Published: 7:46AM Saturday May 12, 2012 Source: ONE News

Sir Geoffrey Henry - Source: ONE News

The state funeral of former Cook Islands Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry has been held today.

The 71-year-old, who served as prime minister for 10 years, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday.

He became leader of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) in 1979 after his cousin Albert Henry was forced to resign over using Government money to fly in voters from New Zealand.

Sir Geoffrey remained leader of the party until 2006 and was twice prime minister of the Cook Islands - for seven months in 1983, and again from 1989 until 1999.

He resigned as prime minister in July 1999 rather than face the break-up of the CIP due to party dissidents who opposed both his leadership and the nation's growing debt of more than $100 million.

Desperate to raise funds, Sir Geoffrey issued letters of guarantee for (US) $1.1 billion.

New Zealand was forced to step in and implement harsh measures in order to stop the country from going bankrupt. An independent report found that the Cook Islands were a gullible victim in a fraud which could have cost the nation all of its assets.

Despite the turmoil, Sir Geoffrey will be remembered for his support behind the Cook Islands protest against French nuclear testing and his fierce nationalism.

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Former Cook Islands PM Sir Geoffrey Henry farewelled