Elections in the Cook Islands

Elections in the Cook Islands gives information on election and election results in the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands elects on national level a legislature. The Parliament of the Cook Islands has 24 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constuencies. The Cook Islands have a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.

An election was held on 26 September 2006, after the opposition Cook Islands Party won a byelection in Matevera, leaving the government without a majority. The result was a close victory for the Democratic Party.

The last election was held on 9 July 2014.

Latest election

Main article: Cook Islands general election, 2014

 Summary of the 9 July 2014 Cook Islands election results

Parties		Votes	%	Seats
	Cook Islands Party	3,499	42.3	13
	Democratic Party	3,811	46.1	8
	One Cook Islands	790	9.6	2
	Titikaveka Oire	96	1.2	0
	Independents	73	0.9	0
Invalid/blank votes			–	–
Total		8,364	100.0	24
Registered voters/turnout		10,394	80.47	–
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Management

By-elections

Below is a list of recent by-elections:

Election	Date	Reason	Winner
1965 Te-Ao-O-Tonga by-election	July 1965	Resignation of Marguerite Story	Albert Henry (CIP)
1965 Mauke by-election	November 1967		Tupui Henry (CIP)
1994 Ivirua by-election	December 1994		Jim Marurai (CIP)
1999 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election	29 September 1999	Invalidation of election results	None
2000 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election	28 September 2000	Invalidation of 1999 Pukapuka-Nassau by-election.	Tiaki Wuatai (NAP)
2002 Penrhyn by-election	June 2002	Disqualification of Tepure Tapaitau	Wilkie Rasmussen (CIP)
2003 Rua’au by-election	14 August 2003	Death of Maria Heather	Geoffrey Heather (DP)
2003 Arutanga by-election	20 November 2003	Resignation of Teina Bishop	Teina Bishop (Independent)
2005 Manihiki by-election	8 February 2005	Resignation of Robert Woonton	Henry Puna (CIP)
2006 Teenui-Mapumai by-election	8 June 2006	Retirement of Upoko Simpson	Norman George (Independent)
2006 Matavera by-election	19 July 2006	Conviction of Vaevae Pare for fraud	Kiriau Turepu (CIP)
2006 Akaoa by-election	29 November 2006	Previous election produced tied result	Teariki Heather (CIP)
2007 Titikaveka by-election	7 February 2007	Election of Robert Wigmore declared invalid	Robert Wigmore (DP)
2009 Tamarua by-election	3 February 2009	Death of Mii Parima	Pukeiti Pukeiti (CIP)
2011 Pukapuka by-election	7 June 2011	Election of Tekii Lazaro declared invalid	Tekii Lazaro (CIP)
2012 Titikaveka by-election	21 June 2012	Death of Robert Wigmore	Selina Napa (DP)
2013 Tamarua by-election	29 January 2013	Death of Pukeiti Pukeiti	Tetangi Matapo (DP)
2013 Murienua by-election	19 September 2013	Resignation of Tom Marsters	Kaota Tuariki (CIP)
2014 Murienua by-election	19 February 2014	Resignation of Kaota Tuariki	James Beer (DP)
2014 Mitiaro by-election	11 November 2014	Draw in the 2014 general election	Results not counted due to court order.
2015 Vaipae-Tautu by-election	31 March 2015	2014 election result voided	Moana Ioane (CIP)

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system