Cook Islands general election, 2010
Encyclopedia
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. Voter turnout was 78%.
A binding referendum on whether the number of MPs should be reduced from 24 was held at the same time as the election.
Parliament will sit for the first time following the election in February 2011.
government of Prime Minister Jim Marurai
, which had governed since 2004, effectively collapsed in December 2009 after Finance Minister Terepai Maoate
was sacked for his mishandling of a bid to buy the Toa fuel tank farm. This resulted in a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members, the expulsion of Marurai and his supporters, and the withdrawal of support for the government. Marurai then refused to reconvene Parliament in order to forstall a confidence vote. A formal split in the Democratic Party was averted in June 2010 when a party conference readmitted Marurai and the other Cabinet members, and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Robert Wigmore
as party leader, with Wilkie Rasmussen
as his deputy. However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate
and former President John Tangi
subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents.
In the leadup to the election two sitting MPs announced their retirment: Piho Rua
and Speaker of the House Mapu Taia
. Both were members of the Democratic Party.
Parliament was dissolved on 24 September. Candidate registration closed on 15 October. 70 candidates registered, including 24 from the Cook Islands Party, 23 from the Democrats, 6 from the Te Kura O Te ‘Au People's Movement
and 16 independents. Of the 70 candidates, eight were women.
of the poll was 7%.
A poll of 100 Rarotongans conducted by the Cook Islands Herald on 1 November found that 24% named Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore
as their preferred Prime Minister, 18% preferred Wilkie Rasmussen
, 8% Prime Minister Jim Marurai
, 5% Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna
, 2% CIP deputy Teina Bishop
and 10% others, with 33% undecided.
The Cook Islands Party
launched their campaign on October 8, promising an increased child benefit, a $1000 "baby bonus", water tanks for every household and to address the cost of living. They also promised to prevent "reckless" public spending by making Ministers and public servants personally liable for any misspent funds.
was sworn in as Prime Minister.
Four electoral petitions were subsequently lodged, challenging the results in the electorates of Pukapuka, Rakahanga
, Tamarua
and Vaipae-Tautu
. The petitions were heard in January and February 2011. The results in Rakahanga and Tamarua were upheld.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament
Parliament of the Cook Islands
The Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand colonial rule, it became the national legislature on independence in 1965....
. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands Party
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....
, which won 16 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 78%.
A binding referendum on whether the number of MPs should be reduced from 24 was held at the same time as the election.
Parliament will sit for the first time following the election in February 2011.
Background
The Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Cook Islands)
The Democratic Party is a liberal political party in the Cook Islands. It is currently the Opposition party in the Cook Islands Parliament.-Early years:...
government of Prime Minister Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai is a Cook Islands politician and former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Personal life:...
, which had governed since 2004, effectively collapsed in December 2009 after Finance Minister Terepai Maoate
Terepai Maoate
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate, KBE was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party...
was sacked for his mishandling of a bid to buy the Toa fuel tank farm. This resulted in a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members, the expulsion of Marurai and his supporters, and the withdrawal of support for the government. Marurai then refused to reconvene Parliament in order to forstall a confidence vote. A formal split in the Democratic Party was averted in June 2010 when a party conference readmitted Marurai and the other Cabinet members, and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Robert Wigmore
Robert Wigmore
Robert George Wigmore is a Cook Islands politician and former Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Cabinet Minister. He is leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party....
as party leader, with Wilkie Rasmussen
Wilkie Rasmussen
Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is deputy leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party, and represents the constituency of Penrhyn....
as his deputy. However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate
Terepai Maoate
Sir Terepai Tuamure Maoate, KBE was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 18 November 1999 to 11 February 2002. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party...
and former President John Tangi
John Tangi
John David Tangi is a Cook Islands politician and former Member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents.
In the leadup to the election two sitting MPs announced their retirment: Piho Rua
Piho Rua
Piho Rua is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament.Rua was born on Rakahanga and educated at Aitutaki Junior High School and Tereora College. He had a twenty year career as a police officer before becoming a public servant and serving as Chief Executive of the Prime...
and Speaker of the House Mapu Taia
Mapu Taia
Mapu Tangatatutai Taia OBE is a Cook Islands politician and Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party....
. Both were members of the Democratic Party.
Parliament was dissolved on 24 September. Candidate registration closed on 15 October. 70 candidates registered, including 24 from the Cook Islands Party, 23 from the Democrats, 6 from the Te Kura O Te ‘Au People's Movement
Te Kura O Te ‘Au People's Movement
The Te Kura O Te ‘Au People's Movement is a political movement in the Cook Islands. It has several founding members, but its current leader is Tim Tepaki. It is currently unrepresented in the Cook Islands Parliament....
and 16 independents. Of the 70 candidates, eight were women.
Polling
On 11 September 2010, a poll of 182 voters conducted by the Cook Islands News reported that the Democratic Party had 33% support, the Cook Islands Party 26%, and independents 14%. The margin of errorMargin of error
The margin of error is a statistic expressing the amount of random sampling error in a survey's results. The larger the margin of error, the less faith one should have that the poll's reported results are close to the "true" figures; that is, the figures for the whole population...
of the poll was 7%.
A poll of 100 Rarotongans conducted by the Cook Islands Herald on 1 November found that 24% named Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore
Robert Wigmore
Robert George Wigmore is a Cook Islands politician and former Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Cabinet Minister. He is leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party....
as their preferred Prime Minister, 18% preferred Wilkie Rasmussen
Wilkie Rasmussen
Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is deputy leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party, and represents the constituency of Penrhyn....
, 8% Prime Minister Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai is a Cook Islands politician and former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Personal life:...
, 5% Cook Islands Party leader 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...
, 2% CIP deputy Teina Bishop
Teina Bishop
Teina Bishop is a Cook Islands politician and Cabinet Minister. He represents the constituency of Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu....
and 10% others, with 33% undecided.
The campaign
The Democratic Party launched its campaign on October 7 in vaka Takitumu with the campaign slogan "Our Future. Now." The party promised stability, benefit increases, and public service cuts. It contested every electorate except Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu.The Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands Party
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....
launched their campaign on October 8, promising an increased child benefit, a $1000 "baby bonus", water tanks for every household and to address the cost of living. They also promised to prevent "reckless" public spending by making Ministers and public servants personally liable for any misspent funds.
Results
The election resulted in a two-thirds majority for the Cook Islands Party. Following the election, CIP leader Henry PunaHenry 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...
was sworn in as Prime Minister.
Four electoral petitions were subsequently lodged, challenging the results in the electorates of Pukapuka, Rakahanga
Rakahanga (Cook Islands electorate)
Rakahanga is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Piho Rua, who has held the seat since 2004.The electorate consists of the island of Rakahanga....
, Tamarua
Tamarua (Cook Islands electorate)
Tamarua is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Pukeiti Pukeiti, who has held the seat since 2009....
and Vaipae-Tautu
Vaipae-Tautu (Cook Islands electorate)
Vaipae-Tautu is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Kete Ioane, who has held the seat since 1999....
. The petitions were heard in January and February 2011. The results in Rakahanga and Tamarua were upheld.
Electorate Results
Preliminary resultsSee also
- Candidates in the Cook Islands general election 2010 by electorateCandidates in the Cook Islands general election 2010 by electorateThe following candidates have announced their intention to run in the Cook Islands general election, 2010.-Akaoa:-Amuri-Ureia:-Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara:-Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston:-Ivirua:-Manihiki:-Matavera:-Mauke:-Mitiaro:...
- Cook Islands Member of Parliament reduction referendum, 2010
- Electoral calendar