2018 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 14 June 2018 to elect the 24 members of the 15th Cook Islands Parliament.[1]

2018 Cook Islands general election
14 June 2018
24 seats
13 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Tina Browne Henry Puna Teina Bishop
Party DP CIP OCI
Leader since April 2017 September 2006 April 2014
Leader's seat Rakahanga (lost) Manihiki Did not contest
Last election 9 13 2
Seats won 11 10 1
Seat change 2 3 1
Prime Minister before election

Henry Puna
CIP

 Prime Minister after election

Henry Puna
CIP

Cook Islands
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Cook Islands

The nationalist, Cook Islands Party, led by the Prime Minister, Henry Puna, attempted to win a third consecutive term in government. However, the elections resulted in a hung parliament, with the opposition Democratic Party led by Tina Browne becoming the largest party, although Browne failed to win a seat, losing in Rakahanga constituency.

The Democratic Party won 11 seats, the Cook Islands Party 10 seats, One Cook Islands Movement one seat, with independent candidates winning two seats.[2] Following the election, the Cook Islands Party joined forces with the independents and One Cook Islands to retain power.[3]

Electoral system

The Cook Islands a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. Its government uses the Westminster system, with the 24 members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting.[4] The Parliamentary term is four years. As of 12 June 2018, there were 10,917 people enrolled to vote in the elections.[5]

Results

Final results were published on 28 June.[6]

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Cook Islands Party3,65442.3010–3
Democratic Party3,62041.9111+2
One Cook Islands Movement93410.811–1
Titikaveka Oire971.1200
Alternative Must Ravenga Openga70.080New
Independents3263.772+2
Invalid/blank votes–––
Total8,638100240
Registered voters/turnout––
Source: MFRM

By constituency
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Akaoa
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Nooroa o Teariki Baker 233 53.8
CIP Teariki Heather 200 46.2
Turnout 433
DP gain from CIP Swing


Cook Islands general election, 2018: Amuri–Ureia
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Terepai Maoate Jnr 192 59.3
CIP Toanui Isamaela 132 40.7
Turnout 324
DP gain from CIP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Arutanga–Reureu–Nikaupara
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Tereapii Maki-Kavana 180 51.6
OCI Pumati Israela 169 48.4
Turnout 349
CIP gain from OCI Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Albert Nicholas 305 52.9
DP Teina Rongo 272 47.1
Turnout 577
CIP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Ivirua
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Anthony Toruariki Armstrong 52 61.2
CIP Marion Harry 33 38.8
Turnout 85
DP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Manihiki
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Henry Puna 97 74.0
DP Apii Piho 34 26.0
Turnout 131
CIP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Matavera
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Vaitoti Tupa 298 51.8
CIP Kiriau Turepu 277 48.2
Turnout 575
DP gain from CIP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Mauke
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Tai Tura 68 39.1
OCI Tungane Williams 67 38.5
DP Belezadala Tangata William Tararo 39 22.4
Turnout 174
CIP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Mitiaro
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Tuakeu Tangatapoto 58 53.7
DP Tangata Vavia 50 46.3
Turnout 108
CIP gain from DP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Murienua
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Patrick Arioka 223 50.1
DP James Beer 152 34.2
OCI Teariki Taraare Unuka 70 15.7
Turnout 445
CIP gain from DP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Ngatangiia
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Tamaiva Tuavera 278 54.1
CIP Tukaka Ama 236 45.9
Turnout 514
DP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Nikao–Panama
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Vaine Mokoroa 511 65.3
DP Ngamau Munokoa 271 34.6
Turnout 782
CIP gain from DP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Oneroa
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Wesley Kareroa 118 67.4
CIP Teina Ngametuatoe 57 32.6
Turnout 175
DP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Penrhyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Robert Tapaitau 54 46.1
CIP Willie John 34 29.1
DP Wilkie Rasmussen 29 24.8
Turnout 117
Independent gain from DP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Pukapuka–Nassau
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Tingika Elikana 143 52.4
DP Junior Willie Katoa 130 47.6
Turnout 273
CIP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Rakahanga
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Toka Hagai 39 61.9
DP Tina Browne 24 38.1
Turnout 63
CIP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Ruaau
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP William (Smiley) Heather 354 53.7
CIP Arama Joseph Wichman 305 46.3
Turnout 659
DP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Takuvaine–Tutakimoa
Party Candidate Votes % ±
CIP Mark Brown 321 66.2
DP Teokotai George 155 32.0
Independent George Pitt 9 1.9
Turnout 485
CIP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Tamarua
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Tetangi Matapo 31 59.6
CIP Mia Teaurima 21 40.4
Turnout 52
DP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Teenui–Mapumai
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Rose Toki-Brown 77 66.4
CIP Tereapii Porio 31 26.7
DP Tania Akai 8 6.9
Turnout 116
Independent gain from CIP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Te-Hani Brown 71 56.3
CIP Nandi Glassie 48 38.1
Alternative Must Ravenga Openga Norman George 7 5.6
Turnout 126
DP gain from CIP Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Titikaveka
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Selina Napa 225 31.6
CIP Moeroa Thomas-Tamangaro 184 25.8
Independent Margharet Matenga 138 19.4
Titikaveka Oire Teava Iro 97 13.6
OCI John Tumutoa 69 9.7
Turnout 713
DP hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Tupapa–Maraerenga
Party Candidate Votes % ±
OCI George Angene 559 53.8
DP Lee Harmon 433 41.6
Independent Teresa Manarangi-Trott 48 4.6
Turnout 1040
OCI hold Swing
Cook Islands general election, 2018: Vaipae–Tautu
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DP Kitai Teinakore 171 53.1
CIP Mona Ioane 151 46.9
Turnout 322
DP hold Swing

Aftermath

Although the Democratic Party won the most seats, neither leader Tina Browne nor Deputy Leader James Beer were elected to Parliament. The constitution of the Cook Islands requires the Prime Minister to be a member of parliament.[7]

On 7 July the Cook Islands party formed an alliance with independent MPs Rose Toki-Brown and Robert Tapaitau, and One Cook Islands movement's George Maggie to retain power.[8] Toki-Brown, Tapaitau and Maggie were all appointed to Cabinet, replacing Ministers who had lost their seats.

Six electoral petitions were filed, challenging the results in Rakahanga, Murienua, Pukapuka-Nassau, Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston, Ngatangiia, and Mauke.[9] However, all of these petitions were rejected, confirming the result of the election.[10] Rakahanga MP Toka Hagai resigned on 1 November 2018 after allegations of treating.[11] In December 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that Tina Browne had won the seat.[12]

References
  1. Cook Island elections to be held on June 14 Radio NZ, 13 April 2018
  2. "2018 General Election Live Blog". Cook Islands News.
  3. "Cook Islands Cabinet revealed". Radio New Zealand International. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. Cook Islands 2014 elections in brief Electoral Office
  5. "Cook Islands Elections". Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.
  6. "Cook Islands Parliamentary Elections 2018 Public Notice No.8". MFRM. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018.
  7. Article 13.2.a Constitution
  8. Rashneel Kumar (7 July 2018). "CIP set to maintain power". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  9. Rashneel Kumar (7 July 2018). "Democratic Party files four out of six petitions". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. Bamber, Shaun. "Rakahanga petition fails". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  11. "Cook Islands MP resigns amid legal action". RNZI. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  12. "Browne wins Cook Islands election petition on appeal". Radio New Zealand International. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
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