17th Cook Islands Parliament

17th Parliament of the Cook Islands
← 16th Parliament 18th Parliament →
Parliament House, Avarua
Overview
Legislative body	Parliament of the Cook Islands
Election	2018 general election
Government	Fourth Cook Islands Party Government
Website	parliament.gov.ck
House of Representatives
Members	24
Speaker of the House	Tai Tura — Niki Rattle until 15 February 2021
Prime Minister	Mark Brown — Henry Puna until 1 October 2020
Leader of the Opposition	Tina Browne
House of Ariki
Members	24
President of the House of Ariki	Tou Travel Ariki
Sovereign
Monarch	Elizabeth II
King's Representative	Tom Marsters

The 17th Cook Islands Parliament is a previous term of the Parliament of the Cook Islands. ^[1] Its composition was determined by the 2018 elections on 14 June 2018. ^[2]

Officeholders

Presiding officers

• Speaker of the House:
  • Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) from March 2021 ^{[3] [4]}
  • Niki Rattle until 15 February 2021 ^{[3] [5]}
• Deputy Speaker of the House:
  • Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) from April 2019 ^[6] until March 2021

Other parliamentary officers

• Clerk:
  • Tangata Vainerere, from April 2021 ^[7]
  • Jeannine Daniel, acting clerk from March 2020 until April 2021 ^[7]
  • Tangata Vainerere, from October 2018 ^[4] until March 2020 ^{[8] [7]}
  • Helen Maunga, acting clerk from August 2018 to October 2018 ^[7]
  • Pastor John Tangi, until 1 August 2018 ^{[4] [7]}
• Deputy Clerk:
  • Tai Manavaroa, from April 2021 ^[7]
  • Jeannine Daniel, from November 2019 until March 2020 ^{[7] [4]}
  • Helen Maunga, until November 2019 ^{[7] [4]}

Party leaders

• Prime Minister:
  • Hon. Mark Brown (Cook Islands Party) from 1 October 2020 ^[9]
  • Hon. Henry Puna (Cook Islands Party) until 1 October 2020 ^[4]
• Deputy Prime Minister:
  • Hon. Robert Tapaitau (Independent) from 1 October 2020 ^[9]
  • Hon. Mark Brown (Cook Islands Party) until 1 October 2020
• Leader of the Opposition: Tina Browne (Democratic Party)

Members

Initial party standings

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Democratic Party			11	+2
Cook Islands Party			10	–3
One Cook Islands Movement			1	–1
Titikaveka Oire	83		0	0
Independents			2	+2
Invalid/blank votes		–	–	–
Total			24	0
Registered voters/turnout	10,917		–	–
Source: Radio NZ Justice minister

Initial MPs

	Name	Party	Electorate	Term
	George Angene	OCI	Tupapa–Maraerenga	Third
	Patrick Arioka	CIP	Murienua	First
	Anthony Toruariki Armstrong	DP	Ivirua	First
	Nooroa o Teariki Baker	DP	Akaoa	First
	Mark Brown	CIP	Takuvaine–Tutakimoa	Third
	Te-Hani Brown	DP	Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua	First
	Tingika Elikana	CIP	Pukapuka–Nassau	First
	Toka Hagai	CIP	Rakahanga	Second
	William (Smiley) Heather	DP	Ruaau	Second
	Wesley Kareroa	DP	Oneroa	Second
	Tereapii Maki-Kavana	CIP	Arutanga–Reureu–Nikaupara	First
	Terepai Maoate Jnr	DP	Amuri–Ureia	Third
	Tetangi Matapo	DP	Tamarua	Third
	Vaine Mokoroa	CIP	Nikao–Panama	First
	Selina Napa	DP	Titikaveka	Third
	Albert Nicholas	CIP	Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston	Second
	Henry Puna	CIP	Manihiki	Fourth
	Tuakeu Tangatapoto	CIP	Mitiaro	First
	Robert Tapaitau	Ind	Penrhyn	First
	Kitai Teinakore	DP	Vaipae–Tautu	First
	Rose Toki-Brown	Ind	Teenui–Mapumai	Second
	Tamaiva Tuavera	DP	Ngatangiia	Second
	Vaitoti Tupa	DP	Matavera	First
	Tai Tura	CIP	Mauke	Third

Summary of changes

• Toka Hagai resigned on 1 November 2018 after allegations of treating. ^[10] In December 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that Tina Browne had won the seat. ^[11]
• Tony Armstrong died in November 2018. ^[12] A by-election for the vacant Ivirua seat was held on 21 January 2019, and was won by Agnes Armstrong. ^[13]
• Te-Hani Brown resigned from the Democratic party to support the government in January 2019. She was subsequently re-elected in a by-election. ^[14]
• Henry Puna resigned on 24 March 2021 to take up the position of Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. ^[15] Akaiti Puna was elected in the resulting by-election. ^[16]

References

1. "Members of Parliament (1958 - present)". parliament.gov.ck. Parliament of the Cook Islands. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
2. "Cook Island elections to be held on June 14". Radio NZ International. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
3. "Speakers". parliament.gov.ck. Parliament of the Cook Islands . Retrieved 17 May 2025.
4. "17TH PARLIAMENT" (PDF). parliamentci.wpenginepowered.com. Parliament of the Cook Islands . Retrieved 17 May 2025.
5. Samoglou, Emmanuel (16 February 2021). "Speaker's resignation catches MPs off-guard". Cook Islands News . Retrieved 17 May 2025.
6. Kumar, Rashneel (18 August 2020). "Tura appointed deputy Speaker". Cook Islands News . Retrieved 17 May 2025.
7. "Clerks". parliament.gov.ck. Parliament of the Cook Islands. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
8. Etches, Melina (22 April 2021). "Vainerere is back in the House". Cook Islands News . Retrieved 17 May 2025.
9. "Mark Brown is the new Cook Islands PM". RNZ . 1 October 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
10. "Cook Islands MP resigns amid legal action". RNZI. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
11. "Browne wins Cook Islands election petition on appeal". Radio New Zealand International. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
12. "Cook Islands Democratic Party mourns death of MP". Radio New Zealand International. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
13. "Cook Islands Democratic Party looks to have secured Ivirua seat". Radio New Zealand. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
14. "Te-Hani Brown wins Cook Islands by-election". Radio New Zealand. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
15. Losirene Lacanivalu (24 March 2021). "Puna bids farewell with some words of advice". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
16. Rashneel Kumar (6 May 2021). "Akaiti Puna wins Manihiki by-election, CIP majority intact". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 6 May 2021.