A by-election was held in the Cook Islands electorate of Manihiki on 5 May 2021. [1] The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Prime Minister Henry Puna in order to take up the job of Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. [2]
On 7 April 2021 businessman Temu Okotai announced that he would contest the election as an independent. [3] On 8 April the Democratic Party announced Munokoa Maraeara as their candidate. [4] On 13 April the Cook Islands Party announced Akaiti Puna, wife of former MP Henry Puna, as their candidate. [5]
The election was won by Akaiti Puna. [6]
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Akaiti Puna | Cook Islands Party | 82 | 68.33 | |
Munokoa Maraeara | Democratic Party | 33 | 27.50 | |
Temu Okotai | Independent | 5 | 4.17 | |
Total | 120 | 100.00 | ||
Source: [7] |
The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the islands' politics since 1965.
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 78%.
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Wesley Kareroa is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
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Tukaka "Kaka" George Tamarua Ama is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party. He is the brother of MP Akaiti Puna.