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2018 Cook Islands general election

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2018 Cook Islands general election
← 2014 14 June 2018 2022 →
24 seats
13 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Tina Browne Henry Puna Teina Bishop
Party Democratic Cook Islands One Cook Islands
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 Increase2 Decrease3 Decrease1
Prime Minister before election

Henry Puna
Cook Islands

Prime Minister after election

Henry Puna
Cook Islands

Politics of the Cook Islands

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

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 Party 3,654 42.30 10 –3
Democratic Party 3,620 41.91 11 +2
One Cook Islands Movement 934 10.81 1 –1
Titikaveka Oire 97 1.12 0 0
Alternative Must Ravenga Openga 7 0.08 0 New
Independents 326 3.77 2 +2
Invalid/blank votes – – –
Total 8,638 100 24 0
Registered voters/turnout – –
Source: MFRM

By constituency

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


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