Honoured for 45 years of service, Taggy Tangimetua has been instrumental in shaping the Cook Islands’ statistical data collection and electoral processes.

Tangimetua serves as both the Cook Islands chief statistician and chief electoral officer, playing a key role in upholding the integrity of the country’s electoral processes.

For 45 years, she has quietly shaped the way our country gathers information and protects the pillars of democracy.

Her journey, which began in 1980, has been one of steady dedication, quiet resilience and deep commitment to public service.

Last month, Tangimetua was honoured with a Certificate of Recognition for her four and a half decades of “outstanding dedication, leadership and service” to the Ministry of Finance Economics Management (MFEM), by Financial Secretary Garth Henderson.

The honour not only celebrated her years of service but also the invaluable impact she has had on our nation’s development.

Her journey in the statistics department began in 1980, with a typewriter.

“When I first began working in the Electoral Office everything was done manually. Electoral rolls were typed on typewriters, communication was by radio or noticeboards, and coordinating an election took immense effort and coordination with very limited technology,” recalls Tangimetua.

Through these early challenges, the principles that guided her work remained steadfast – integrity, fairness, and public trust.

“While the core principles of democracy have remained the same, the expectations of electoral administration have grown,” she explains. “I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a team, and how the office has modernised while continuing to uphold fairness, transparency, and credibility.”

Tangimetua’s early work included helping to shift the country’s statistical systems from hand-written records to computerised data entry and analysis – a transformation that modernised the entire sector.

A defining moment came in 1997 when she was appointed chief statistician.

“It was both humbling and motivating,” she recalls. “It gave me the opportunity to help shape national statistics and mentor the next generation.”

Under her leadership, the Statistics Office has successfully coordinated major nationwide surveys such as the Population and Housing Census and the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES).

These massive undertakings, she says, require planning, resilience and a strong sense of teamwork.

“As statisticians, there’s a thrill in cracking complex problems,” Tangimetua adds. “It’s not about memorising formulas, but thinking creatively and reasoning deeply. Often, we work quietly behind the scenes, but our work underpins every sector of government.”

In her role as chief electoral officer, Tangimetua has overseen numerous parliamentary and local government elections, ensuring that each is conducted fairly, transparently and in line with evolving expectations.

“The landscape has changed significantly,” she says. “But our aim has always been to protect the integrity of our democratic processes. That’s something I remain committed to.”

Her unique ability to balance technical rigour with civic duty means that statistical data not only informs government policy, it also helps maintain the integrity of elections.

Beyond the Cook Islands, Tangimetua has represented the nation across the Pacific, contributing to regional initiatives like the Ten-Year Pacific Statistics Strategy (TYPSS), and working with groups such as the Pacific Statistics Steering Committee (PSSC), the Pacific Statistics Methods Board (PSMB), and the Regional Conference of Heads of Planning and Statistics (HOPS).

She has helped shape how the Pacific collects and uses statistical data, always advocating for robust systems and high standards.

Looking back, Tangimetua says some of her proudest moments haven’t been in reports or reforms, but in watching younger staff grow into capable professionals.

“Mentoring others, seeing them grow in confidence and capability – that’s the real reward,” she shares. “It’s knowing the systems and values we’ve built will continue beyond my time.”

Throughout her career, Tangimetua has weathered political shifts, social changes, and leadership transitions – all while remaining a steady hand in a fast-evolving world.

“It’s not just the years that matter,” she says. “It’s the quiet impact made through mentoring, the resilience shown during change, and the purpose that drives you every day.”

Her qualifications – a Bachelor’s in Economics and Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics, and a Master’s in Business Administration – reflect her intellectual foundation, but it is her integrity and heart for service that have truly defined her legacy.

As Tangimetua continues her service to the Cook Islands, she stands as a reminder that some of the most important work happens behind the scenes – quietly, consistently and with great purpose.