# 1968 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 1 May 1968. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP), which won 16 seats, a gain of two from the 1965 elections. The newly formed United Cook Islanders won the other six seats to become the parliamentary opposition. CIP leader Albert Henry continued as Prime Minister.

## Campaign

In February a new party, the United Cook Islanders (UCI), was formed. Its members included former cabinet members Mana Strickland and Manea Tamarua. The new party launched its manifesto on 8 April.
A total of 55 candidates contested the elections; 23 from the CIP (two candidates from the party ran against each other in Pukapuka, and four candidates from the party contested the three seats in Takitumu), 18 from the UCI and six independents. Former Leader of Government Business Dick Charles Brown had intended to run as an independent, but withdrew. The CIP candidates were returned unopposed in Mauke and Mitiaro.
The campaign period during April saw meetings held almost every night, with CIP meetings initially drawing crowds of several hundred, rising to over 1,300 by the end of the campaign. In contrast, UCI meetings were usually attended by fewer than 100 people.

## Results

The CIP won all nine seats in Rarotonga, and gained the three Aitutaki seats, which had been won by the Independent Group in 1965. The UCI's former ministers, Strickland and Tamarua, both lost their seats.
| | Cook Islands Party | 12,569 | 65.12 | 16 | +2 |
| | United Cook Islanders | 6,352 | 32.91 | 6 | New |
| | Independents | 379 | 1.96 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 19,300 | 100.00 | 22 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 6,858 | 99.23 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 53 | 0.77 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 6,911 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 7,603 | 90.90 | | |
| Source: Stone ||||||

### By electorate

| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Aitutaki–Manuae | William Estall | Cook Islands | 890 |
| Aitutaki–Manuae | Joseph Williams | Cook Islands | 888 |
| Aitutaki–Manuae | Ngaa Upu | Cook Islands | 816 |
| Aitutaki–Manuae | Dora Harrington | Independent | 146 |
| Aitutaki–Manuae | John Robert George Dick | Independent | 89 |
| Aitutaki–Manuae | Rata Toa | Independent | 72 |
| Atiu | Vainerere Tangatapoto | United Cook Islanders | 314 |
| Atiu | Tangata Simiona | United Cook Islanders | 280 |
| Atiu | Mariri Paratainga | Cook Islands | 185 |
| Atiu | Pakari Tutai | Cook Islands | 135 |
| Mangaia | Ngatupuna Matepi | United Cook Islanders | 594 |
| Mangaia | Pokino Aberahama | United Cook Islanders | 587 |
| Mangaia | Turaraiti Pekepo | Cook Islands | 164 |
| Manihiki | Nato Temu | Cook Islands | 115 |
| Manihiki | Mareko Mareko | United Cook Islanders | 53 |
| Manihiki | Ben Pukerua | Independent | 33 |
| Manihiki | Glassie Strickland | Independent | 29 |
| Mauke | Tupui Ariki Henry | Cook Islands | Unopposed |
| Mitiaro | Raui Pokoati | Cook Islands | Unopposed |
| Penrhyn | Tangaroa Tangaroa | United Cook Islanders | 219 |
| Penrhyn | Tuauri Hakaoro | Cook Islands | 42 |
| Penrhyn | Fred Ford | Independent | 10 |
| Puaikura | Taru Moana | Cook Islands | 550 |
| Puaikura | Tamataia Pera Maurangi | Cook Islands | 547 |
| Puaikura | Alexander Munro | United Cook Islanders | 287 |
| Puaikura | Napa Tauei Napa | United Cook Islanders | 282 |
| Pukapuka–Nassau | Inatio Akaruru | Cook Islands | 233 |
| Pukapuka–Nassau | John Tariau | Cook Islands | 134 |
| Rakahanga | Pupuke Robati | United Cook Islanders | 90 |
| Rakahanga | Howard Howard | Cook Islands | 32 |
| Takitumu | Apenera Short | Cook Islands | 574 |
| Takitumu | Tiakana Numanga | Cook Islands | 532 |
| Takitumu | Samuela Samuela | Cook Islands | 396 |
| Takitumu | Jean Domonique Upoko Crummer Peyroux | United Cook Islanders | 305 |
| Takitumu | Kamate Areora Ira | United Cook Islanders | 301 |
| Takitumu | William Cowan | United Cook Islanders | 276 |
| Takitumu | Taramai Tetonga | Cook Islands | 198 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Albert Henry | Cook Islands | 1,682 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Teanua Kamana | Cook Islands | 1,568 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Teaukura Roi | Cook Islands | 1,470 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Kamate Nangaiti | Cook Islands | 1,418 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Manea Teariki Tamarua | United Cook Islanders | 717 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Mana Strickland | United Cook Islanders | 694 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | David Marama Hosking | United Cook Islanders | 679 |
| Te-au-o-Tonga | Marama Tepou Nicholas | United Cook Islanders | 674 |
| Source: Cook Islands Gazette, Stone, Pacific Islands Monthly |||||