Cook Islands Party
Encyclopedia
The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party
in the Cook Islands
. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the Islands' politics since 1965.
The party won the 2010 election
and currently forms the government. The leader of the party is the Prime Minister
, Henry Puna
.
, a former leader of the Cook Islands Progressive Association, who had agitated for greater self-rule in the 1940's. The party was founded on a platform of economic development, maintaining ties with New Zealand
, the protection of traditional Cook Islands culture and increased recognition of traditional titles. Within a month of foundation, the party had gained over 2,000 members on Rarotonga.
Prior to independence, the party campaigned for the residential qualification for candidates to the Legislative Assembly to be reduced, in order to allow Henry to stand. They were unsuccessful, and as a result Henry was replaced at the 1965 elections
by his sister, Marguerite Story
. The party won a strong majority of 14 seats, which they used to amend the constitution to reduce the residency requirement. Following the passage of the necessary legislation by the New Zealand Parliament
, Story resigned. Henry was elected in the subsequent by-election, and became the first Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
.
The party dominated Islands politics for the next decade, but lost power at the 1978 elections
after it was discovered to have engaged in widespread electoral fraud. Albert Henry resigned as party leader and was replaced by Geoffrey Henry
. He was subsequently convicted of conspiracy and misuse of public money and stripped of his knighthood.
The party spent the next decade decade in opposition, then held power again between 1989 and 1999. From 1999 until 2005 it sometimes participated in coalition governments. It won 10 seats in the 1999 elections and 9 seats in the 2004 elections. In 2006 it replaced its long-time leader, Geoffrey Henry
, with Henry Puna
, but Puna was defeated in the parliamentary elections several months later along with the deputy leader. While he remains the party's leader, the Parliamentary Leader of the Opposition is Tom Marsters
.
At the last elections
, 26 September 2006, the party won 45.3 % of the popular vote and 7 out of 24 seats. It is the largest opposition party in the Cook Islands.
In July 2010 following a dispute about candidate selection, Avatiu/Ruatonga MP Albert (Peto) Nicholas
left the party and founded the Party Tumu
. The breakaway party has attracted the support of influential CIP backer Tupui Ariki Henry, son of CIP founder and former Prime Minister Albert Henry.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the Islands' politics since 1965.
The party won the 2010 election
Cook Islands general election, 2010
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats...
and currently forms the government. The leader of the party is the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands is the official rsponsible for heading Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's government in the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The office was established in 1965, when self-government was first granted to the islands...
, Henry Puna
Henry Puna
Henry Tuakeu Puna is the current Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is leader of the Cook Islands Party.-Early life:Puna grew up in Aitutaki. He was educated on Aitutaki and Rarotonga before studying law at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Tasmania in Australia...
.
History
The Cook Islands Party was established on 15 June 1964 by Albert HenryAlbert Henry
Albert Royle Henry was the first Premier of the Cook Islands. He was forced to resign from that post in a 1978 voting scandal for which he was later convicted of fraud...
, a former leader of the Cook Islands Progressive Association, who had agitated for greater self-rule in the 1940's. The party was founded on a platform of economic development, maintaining ties with New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the protection of traditional Cook Islands culture and increased recognition of traditional titles. Within a month of foundation, the party had gained over 2,000 members on Rarotonga.
Prior to independence, the party campaigned for the residential qualification for candidates to the Legislative Assembly to be reduced, in order to allow Henry to stand. They were unsuccessful, and as a result Henry was replaced at the 1965 elections
Cook Islands general election, 1965
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 20 April 1965 to elect 22 MPs to the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party and saw Albert Henry become the Cook Islands' first Prime Minister....
by his sister, Marguerite Story
Marguerite Story
Marguerite Henry Story was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands from 1965 to 1979. Story was the first woman elected to the Cook Islands Parliament and was also the first woman in the Commonwealth to become speaker of a national parliament.Marguerite Henry was born in...
. The party won a strong majority of 14 seats, which they used to amend the constitution to reduce the residency requirement. Following the passage of the necessary legislation by the New Zealand Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
, Story resigned. Henry was elected in the subsequent by-election, and became the first Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands is the official rsponsible for heading Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's government in the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The office was established in 1965, when self-government was first granted to the islands...
.
The party dominated Islands politics for the next decade, but lost power at the 1978 elections
Cook Islands general election, 1978
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 30 March, 1978 to elect 22 MPs to the Parliament. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party under Albert Henry, but it later emerged that the CIP had flown hundreds of supporters from New Zealand to the Cook Islands at public expense in...
after it was discovered to have engaged in widespread electoral fraud. Albert Henry resigned as party leader and was replaced by Geoffrey Henry
Geoffrey Henry
Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry KBE is a Cook Island politician who was twice the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was leader of the Cook Islands Party from 1979 to 2006.-Early life:...
. He was subsequently convicted of conspiracy and misuse of public money and stripped of his knighthood.
The party spent the next decade decade in opposition, then held power again between 1989 and 1999. From 1999 until 2005 it sometimes participated in coalition governments. It won 10 seats in the 1999 elections and 9 seats in the 2004 elections. In 2006 it replaced its long-time leader, Geoffrey Henry
Geoffrey Henry
Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry KBE is a Cook Island politician who was twice the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was leader of the Cook Islands Party from 1979 to 2006.-Early life:...
, with Henry Puna
Henry Puna
Henry Tuakeu Puna is the current Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is leader of the Cook Islands Party.-Early life:Puna grew up in Aitutaki. He was educated on Aitutaki and Rarotonga before studying law at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Tasmania in Australia...
, but Puna was defeated in the parliamentary elections several months later along with the deputy leader. While he remains the party's leader, the Parliamentary Leader of the Opposition is Tom Marsters
Tom Marsters
Tom John Marsters is a Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.-Personal life:...
.
At the last elections
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...
, 26 September 2006, the party won 45.3 % of the popular vote and 7 out of 24 seats. It is the largest opposition party in the Cook Islands.
In July 2010 following a dispute about candidate selection, Avatiu/Ruatonga MP Albert (Peto) Nicholas
Albert (Peto) Nicholas
Albert Nicholas is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament for the seat of the seat of Avatiu/Ruatonga....
left the party and founded the Party Tumu
Party Tumu
The Party Tumu is a political party in the Cook Islands. It was founded in July 2010 by Cook Islands Party MP Albert Nicholas after a split over candidate selection...
. The breakaway party has attracted the support of influential CIP backer Tupui Ariki Henry, son of CIP founder and former Prime Minister Albert Henry.
Leaders
- Albert HenryAlbert HenryAlbert Royle Henry was the first Premier of the Cook Islands. He was forced to resign from that post in a 1978 voting scandal for which he was later convicted of fraud...
(1964 - 1979) - Geoffrey HenryGeoffrey HenrySir Geoffrey Arama Henry KBE is a Cook Island politician who was twice the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was leader of the Cook Islands Party from 1979 to 2006.-Early life:...
(1979 - 2006) - Henry PunaHenry PunaHenry Tuakeu Puna is the current Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is leader of the Cook Islands Party.-Early life:Puna grew up in Aitutaki. He was educated on Aitutaki and Rarotonga before studying law at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Tasmania in Australia...
(2006 - present)