

under the three mandates of Sir

Ieremia Tabai Ieremia Tienang Tabai (modern spelling: Tabwai; born 16 December 1949) is an I-Kiribati politician who served as the first Beretitenti President of the Republic of Kiribati, after being the youngest ever Chief minister of the Commonwealth of ...

. He would also serve as the Minister of Home Affairs in 1987, and as

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

from 1987 to 1991. Replacing Babera Kirata, suddenly dead before the general election, he was narrowly elected to replace Tabai as the

President of Kiribati The president of Kiribati ( gil, Beretitenti) is the head of state and head of government of Kiribati. Following a general election, by which citizens elect the members of the House of Assembly, members select from their midst "not less than 3 ...

on behalf of the National Progressive Party of Kiribati from 8 July 1991 until 1 October 1994. It is said that Tabai continued to exert political influence in the Kiribati government throughout Teannaki's term. Teannaki also served as Foreign Minister beginning in 1992. He was succeeded by Teburoro Tito after defeat in a September 1994 election. Teannaki was at the helm of the National Progressive Party as of July 2015. Teannaki died in a maneaba namely Ueen Abaiang during a meeting with the Unimane of Abaiang Called " te Ie nao" (following a heart attack on 11 October 2016. at the age of 80.

References

*Lentz, Harris M., III. ''Heads of State and Governments". Jefferson, NC:McFarland & Company, Inc. 1994. . 1930s births 2016 deaths Presidents of Kiribati Vice-presidents of Kiribati Speakers of the House of Assembly of Kiribati Members of the House of Assembly (Kiribati) Finance ministers of Kiribati Government ministers of Kiribati National Progressive Party (Kiribati) politicians People from the Gilbert Islands 20th-century I-Kiribati politicians 21st-century I-Kiribati politicians Tobwaan Kiribati Party politicians {{Kiribati-politician-stub