Nahau Rooney

Who is Nahau Rooney?

Nahau Rooney is a former Papua New Guinean politician.

She was one of three women elected to the 109-member National Parliament of Papua New Guinea during the country's first post-independence general election, in 1977. She was re-elected in 1982, becoming the only female Member of Parliament at that time, but was never subsequently returned to Parliament. She represented the Manus Regional constituency in Manus Province. She was still an active politician in the 1990s, standing unsuccessfully for Parliament in the 1997 general election.

Following her election to Parliament in 1977, Rooney served as Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Michael Somare's Cabinet. In 1979, during her term as Minister, she wrote to director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Egan, "urging intervention" in reaction to politician and businessman John Kaputin being charged with failing to file company returns. As a result, Egan had her sentenced to a nine-month jail term for contempt. She was immediately released on licence by Somare. She later served as Civil Aviation Minister.

Rooney was married to Wes Rooney, an Australian who was later murdered on her home island of Manus.

In the 2000s, having mostly retired from politics, she was running a guest lodge on Manus Island. She was also, however, President of the National Council of Women, and, in 2004, stood unsuccessfully for the position of Governor General.