2004 Cook Islands general election

2004 Cook Islands general election
	24 seats in the Parliament; 13 seats needed for a majority
Robert Woonton; Democratic	Robert Woonton; Democratic

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004.^[1] Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin,^[2] but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed,^[3] 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.^[4] This led to a split within the Democrats, with Woonton and four other MPs leaving to form the Demo Tumu Party.^[5] With 14 MPs, the coalition had a comfortable majority in Parliament.

The results of the electoral petitions saw the seat of Titikaveka change hands^[6] while Woonton's seat was a dead tie. Woonton subsequently resigned in order to fight a by-election,^[7] causing his government to be dissolved. He was succeeded by his deputy, Jim Marurai.^[8]

Results



Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Alliance Party	3,944	47.36	14	+4
	Cook Islands Party	3,647	43.79	9	–2
	Tumu Enua	198	2.38	0	New
	Independents	539	6.47	1	+1
Total		8,328	100.00	24	–1

Source: Cook Islands News,^[9] IFES^[1]

By electorate

Akaoa
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Teariki Heather	188	54.3
	Democratic	Teremoana Tapi Taio	158	45.7
Turnout			346	75.5

Amuri-Ureia
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Terepai Maoate Jnr	185	50.7
	Cook Islands	Teokotai Herman	175	47.9
	Independent	Kiria Kiria	5	1.4
Turnout			365	97.0

Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Teina Bishop	178	57.6
	Democratic	Ronald Henry	131	42.4
Turnout			309	92.8

Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Albert (Peto) Nicholas	315	52.7
	Democratic	Poko Keu	283	47.3
Turnout			598	80.9

Ivirua
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Marurai	Unopposed

Manihiki
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Woonton	142	50.7
	Cook Islands	Henry Puna	138	49.3
Turnout			280	100.0

Matavera
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Peri Vaevae Peri	221	49.3
	Cook Islands	Kiriau Turepu	200	44.6
	Independent	Mereana Taikoko	27	6.0
Turnout			448	88.9

Mauke
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mapu Taia	124	61.4
	Cook Islands	George Cowan	87	43.1
	TE	Taratoa Rouru Metuariki	17	8.4
Turnout			202	83.1

Mitiaro
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tangata Vavia	65	52.4
	Cook Islands	Travel Tou Ariki	59	47.6
Turnout			124	96.9

Murienua
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Tom Marsters	180	47.0
	Democratic	William Pera	99	25.8
	Independent	Brett Porter	86	22.5
	TE	Rouru Metuariki	18	4.7
Turnout			383	74.8

Ngatangiia
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Terepai Maoate	269	57.2
	Cook Islands	Metuatini Tangaroa	170	36.2
	Independent	Maru Ben	31	6.6
Turnout			470	87.5

Nikao-Panama
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ngamau Munokoa	442	71.9
	Cook Islands	Mamapo Manuela	173	28.1
Turnout			615	74.5

Oneroa
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Winton Pickering	132	55.9
	TE	Taata Tangatakino	96	40.7
	Cook Islands	Papamama Pokino	8	3.4
Turnout			236	99.6

Penrhyn
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Wilkie Rasmussen	103	52.3
	Democratic	Tepure Tapaitau	94	47.7
Turnout			197	102.1

Pukapuka-Nassau
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tiaki Wuatai	181	51.4
	Cook Islands	Tiera Mataora	171	48.6
Turnout			352	98.1

Rakahanga
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Piho Rua	42	56.8
	Democratic	Pupuke Robati	32	43.2
Turnout			74	89.2

Ruaau
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Vaine Iriano Wichman	315	55.1
	Democratic	Geoffrey Heather	257	44.9
Turnout			572	87.5

Takuvaine-Tutakimoa
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Geoffrey Henry	243	46.1
	Democratic	Ngai Tupa	202	38.3
	Independent	Jessie Sword	82	15.6
Turnout			527	83.4

Tamarua
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Mii Parima	43	68.3
	Democratic	Andy Matapo	20	31.7
Turnout			63	82.9

Teenui-Mapumai
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Upokomaki Simpson	71	54.6
	Cook Islands	Tangaina Tanga	59	45.4
Turnout			130	92.2

Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Eugene Tatuava	73	35.6
	TE	Norman George	67	32.7
	Cook Islands	Nooroa Tou	65	31.7
Turnout			205	97.6

Titikaveka
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Wigmore	270	42.5
	Cook Islands	Tiki Matapo	264	41.6
	Independent	Tere Carr	101	15.9
Turnout			635	86.9

Tupapa-Maraerenga
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Cook Islands	Tupou Faireka	353	43.7
	Democratic	John Tangi	290	35.9
	Independent	Elizabeth Ponga	165	20.4
Turnout			808	87.8

Vaipae-Tautu
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kete Ioane	203	55.9
	Cook Islands	Tiraa Arere	160	44.1
Turnout			363	82.1

References

^ ^a ^b "IFES Election Guide: Cook islands". Retrieved 2009-03-21.
^ "Democratic party in Cook Islands consolidates election lead". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-13. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "Cook Islands election petition period ends". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "Woonton announces new Cook Islands government". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-11-15. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "Cook Islands prime minister forms new party". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-01. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-10. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "Cooks to vote for new Prime Minister after election draw leads to by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-12. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "New Cook Islands PM and Cabinet sworn in". Cook Islands Government. 2004-12-15. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^ "General election preliminary results: State of the parties – to 13 September 2004". Cook Islands News. 13 September 2004. Archived from the original on 15 October 2004.

[ifes-1] "IFES Election Guide: Cook islands". Retrieved 2009-03-21.

[2] "Democratic party in Cook Islands consolidates election lead". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-13. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[3] "Cook Islands election petition period ends". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[4] "Woonton announces new Cook Islands government". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-11-15. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[5] "Cook Islands prime minister forms new party". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-01. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[6] "Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-10. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[7] "Cooks to vote for new Prime Minister after election draw leads to by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-12. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[8] "New Cook Islands PM and Cabinet sworn in". Cook Islands Government. 2004-12-15. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-12.

[9] "General election preliminary results: State of the parties – to 13 September 2004". Cook Islands News. 13 September 2004. Archived from the original on 15 October 2004.

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