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2022 Cook Islands general election

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2022 Cook Islands general election
Cook Islands
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All 24 seats in Parliament
13 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
Cook Islands Mark Brown 44.07 12 +2
Democratic Tina Browne 26.93 5 −6
Cook Islands United Teariki Heather 18.81 3 New
One Cook Islands George Turia 2.68 1 0
Independents 7.31 3 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Results of the election by constituency.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after election
Mark Brown
Cook Islands
Mark Brown
Cook Islands

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]

Background

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In 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

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The 24 members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands were elected from single-member electorates by first-past-the-post voting.[7]

Campaign

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The 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

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Preferred prime minister

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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

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Initial 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.

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Cook Islands Party3,89044.07+1.7712+2
Democratic Party2,37726.93-14.985–6
Cook Islands United Party1,66018.81New3New
One Cook Islands Movement2372.68-8.1310
Progressive Party of the Cook Islands180.20New0New
Independents6457.31+3.543+1
Total8,827100.00240
Source: Parliament of the Cook Islands[15]

By electorate

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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

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The 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

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  1. ^ Pita Ligaiula (14 June 2022). "Cook Islands Parliament dissolved, election 01 August". PINA. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Cook Islanders go to the polls on August 1". RNZ. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  3. ^ Final vote count next week, says chief electoral officer
  4. ^ Keay, Jaimie (14 June 2018). "2018 General Election Live Blog". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Cook Islands Party gets backing of three more MPs". RNZ. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Mark Brown is the new Cook Islands PM". RNZ. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Cook Islands 2014 elections in brief" (PDF). Electoral Office.
  8. ^ "New political party to launch in Cook Islands". RNZ. 14 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Aitutaki One Cook Islands/Demo announce candidates for 2022 Elections". Cook Islands News. 17 November 2021.
  10. ^ "'No OCI/Demo coalition whatsoever'". Cook Islands News. 20 November 2021.
  11. ^ "'United' we stand". Cook Islands News. 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Cooks' newcomers make impact but PM's party in strong position". RNZ. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Ruling party in Cook Islands closer to power after gaining seats". RNZ. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  15. ^ "The Cook Islands Gazette No. 17/2022" (PDF). Parliament of the Cook Islands. 11 August 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Coalition talks start to form new Cook Islands government". RNZ. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  17. ^ Matthew Littlewood (5 August 2022). "'Super Browns' side CIP in coalition talks". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  18. ^ Matthew Littlewood (12 August 2022). "Brown reappointed PM". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Mark Brown confirmed as Cook Islands prime minister". RNZ. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Matapo joins CIP". Cook Islands News. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  21. ^ Caleb Fotheringham (26 August 2022). "CIP move good for Mauke, says new-elected MP Matapo". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  22. ^ Matthew Littlewood (19 August 2022). "Five electoral petitions filed in High Court". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Electoral petitions lodged in the Cook Islands". RNZ. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Cooks' PM vows to change law as parliament delayed by petitions". RNZ. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  25. ^ Matthew Littlewood (11 March 2023). "Williams declared Titikaveka MP". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  26. ^ 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.