Vainerere Tangatapoto OBE (1 July 1912 – 19 January 1986) was a Cook Islands chief, educator and politician.

[3][4][1] In 1934 he joined the Tagua ship as a cabin boy under Andy Thomson and followed him to the Tiare Taporo.

[3][4] He also served as a church deacon,[4] founded Atiu's first youth club and public library,[4] and also established the Cook Islands branch of the Boys' and Girls' Brigades,[3] the latter in 1972.

[1] He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977,[8] and retired from politics prior to the March 1983 elections.

[3] After his death the government set up the Vainerere Tangatapoto Foundation Fund for Uniformed Organisations.