The politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy within a constitutional monarchy. The Monarch of New Zealand,represented in the Cook Islands by the King or Queen's Representative,was the Head of State;the prime minister is the head of government of a multi-party system. The nation is self-governing and are fully responsible for internal and foreign affairs. Since 2001,the Cook Islands has run its own foreign and defence policy. Executive power is exercised by the government,while legislative power is vested in both the government and the islands' parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislatures.
Robert Woonton is a Cook Islands politician and diplomat. He served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 11 February 2002 until 11 December 2004,and later as High Commissioner to New Zealand. He was a member of the centrist Democratic Party.
Jim Marurai was a Cook Islands politician who served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Joseph Williams was a Cook Islands politician and physician who served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands for four months in 1999. He is credited with having worked to prevent the spread of the tropical disease lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis). He principally resided in Auckland,New Zealand,where he was medical director of the Mt Wellington Integrated Family Health Centre.
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004. Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin,but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed,delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December. In the interim,Prime Minister Robert Woonton announced that he was forming a coalition government with the rival Cook Islands Party. This led to a split within the Democrats,with Woonton and four other MPs leaving to form the Demo Tumu Party. With 14 MPs,the coalition had a comfortable majority in Parliament.
Norman George is a Cook Islands politician and former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament,Deputy Prime Minister,and Cabinet Minister.
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He was a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. From 2013 to 2015 he was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
Ngamau Mere Munokoa,also known as "Aunty Mau",is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. She was the third woman ever elected to the Cook Islands Parliament,the second appointed to Cabinet,and the first to hold the post of Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister. She is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
Tangata Mouauri Vavia is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party.
Teina Bishop is a Cook Islands politician,former Cabinet Minister,and leader of the One Cook Islands Movement. He was jailed for corruption in 2016.
Robert George Wigmore was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party from 2010 –2012,and Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2009 to 2010. He served as a Minister in the Cabinets of Robert Woonton and Jim Marurai.
Teariki William Heather is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet minister who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2013 to 2018. Previously a member of the Cook Islands Party,he is now the leader of the Cook Islands United Party.
Henry Tuakeu Puna is a Cook Islands politician,and the current secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. He was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from November 2010 to October 2020. Since 2006 he has been leader of the Cook Islands Party.
Tupou Alfred Faireka is a Cook Islands politician and former deputy leader of the Cook Islands Party. He was an MP for 13 years and served as a Cabinet Minister.
Mark Stephen Brown is a Cook Islands politician and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He had previously served as Deputy Prime Minister under Henry Puna. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.
Tepure Tapaitau,QPM was a Cook Islands politician,Cabinet Minister,and Deputy Leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party and also the first Cook Islander to become the Commissioner of Police.
Albert Taaviri Kaitara Nicholas is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party. He is the son of former MP Albert (Peto) Nicholas.
Peri Vaevae Pare was a Cook Islands politician and Cabinet Minister. He was stripped of his seat in Parliament after being convicted of corruption in 2005.
Events in the year 2020 in the Cook Islands.
