2018 Cook Islands general election

Last updated
2018 Cook Islands general election
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
←  2014 14 June 2018 2022  →
All 24 seats in Parliament
13 seats needed for a majority
PartyLeader%Seats+/–
Cook Islands Henry Puna 42.3010−2
Democratic Tina Browne 41.9111+1
One Cook Islands Teina Bishop 10.811−1
Independents –3.772+2
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
2018 Cook Islands general election.png
Results of the election by constituency.
Prime Minister beforePrime Minister after election
Henry Puna
Cook Islands 		Henry Puna
Cook Islands

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 14 June 2018 to elect the 24 members of the 17th Cook Islands Parliament. [1] [2]

Contents

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. [3] Following the election, the Cook Islands Party joined forces with the independents and One Cook Islands to retain power. [4]

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. [5] The Parliamentary term is four years. As of 12 June 2018, there were 10,917 people enrolled to vote in the elections. [6]

Results

Final results were published on 28 June.

Cook Island 2018.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Cook Islands Party 3,65442.3010–2
Democratic Party 3,62041.9111+1
One Cook Islands Movement 93410.811–1
Titikaveka Oire971.1200
Alternative Must Ravenga Openga70.080New
Independents3263.772+2
Total8,638100.00240
Source: Cook Islands Gazette [7]

By electorate

Akaoa
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Nooroa o Teariki Baker 23353.8
Cook Islands Teariki Heather 20046.2
Turnout 433
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Amuri–Ureia
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Terepai Maoate Jnr 19259.3
Cook Islands Toanui Isamaela 13240.7
Turnout 324
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Arutanga–Reureu–Nikaupara
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Tereapii Maki-Kavana 18051.6
One Cook Islands Pumati Israela 16948.4
Turnout 349
Cook Islands gain from One Cook Islands Swing
Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Albert Nicholas 30552.9
Democratic Teina Rongo27247.1
Turnout 577
Cook Islands hold Swing
Ivirua
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Anthony Toruariki Armstrong 5261.2
Cook Islands Marion Harry3338.8
Turnout 85
Democratic hold Swing
Manihiki
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Henry Puna 9774.0
Democratic Apii Piho 3426.0
Turnout 131
Cook Islands hold Swing
Matavera
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Vaitoti Tupa 29851.8
Cook Islands Kiriau Turepu 27748.2
Turnout 575
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Mauke
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Tai Tura 6839.1
One Cook Islands Tungane Williams6738.5
Democratic Belezadala Tangata William Tararo3922.4
Turnout 174
Cook Islands hold Swing
Mitiaro
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Tuakeu Tangatapoto 5853.7
Democratic Tangata Vavia 5046.3
Turnout 108
Cook Islands gain from Democratic Swing
Murienua
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Patrick Arioka 22350.1
Democratic James Beer 15234.2
One Cook Islands Teariki Taraare Unuka7015.7
Turnout 445
Cook Islands gain from Democratic Swing
Ngatangiia
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Tamaiva Tuavera 27854.1
Cook Islands Tukaka Ama 23645.9
Turnout 514
Democratic hold Swing
Nikao–Panama
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Vaine Mokoroa 51165.3
Democratic Ngamau Munokoa 27134.6
Turnout 782
Cook Islands gain from Democratic Swing
Oneroa
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Wesley Kareroa 11867.4
Cook Islands Teina Ngametuatoe5732.6
Turnout 175
Democratic hold Swing
Penrhyn
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Robert Tapaitau 5446.1
Cook Islands Willie John 3429.1
Democratic Wilkie Rasmussen 2924.8
Turnout 117
Independent gain from Democratic Swing
Pukapuka–Nassau
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Tingika Elikana 14352.4
Democratic Junior Willie Katoa13047.6
Turnout 273
Cook Islands hold Swing
Rakahanga
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Toka Hagai 3961.9
Democratic Tina Browne 2438.1
Turnout 63
Cook Islands hold Swing
Ruaau
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic William (Smiley) Heather 35453.7
Cook Islands Arama Joseph Wichman30546.3
Turnout 659
Democratic hold Swing
Takuvaine–Tutakimoa
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Cook Islands Mark Brown 32166.2
Democratic Teokotai George15532.0
Independent George Pitt91.9
Turnout 485
Cook Islands hold Swing
Tamarua
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Tetangi Matapo 3159.6
Cook Islands Mia Teaurima2140.4
Turnout 52
Democratic hold Swing
Teenui–Mapumai
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Rose Toki-Brown 7766.4
Cook Islands Tereapii Porio3126.7
Democratic Tania Akai86.9
Turnout 116
Independent gain from Cook Islands Swing
Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Te-Hani Brown 7156.3
Cook Islands Nandi Glassie 4838.1
Alternative Must Ravenga Openga Norman George 75.6
Turnout 126
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Titikaveka
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Selina Napa 22531.6
Cook Islands Moeroa Thomas-Tamangaro18425.8
Independent Margharet Matenga 13819.4
Titikaveka OireTeava Iro9713.6
One Cook Islands John Tumutoa699.7
Turnout 713
Democratic hold Swing
Tupapa–Maraerenga
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
One Cook Islands George Angene 55953.8
Democratic Lee Harmon43341.6
Independent Teresa Manarangi-Trott484.6
Turnout 1040
One Cook Islands hold Swing
Vaipae–Tautu
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kitai Teinakore 17153.1
Cook Islands Mona Ioane 15146.9
Turnout 322
Democratic hold Swing

By island

Popular vote
Island CIP Democratic Total votes
Rarotonga 41.84%44.06%6,223
Other islands43.47%36.35%2,415

Seats changing hands

SeatPre-electionPost-election
PartyMemberPercentagePercentageMemberParty
Akaoa CIP Teariki Heather 52.153.8 Nooroa o Teariki Baker Democratic
Amuri-Ureia CIP Toanui Isamaela 57.859.3 Terepai Maoate Jnr Democratic
Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara OCI Pumati Israela 68.251.6 Tereapii Maki-Kavana CIP
Matavera CIP Kiriau Turepu 51.251.8 Vaitoti Tupa Democratic
Mitiaro Democratic Tangata Vavia 50.553.7 Tuakeu Tangatapoto CIP
Murienua Democratic James Beer 50.450.1 Patrick Arioka CIP
Nikao-Panama Democratic Ngamau Munokoa 64.165.3 Vaine Mokoroa CIP
Penrhyn Democratic Wilkie Rasmussen 46.646.1 Robert Tapaitau Independent
Teenui-Mapumai CIP Tereapii Porio 54.666.4 Rose Toki-Brown Independent
Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua CIP Nandi Glassie 54.756.3 Te-Hani Brown Democratic

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. [8]

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. [9] 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. [10] However, all of these petitions were rejected, confirming the result of the election. [11] Rakahanga MP Toka Hagai resigned on 1 November 2018 after allegations of treating. [12] In December 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that Tina Browne had won the seat. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ Cook Island elections to be held on June 14 Radio NZ, 13 April 2018
  2. ↑ "Members of Parliament (1958 - present)". parliament.gov.ck. Parliament of the Cook Islands. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "2018 General Election Live Blog". Cook Islands News.
  4. ↑ "Cook Islands Cabinet revealed". Radio New Zealand International. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Cook Islands 2014 elections in brief Electoral Office
  6. ↑ "Cook Islands Elections". Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.
  7. ↑ "The Cook Islands Gazette No. 36/2018" (PDF). Parliament of the Cook Islands. 28 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Article 13.2.a Constitution
  9. ↑ Rashneel Kumar (7 July 2018). "CIP set to maintain power". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Rashneel Kumar (7 July 2018). "Democratic Party files four out of six petitions". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  11. ↑ Bamber, Shaun. "Rakahanga petition fails". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Cook Islands MP resigns amid legal action". RNZI. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  13. ↑ "Browne wins Cook Islands election petition on appeal". Radio New Zealand International. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
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