1968 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 1 May 1968. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP), which won 16 seats, a gain of two from the 1965 elections. The newly formed United Cook Islanders won the other six seats to become the parliamentary opposition. CIP leader Albert Henry continued as Prime Minister.

1968 Cook Islands general election

1 May 1968

All 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly 13 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Cook Islands Albert Henry 65.12 16 +2 UCI Ngatupuna Matepi 32.91 6 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Premier before Premier after Albert Henry Cook Islands Albert Henry Cook Islands

Campaign

In February a new party, the United Cook Islanders (UCI), was formed. Its members included former cabinet members Mana Strickland and Manea Tamarua. The new party launched its manifesto on 8 April.

A total of 55 candidates contested the elections; 23 from the CIP (two candidates from the party ran against each other in Pukapuka, and four candidates from the party contested the three seats in Takitumu), 18 from the UCI and six independents. Former Leader of Government Business Dick Charles Brown had intended to run as an independent, but withdrew. The CIP candidates were returned unopposed in Mauke and Mitiaro.

The campaign period during April saw meetings held almost every night, with CIP meetings initially drawing crowds of several hundred, rising to over 1,300 by the end of the campaign. In contrast, UCI meetings were usually attended by fewer than 100 people.

Results

The CIP won all nine seats in Rarotonga, and gained the three Aitutaki seats, which had been won by the Independent Group in 1965. The UCI's former ministers, Strickland and Tamarua, both lost their seats.

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Cook Islands Party	12,569	65.12	16	+2
	United Cook Islanders	6,352	32.91	6	New
	Independents	379	1.96	0	0
Total		19,300	100.00	22	0
Valid votes		6,858	99.23
Invalid/blank votes		53	0.77
Total votes		6,911	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		7,603	90.90
Source: Stone

By electorate

Constituency	Candidate	Party		Votes
Aitutaki–Manuae	William Estall		Cook Islands	890
	Joseph Williams		Cook Islands	888
	Ngaa Upu		Cook Islands	816
	Dora Harrington		Independent	146
	John Robert George Dick		Independent	89
	Rata Toa		Independent	72
Atiu	Vainerere Tangatapoto		United Cook Islanders	314
	Tangata Simiona		United Cook Islanders	280
	Mariri Paratainga		Cook Islands	185
	Pakari Tutai		Cook Islands	135
Mangaia	Ngatupuna Matepi		United Cook Islanders	594
	Pokino Aberahama		United Cook Islanders	587
	Turaraiti Pekepo		Cook Islands	164
Manihiki	Nato Temu		Cook Islands	115
	Mareko Mareko		United Cook Islanders	53
	Ben Pukerua		Independent	33
	Glassie Strickland		Independent	29
Mauke	Tupui Ariki Henry		Cook Islands	Unopposed
Mitiaro	Raui Pokoati		Cook Islands	Unopposed
Penrhyn	Tangaroa Tangaroa		United Cook Islanders	219
	Tuauri Hakaoro		Cook Islands	42
	Fred Ford		Independent	10
Puaikura	Taru Moana		Cook Islands	550
	Tamataia Pera Maurangi		Cook Islands	547
	Alexander Munro		United Cook Islanders	287
	Napa Tauei Napa		United Cook Islanders	282
Pukapuka–Nassau	Inatio Akaruru		Cook Islands	233
	John Tariau		Cook Islands	134
Rakahanga	Pupuke Robati		United Cook Islanders	90
	Howard Howard		Cook Islands	32
Takitumu	Apenera Short		Cook Islands	574
	Tiakana Numanga		Cook Islands	532
	Samuela Samuela		Cook Islands	396
	Jean Domonique Upoko Crummer Peyroux		United Cook Islanders	305
	Kamate Areora Ira		United Cook Islanders	301
	William Cowan		United Cook Islanders	276
	Taramai Tetonga		Cook Islands	198
Te-au-o-Tonga	Albert Henry		Cook Islands	1,682
	Teanua Kamana		Cook Islands	1,568
	Teaukura Roi		Cook Islands	1,470
	Kamate Nangaiti		Cook Islands	1,418
	Manea Teariki Tamarua		United Cook Islanders	717
	Mana Strickland		United Cook Islanders	694
	David Marama Hosking		United Cook Islanders	679
	Marama Tepou Nicholas		United Cook Islanders	674
Source: Cook Islands Gazette, Stone, Pacific Islands Monthly

Further reading

• Haas, Anthony (1969). "Three Years after Internal Self-Government: The Cook Islands General Election 1968". Journal of Pacific History. 4 (1): 136–145. doi:10.1080/00223346908572152.