Manihiki by-election 2005
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Manihiki by-election was a by-election
in the Cook Islands
electorate of Manihiki
. It was held on 8 February 2005, shortly after the 2004 general election
, and was precipitated by an electoral petition finding the result in the seat to be a dead tie. Both parties to the petition, Prime Minister
Robert Woonton
and Cook Islands Party
leader Henry Puna
had agreed that in the event of a draw the question should be decided by the voters, and so Woonton resigned. As a result, Jim Marurai
became Prime Minister.
Woonton subsequently decided not to contest the election for personal reasons. The election was won by Henry Puna.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
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...
electorate of Manihiki
Manihiki (Cook Islands electorate)
Manihiki is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Apii Piho, who has held the seat since 2006.The electorate consists of the island of Manihiki....
. It was held on 8 February 2005, shortly after the 2004 general election
Cook Islands general election, 2004
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004. Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin, but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed, delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December...
, and was precipitated by an electoral petition finding the result in the seat to be a dead tie. Both parties to the petition, 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...
Robert Woonton
Robert Woonton
Dr Robert Woonton was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 11 February 2002 until 11 December 2004, and is a member of the centrist Democratic Party. A medical doctor by training, he became a Member of Parliament for the island of Manihiki...
and 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....
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...
had agreed that in the event of a draw the question should be decided by the voters, and so Woonton resigned. As a result, 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:...
became Prime Minister.
Woonton subsequently decided not to contest the election for personal reasons. The election was won by Henry Puna.