General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 1 August 2022.[1][2] A referendum on legalising medical cannabis was held on the same day.[3]
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All 24 seats in Parliament 13 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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Background
editIn the 2018 general election, the Democratic Party won a plurality with 11 seats but fell short of the 13 required to form a government. The incumbent Cook Islands Party (CIP), led by then-prime minister Henry Puna won 10 seats; the One Cook Islands Movement (OCI) secured a single seat, and independents won the remaining two.[4] The CIP remained in government due to the support of the OCI and independents.[5]
In October 2020, Puna resigned as prime minister to run for secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. Deputy prime minister Mark Brown succeeded Puna as prime minister and leader of the Cook Islands Party. Brown appointed Robert Tapaitau deputy prime minister.[6]
Electoral system
editThe 24 members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands were elected from single-member electorates by first-past-the-post voting.[7]
Campaign
editThe Progressive Party of the Cook Islands was launched in October 2019 to contest the election.[8]
The One Cook Islands Movement (OCI) announced its candidates in November 2021.[9] However, they caused controversy by claiming Toanui Isamaela and Teina Bishop would stand as joint OCI–Democratic Party candidates; this was denied by the Democratic Party, which stated it would be announcing its own candidates and there was no alliance with the OCI.[10]
In December 2021 the new Cook Islands United Party, founded by former Deputy Prime Minister Teariki Heather in 2018, announced eleven candidates for the elections.[11]
Opinion polls
editPreferred prime minister
edit| Pollster | Date | Sample size | Brown | Browne | Heather | Others | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Islands News[12] | July 2022 | 120 | 44.2% | 10.8% | 16.7% | 14.2% | 8.3% |
Results
editInitial projections showed the Cook Islands Party with 10 seats, the Democrats with 6, the new Cook Islands United Party with 4, and independents with 3. The seat of Ngatangiia was tied, with the CIP and United candidates on 171 votes each.[13] The final vote count showed the CIP with 12 seats, after it won Ngatangiia and Titikaveka, where the United Party candidate originally had had a six vote lead.[14] The Democrats won five seats, United three, the One Cook Islands Movement one and independents three.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | |
| Cook Islands Party | 3,890 | 44.07 | +1.77 | 12 | +2 | |
| Democratic Party | 2,377 | 26.93 | -14.98 | 5 | –6 | |
| Cook Islands United Party | 1,660 | 18.81 | New | 3 | New | |
| One Cook Islands Movement | 237 | 2.68 | -8.13 | 1 | 0 | |
| Progressive Party of the Cook Islands | 18 | 0.20 | New | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 645 | 7.31 | +3.54 | 3 | +1 | |
| Total | 8,827 | 100.00 | – | 24 | 0 | |
| Source: Parliament of the Cook Islands[15] | ||||||
By electorate
edit| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akaoa | Robert Stanley Heather | Cook Islands United | 195 | 49.24 | |
| Nooroa Baker | Democratic | 144 | 36.36 | ||
| Doreen Tuainekore Boggs | Cook Islands | 57 | 14.39 | ||
| Amuri–Ureia | Toanui Isamaela | One Cook Islands | 126 | 35.90 | |
| Terepai Maoate | Democratic | 123 | 35.04 | ||
| Nicholas Royle Henry | Cook Islands | 102 | 29.06 | ||
| Arutanga–Reureu–Nikaupara | Tereapii Maki-Kavana | Cook Islands | 206 | 57.38 | |
| Teinakore Bishop | One Cook Islands | 111 | 30.92 | ||
| Atina Currie | Democratic | 42 | 11.70 | ||
| Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston | Albert Nicholas | Cook Islands | 358 | 60.68 | |
| Teina Rongo | Democratic | 195 | 33.05 | ||
| Makiroa Tutai-Louis Mitchell | Cook Islands United | 37 | 6.27 | ||
| Ivirua | Agnes Armstrong | Democratic | 57 | 72.15 | |
| Marouna Pakuru | Cook Islands | 12 | 15.19 | ||
| Ngametua Angai Peraua | Cook Islands United | 10 | 12.66 | ||
| Manihiki | Akaiti Puna | Cook Islands | 89 | 72.95 | |
| Mokoha Johnson | Democratic | 24 | 19.67 | ||
| Apolo Miria | Cook Islands United | 9 | 7.38 | ||
| Matavera | Vaitoti Tupa | Democratic | 261 | 43.57 | |
| Taneao Ngamata | Independent | 183 | 30.55 | ||
| Harriet Tangi Williams | Cook Islands | 93 | 15.53 | ||
| Saula Atera | Cook Islands United | 62 | 10.35 | ||
| Mauke | Stephen Matapo | Independent | 92 | 50.83 | |
| Eileen Story | Cook Islands | 62 | 34.25 | ||
| Tungane Williams | Independent | 16 | 8.84 | ||
| Lotiola Mateariki | Cook Islands United | 11 | 6.08 | ||
| Mitiaro | Tuakeu Tangatapoto | Cook Islands | 62 | 69.66 | |
| Paul Raui Pokoati Allsworth | Cook Islands United | 26 | 29.21 | ||
| Louise Akerongo Utanga | Democratic | 1 | 1.12 | ||
| Murienua | Teariki Heather | Cook Islands United | 265 | 55.09 | |
| Patrick Akaiti Arioka | Cook Islands | 169 | 35.14 | ||
| Piltz Tetevano Napa | Democratic | 47 | 9.77 | ||
| Ngatangiia | Tukaka Ama | Cook Islands | 202 | 36.86 | |
| Mapi Ioteva | Cook Islands United | 191 | 34.85 | ||
| Tamaiva Tuavera | Democratic | 155 | 28.28 | ||
| Nikao–Panama | Vaine Mokoroa | Cook Islands | 543 | 70.43 | |
| Ngamau Mere Munokoa | Democratic | 210 | 27.24 | ||
| Te Tuhi Tauratumaru Kelly | Progressive | 18 | 2.33 | ||
| Oneroa | Wesley Kareroa | Democratic | 84 | 42.21 | |
| Poroaiti Arokapiti | Cook Islands | 69 | 34.67 | ||
| Travel Tangimokopuna Moeara | Cook Islands United | 46 | 23.12 | ||
| Penrhyn | Robert Tapaitau | Cook Islands | 91 | 75.21 | |
| Tex Teakaau Tangimetua | Independent | 23 | 19.01 | ||
| Jimmy Temu Marsters | Cook Islands United | 7 | 5.79 | ||
| Pukapuka–Nassau | Tingika Elikana | Cook Islands | 199 | 69.58 | |
| Willie Pareura Katoa | Democratic | 87 | 30.42 | ||
| Rakahanga | Tina Browne | Democratic | 44 | 58.67 | |
| Toka Hagai | Cook Islands | 31 | 41.33 | ||
| Ruaau | Tim Tunui Varu | Cook Islands United | 291 | 41.04 | |
| Arama Wichman | Cook Islands | 267 | 37.66 | ||
| William Heather | Democratic | 151 | 21.30 | ||
| Takuvaine–Tutakimoa | Mark Brown | Cook Islands | 277 | 61.01 | |
| Da\/Ina Hosking-Ashford | Democratic | 124 | 27.31 | ||
| Teokotai-O-George George | Cook Islands United | 53 | 11.67 | ||
| Tamarua | Tetangi Matapo | Democratic | 30 | 57.69 | |
| Lana Aitau | Cook Islands | 22 | 42.31 | ||
| Teenui–Mapumai | Rose Toki-Brown | Independent | 87 | 73.73 | |
| Nooroa Paratainga | Cook Islands United | 31 | 26.27 | ||
| Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua | Te-Hani Brown | Independent | 104 | 82.54 | |
| Vainetutai Boaza | Cook Islands United | 22 | 17.46 | ||
| Titikaveka | Sonny Williams | Cook Islands | 231 | 31.22 | |
| Margharet Matenga | Cook Islands United | 228 | 30.81 | ||
| Selina Napa | Democratic | 212 | 28.65 | ||
| Teava Iro | Independent | 69 | 9.32 | ||
| Tupapa–Maraerenga | George Angene | Cook Islands | 570 | 56.60 | |
| Lee Harmon | Democratic | 261 | 25.92 | ||
| Kervin Tetutamaiti Aroita | Cook Islands United | 176 | 17.48 | ||
| Vaipae–Tautu | Teokotai Herman | Cook Islands | 178 | 47.59 | |
| Teinakore Manuela | Democratic | 125 | 33.42 | ||
| Teariki George | Independent | 71 | 18.98 | ||
Aftermath
editThe CIP began coalition talks on 4 August, and announced that it planned to continue its arrangements with two independents.[16] The United Party ruled out working with the CIP.[16] On 5 August the CIP announced they had secured the support of independents Te-Hani Brown and Rose Toki-Brown for a governing coalition.[17] On 12 August Mark Brown was reappointed Prime Minister.[18][19] On 25 August 2022 independent MP Stephen Matapo joined the Cook Islands Party, giving the government a total of 15 seats.[20][21]
Following the election, electoral petitions were filed challenging the results in Mitiaro, Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua, Teenui–Mapumai, Titikaveka and Amuri–Ureia, as well as an application for a recount in Tupapa–Maraerenga.[22][23] Due to the time taken to resolve the petitions, the Cook Islands Parliament did not sit for the rest of the year, and will not sit until at least March 2023.[24]
The final electoral petition was not resolved until 11 March 2023, when the High Court confirmed that Sonny Williams had won the seat of Titikaveka.[25] Parliament sat for the first time and new MPs were sworn in on 21 March 2023.[26]
References
edit- ^ Pita Ligaiula (14 June 2022). "Cook Islands Parliament dissolved, election 01 August". PINA. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Cook Islanders go to the polls on August 1". RNZ. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Final vote count next week, says chief electoral officer
- ^ Keay, Jaimie (14 June 2018). "2018 General Election Live Blog". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Cook Islands Party gets backing of three more MPs". RNZ. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Mark Brown is the new Cook Islands PM". RNZ. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Cook Islands 2014 elections in brief" (PDF). Electoral Office.
- ^ "New political party to launch in Cook Islands". RNZ. 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Aitutaki One Cook Islands/Demo announce candidates for 2022 Elections". Cook Islands News. 17 November 2021.
- ^ "'No OCI/Demo coalition whatsoever'". Cook Islands News. 20 November 2021.
- ^ "'United' we stand". Cook Islands News. 3 December 2021.
- ^ Solomon, Sian (30 July 2022). "Mark Brown country's 'preferred PM'". Cook Islands News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ "Cooks' newcomers make impact but PM's party in strong position". RNZ. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Ruling party in Cook Islands closer to power after gaining seats". RNZ. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "The Cook Islands Gazette No. 17/2022" (PDF). Parliament of the Cook Islands. 11 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Coalition talks start to form new Cook Islands government". RNZ. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ Matthew Littlewood (5 August 2022). "'Super Browns' side CIP in coalition talks". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ Matthew Littlewood (12 August 2022). "Brown reappointed PM". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Mark Brown confirmed as Cook Islands prime minister". RNZ. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Matapo joins CIP". Cook Islands News. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ Caleb Fotheringham (26 August 2022). "CIP move good for Mauke, says new-elected MP Matapo". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ Matthew Littlewood (19 August 2022). "Five electoral petitions filed in High Court". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ "Electoral petitions lodged in the Cook Islands". RNZ. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ "Cooks' PM vows to change law as parliament delayed by petitions". RNZ. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Matthew Littlewood (11 March 2023). "Williams declared Titikaveka MP". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Melina Etches (22 March 2023). "'We're in business now', MPs sworn in seven months after general election". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 23 March 2023.