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Sir Albert Maori Kiki (21 September 1931 – 13 March 1993) was a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a leading activist for independence and was one of the founders of the Pangu Party. He served as Papua New Guinea's first deputy prime minister from 1975 to 1977 under Michael Somare.

Early life

Born in the Kerema district on the Papuan coast, he was brought up in the Protestant faith in the church of the London Missionary Society. In 1958 he married Elizabeth, a Roman Catholic, in one of the first mixed marriages in the Territory. Albert had been one of a small group of promising students selected by Dr. John Gunther, Director of Health, to study medicine at the Suva Medical School. When he failed his medical exams and was likely to be recalled, he switched his studies to become a pathology technician. On completion of his course, he returned and worked as a technician in the laboratory operated by Dr. Price in the Native Hospital at Ela Beach. His autobiography, Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime, was published in 1968.

Politics

He was national secretary of the Pangu Party, and after the 1972 elections he entered parliament, and was appointed Minister for Lands and Environment in Michael Somare's government. He was deputy prime minister from 1975 until 1977.

Kiki first stood for parliament at the 1968 Papua New Guinean general election, and succeeded on his second attempt in 1972, winning the Moresby Inland Open seat. He also served on the Port Moresby Town Council from 1971 to 1973.

Personal life

In 1958, Kiki married Elizabeth Arivu Miro, a nurse from the village of Moripi. The couple had five children.

Outside of politics, Kiki was one of the founders of the Rugby Union Association of Papua and New Guinea. After losing his seat in parliament he was involved with a number of business ventures, including the establishment of a piggery outside Port Moresby and poultry and cattle farming. He served as chairman of the PNG Shipping Corporation Ltd and Credit Corporation (PNG) Ltd, and was also on the boards of Kwila Insurance Corporation Ltd and New Guinea Motors Pty Ltd.

Kiki died at his home in Port Moresby on 13 March 1993, aged 61. His body lay in state in the Grand Hall of the National Parliament House and was then interred at Nine Mile Cemetery.

References

1. Lal, Brij V.; Fortune, Kate (January 2000). The Pacific Islands. ISBN 9780824822651. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
2. The Pacific Islands: an encyclopedia, Vol 1, by Brij V. Lal, Kate Fortune, University of Hawaii Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8248-2265-X
3. ^ Johns, Eric (2021). "Sir Albert Maori Kiki (1931–1993)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 19.

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