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2014 Cook Islands general election

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General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 9 July 2014,[1] determining the membership of the 16th Cook Islands Parliament.[2]

2014 Cook Islands general election
Cook Islands
← 2010 9 July 2014 2018 →
All 24 seats in Parliament
13 seats needed for a majority
Turnout81.09%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
Democratic Wilkie Rasmussen 46.72 10 +2
Cook Islands Henry Puna 41.82 12 −4
One Cook Islands Teina Bishop 9.45 2 New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after election
Henry Puna
Cook Islands		 Henry Puna
Cook Islands

The Cook Islands Party (CIP) initially appeared to have retained its majority, winning 13 seats, while the Democratic Party won eight and the new One Cook Islands Movement won two, with one seat tied. However, the result in one constituency the CIP had won was overturned in court, with the Democratic Party awarded the seat, while the tied seat was also awarded to the Democratic Party after one ballot was invalidated, resulting in a hung parliament.

Background

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The previous elections were held on 17 November 2010. The term of the Parliament was due to expire four years after that date, on 17 November 2014. Elections had to be held no later than three months after that date,[3] with 17 February 2015 being the latest date.

However, on 17 April 2014 the Queen's Representative, Tom Marsters, dissolved Parliament, setting an election date of 9 July.[1] Marsters stated that the Prime Minister, Henry Puna, had informed him that the early election was required in order to have a new government in office prior to the 50th anniversary of the Cook Islands attaining self-government, which will occur in 2015. Masters also said that it would allow the new government to pass a budget in time for the anniversary.[1] Puna blamed minister Teina Bishop for destabilising the government and necessitating the election.[4][5] Bishop resigned as education and tourism minister the day after the election was announced[6] and subsequently left the Cook Islands Party to form a new party.[4][7] The Opposition claimed that the Prime Minister had called the election to avoid a no-confidence vote in Parliament, which Puna denied.[5] Leader of the Opposition Wilkie Rasmussen criticised Puna for calling an election with bills yet to complete their passage in Parliament.[5][8][9]

A list of candidates was publicly notified on 6 May.[10] 52 candidates contested the election, a decrease from 70 in 2010.[11] Six candidates were women, with Alexis Wolfgramm of the Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Association blaming the snap election for the lack of more female candidates.[12]

10,394 people were enrolled to vote.[13]

Electoral system

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The 24 members of Parliament are elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system.[14][15]

Campaign

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The Cook Islands Party campaigned on its record in government,[16] including increasing pensions, other welfare payments and the minimum wage.[4] It also highlighted income tax reductions,[16] while the opposition Democratic Party criticised the government's value-added tax (VAT) increase and promised to reverse it.[4] The Democratic Party also promoted a scheme for agricultural development on the outer islands,[17] while the Cook Islands Party touted the infrastructure projects it had carried out in the outer islands.[16] Bishop's new party, the One Cook Islands Movement, called for the taxation of pensions to be abolished[18] and for subsidies to promote tourism in the outer islands.[19] Both major parties, as well as independent candidates, used social media in an attempt to connect with younger voters.[20] Former MP Iaveta Short criticised the campaign, saying parties were focused on "offering lollies to get votes" rather than providing solutions to the issues faced by the Cook Islands.[21]

Results

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There was a tie in Mitiaro, resulting in a by-election later in the year. However, before the by-election results were counted, a recount took place of the general election results after one voter's ballot was invalidated and the seat was awarded to Tangata Vavia of the Democratic Party, who won by a margin of 50–49.

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party3,90746.7210+2
Cook Islands Party3,49741.8212–4
One Cook Islands Movement7909.452New
Titikaveka Oire961.150New
Independents730.8700
Total8,363100.00240
Valid votes8,36399.23
Invalid/blank votes650.77
Total votes8,428100.00
Registered voters/turnout10,39481.09
Source: MFEM, MFEM

By constituency

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Akaoa
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Teariki Heather 201 52.1
Democratic Nooroa O Teariki Baker 185 47.9
Turnout 386
Cook Islands hold Swing
Amuri-Ureia
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Toanui Isamaela 203 57.8
Democratic Terepai Maoate Jnr 148 42.2
Turnout 351
Cook Islands hold Swing
Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
One Cook Islands Teina Bishop 204 68.2
Democratic Teuira Manuela Ka 95 31.8
Turnout 299
One Cook Islands gain from Cook Islands Swing
Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Albert Taaviri Kaitara Nicholas 292 53.1
Cook Islands John Henry 258 46.9
Turnout 550
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Ivirua
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Marurai Elected unopposed
Turnout
Democratic hold Swing
Manihiki
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Henry Puna 78 51.3
Democratic Apii Piho 74 48.7
Turnout 152
Cook Islands hold Swing
Matavera
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Kiriau Turepu 288 51.2
Democratic Cassey Eggelton 275 48.8
Turnout 563
Cook Islands hold Swing
Mauke
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Tai Tura 82 42.5
One Cook Islands Tungane Williams 63 32.6
Democratic Hugh Graham 48 24.9
Turnout 193
Cook Islands hold Swing
Mitiaro
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tangata Vavia 50 50.5
Cook Islands Tuakeu Tangatapoto 49 49.5
Turnout 99
Murienua
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James Beer 225 50.4
Cook Islands Patrick Arioka 221 49.6
Turnout 446
Democratic hold Swing
Ngatangiia
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tamaiva Tuavera 257 50.1
Cook Islands Atatoa Herman 183 35.7
Independent Ngateina Jasmine Mackenzie 73 14.2
Turnout 513
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Nikao-Panama
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ngamau Munokoa 415 64.1
Cook Islands Piritau Nga 234 35.9
Turnout 651
Democratic hold Swing
Oneroa
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kareroa Wesley 117 63.6
Cook Islands Poroaiti Arokapiti 67 36.4
Turnout 184
Democratic hold Swing
Penrhyn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Willie John 78 53.4
Democratic Wilkie Rasmussen 68 46.6
Turnout 146
Cook Islands gain from Democratic Swing
Pukapuka-Nassau
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Tekii Lazaro 128 46.9
Democratic Vai Peua 120 44.0
One Cook Islands Tai Ravarua 25 9.2
Turnout 273
Cook Islands hold Swing
Rakahanga
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Toka Hagai 39 63.9
Democratic Taunga Toka 22 36.1
Turnout 61
Cook Islands gain from Democratic Swing
Ruaau
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William William Heather 386 61.1
Cook Islands David Akanoa 246 38.9
Turnout 632
Democratic hold Swing
Takuvaine-Tutakimoa
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Mark Brown 313 63.9
Democratic Tuaputa Petero Dyer 177 36.1
Turnout 490
Cook Islands hold Swing
Tamarua
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tetangi Matapo 30 52.6
Cook Islands Tokorua Pareina 27 47.4
Turnout 57
Democratic gain from Cook Islands Swing
Teenui-Mapumai
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Rose Toki-Brown 71 54.6
Democratic Norman George 59 45.4
Turnout 130
Cook Islands gain from Independent Swing
Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Nandi Glassie 88 54.7
Democratic Eugene Tatuava 73 45.3
Turnout 161
Cook Islands hold Swing
Titikaveka
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Selina Napa 337 48.1
Cook Islands Teariki Matenga 268 38.2
Titikaveka Oire Teava Iro 96 13.7
Turnout 701
Democratic hold Swing
Tupapa-Maraerenga
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
One Cook Islands George Angene 498 51.0
Democratic Lee Harmon 282 28.9
Cook Islands Isaia Willie Jnr 197 20.2
Turnout 977
One Cook Islands gain from Cook Islands Swing
Vaipae-Tautu
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Cook Islands Mona Ioane 178 50.9
Democratic Kete Ioane 172 49.1
Turnout 350
Cook Islands hold Swing

Analysis and reactions

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The Cook Islands Party, despite winning fewer votes than the Democratic Party, retained its majority with 13 seats. The Democratic Party won eight seats and the newly formed One Cook Islands Movement two. One seat, Mitiaro, was tied, with a recount to be held there.[22][23]

Preliminary results had given the Democratic Party 11 seats to the Cook Islands Party's 10, with two for the One Cook Islands Movement and one tied. They had also had Prime Minister Henry Puna trailing his Democratic Party opponent by two votes in Manihiki.[24][25] However, the final results gave Puna a four-vote victory, while Democratic Party leader Wilkie Rasmussen, who had led by eight votes in the preliminary results, lost by 10 votes to the Cook Islands Party's Willie John in Penrhyn.[22][25] Tokorua Pareina of the Cook Islands Party also defeated the Democratic Party's Tetangi Matapo by one vote in Tamarua, which had been tied in the preliminary results.[26] Mitiaro, where the Democratic Party's Tangata Vavia had held a six-vote lead in the preliminary tallies, became in a tie in the final results.[22][25]

One Cook Islands Movement leader Teina Bishop was re-elected in Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara, as was the party's other MP, George Angene, in Tupapa-Maraerenga.[25]

In a major upset, Cook Islands Party candidate Rose Toki-Brown ousted veteran Democratic Party MP Norman George by 12 votes in Teenui-Mapumai. However, George claimed that his defeat was result of widespread bribery and said he would challenge it in court. Toki-Brown denied any wrongdoing. George stated that his party colleague Eugene Tatuava was also planning to challenge the result in Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua, where he lost to Cook Islands Party MP Nandi Glassie by 15 votes.[25][27]

Bishop questioned the validity of postal votes from New Zealand that arrived two days after election day, saying that this delay meant that they appeared to breach the Electoral Act. Chief Electoral Officer Taggy Tangimetua dismissed the issue as a "technicality", stating that she had received legal advice that she could count the votes and adding that the Electoral Act needed to be reformed to address impractical provisions.[28]

Preliminary figures indicated that turnout had declined to 73.3%, but this increased to 79% in the final results.[29] Democratic Party MP Selina Napa, who was re-elected in Titikaveka, claimed that the figures were skewed by outdated voter rolls that still listed people who had died or moved away. She was supported by Tangimetua, who noted that the rolls were supposed to be updated by the Ministry of Justice.[30]

The Democratic Party questioned the accuracy of the count, with its president, Sean Willis, saying:[31]

There are a lot of question marks hanging around about why a lot of Democratic votes by declaration were disallowed which were crucial in some outer island seats. There were postal votes that were accepted after the polling date. Basically we've lost the battle but we haven't lost the war. There are definitely going to be petitions.

The final results included an extra 1236 votes compared to the preliminary results. Earlier comments by Tangimetua had indicated that, in addition to the votes included in the preliminary count, the final count would include about 400 advance votes, between 100 and 300 postal votes, and 100 votes by declaration. The appearance of several hundred votes additional to those mentioned by the Chief Electoral Officer in the final count led to public concern and questions about where they had come from.[29][32] An anonymous party official also alleged that a scrutineer had reported seeing ballot boxes being opened before the count started.[29]

Aftermath

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In September the High Court upheld an electoral petition submitted by the Democratic Party regarding the result in Tamarua, where Cook Islands Party candidate Tokorua Pareina had won by a single result. As a result of the court ruling, Democratic Party candidate Tetangi Matapo was declared the winner by three votes. This resulted in the Cook Islands Party losing its one-seat majority.[33]

On 17 December 2014, the Court of Appeal voided the election of Cook Islands Party candidate (and Education Minister) Mona Ioane in Vaipae-Tautu, and ordered a by-election for 17 February. This ruling reduced the Puna government to the status of a minority government.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Cooks parliament dissolved for July election". Radio New Zealand International. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Members of Parliament (1958 - present)". parliament.gov.ck. Parliament of the Cook Islands. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (14 January 2014). "Candidates set for Murienua re-run". Cook Islands News. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Cook Islanders head to the polls for snap election". The New Zealand Herald. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna deflects claims of party disunity". ABC Radio Australia. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Cooks minister Bishop resigns". Radio New Zealand International. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  7. ^ "New group emerges to contest Cooks election". Radio New Zealand International. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  8. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (17 April 2014). "Election call was 'selfish'". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Cook Islands calls early election amid opposition claims government faces no confidence". ABC Radio Australia. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Candidates Duly Nominated For Each Constituency". Cook Islands Gazette. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  11. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (7 May 2014). "Fewer candidates run in 2014 election". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Cook Islands' snap election left women candidates behind: advocacy group". ABC Radio Australia. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  13. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (1 July 2014). "Election: Campaigns enter home stretch". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  14. ^ "Members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands". Parliament of the Cook Islands. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Cook Islands". Pacific Women in Politics. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  16. ^ a b c "Hopes 4 years of stability leads to 2nd term in Cook Islands". Radio New Zealand International. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Cash food crops for Cooks outer islands". Radio New Zealand International. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  18. ^ "MP wants tax-free pensions for Cooks". Radio New Zealand International. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  19. ^ "Cooks candidates contend elections". Radio New Zealand International. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  20. ^ "Social media a factor in Cook Islands poll". Radio New Zealand International. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  21. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (15 July 2014). "Election campaigns 'lacked substance'". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  22. ^ a b c Emmanuel Samoglou (18 July 2014). "Election: Puna in, Rasmussen out". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  23. ^ Cook Islands Party wins absolute majority | Radio New Zealand News
  24. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (10 July 2014). "One Cook Islands as kingmaker?". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Final Results 2014". Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. 18 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  26. ^ Briar Douglas (17 July 2014). "Election: CIP inches ahead of Demos". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  27. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou and Mark Ebrey (14 July 2014). "Election: Bitter battle likely in Atiu". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  28. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (15 July 2014). "Validity of postal votes questioned". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  29. ^ a b c Emmanuel Samoglou (19 July 2014). "Mysterious votes in final count". Cook Islands. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  30. ^ Emmanuel Samoglou (12 July 2014). "Cook Island Elections See Only 73% Voter Turnout". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  31. ^ "Cooks election outcome challenged". Radio New Zealand International. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  32. ^ "Extra votes sees return of Cook Islands Party government". ABC Radio Australia. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  33. ^ Ruling Cook Islands Party under threat after court decision Radio NZ International, 29 September 2014
  34. ^ "Cook Islands by-election revives opposition hopes", Radio New Zealand, 24 December 2014
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