# 1958 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 13 October 1958, the first under universal suffrage.

## Background

Following the recommendations of the 1955 Belshaw-Stace Report, the 23-member Legislative Council was replaced by a 27-member Legislative Assembly.
Of the 27 members, 15 were directly elected; 14 from ten general constituencies and one from a European voter constituency. Seven members were indirectly elected by Island Councils (four from Rarotonga and one from Aitutaki, Atiu and Mangaia). The remaining five members were officials, including the Resident Commissioner as President of the Assembly, the Administration Secretary, the Treasurer and two members appointed by the Resident Commissioner.

## Campaign

A total of 65 candidates contested the directly elected seats, including former Legislative Council member Willie Watson, who ran under the name Viri Vokotini in one of the general constituencies.
Frank Bateson and former Chief Judge Alfred McCarthy contested the European seat.

## Results

| Constituency | Candidate | Votes |
| Aitutaki | Tuakeu Puna | 545 |
| Aitutaki | Urikore Cummings | 340 |
| Aitutaki | Kiikoro Kaoki | 202 |
| Aitutaki | Tere Kainuku | 186 |
| Aitutaki | Rave Pitomaki | 129 |
| Aitutaki | Ruatangi Daniela | 85 |
| Aitutaki | Rima Tamatoa | 77 |
| Aitutaki | Ponoua Raki | 48 |
| Atiu | Vainerere Tangatapoto | 141 |
| Atiu | Ngamaru Ariki | 70 |
| Atiu | Mana Ariki | 51 |
| Atiu | Nono Tearapo | 46 |
| Atiu | Tangata Poto | 41 |
| Atiu | Michael Toki | 34 |
| Mangaia | Ngatupuna Matepi | 408 |
| Mangaia | Maarateina Atatoa | 267 |
| Mangaia | Edwin Gold | 17 |
| Mangaia | Puati Ngatama | 11 |
| Manihiki | Tihau Napara | 56 |
| Manihiki | Adamu Toka | 51 |
| Manihiki | Ben Ellis Jr. | 47 |
| Manihiki | Tekake William | 45 |
| Manihiki | John Dean | 20 |
| Manihiki | Apii Karaponga | 11 |
| Mauke | Dave Niovara | 108 |
| Mauke | Julian Dashwood | 107 |
| Mauke | Tangata Taia | 26 |
| Mauke | Auru Tairea | 20 |
| Mauke | Temana Ngatama | 14 |
| Mauke | Aitu Rairi | 9 |
| Mitiaro | Tama Tetava | 71 |
| Mitiaro | Taia | 27 |
| Penrhyn | Tangaroa Tangaroa | 238 |
| Penrhyn | Parekaa Tereora | 48 |
| Penrhyn | Tiavare Tini Josepha | 26 |
| Penrhyn | Tinirau Tata | 15 |
| Penrhyn | Nikau Mita | 8 |
| Penrhyn | Mahutapiki Pange | 8 |
| Pukapuka | Ine Rutera | 138 |
| Pukapuka | Arona Tariau | 77 |
| Pukapuka | Paata Eliu | 69 |
| Pukapuka | Henry Winau | 63 |
| Pukapuka | Taumaina Utarenga | 28 |
| Rakahanga | Toka Mataio | 37 |
| Rakahanga | Umutai George Greig | 32 |
| Rakahanga | Ngametua | 16 |
| Rakahanga | Tupou Piho | 6 |
| Rarotonga | William Hugh Watson | 1,628 |
| Rarotonga | Glassie Strickland | 723 |
| Rarotonga | Tamarua Joseph Browne | 620 |
| Rarotonga | Napa Tauei Napa | 548 |
| Rarotonga | Teariki Tuavera | 496 |
| Rarotonga | Frederick Aratiri Rennie | 473 |
| Rarotonga | Manea Tamarua | 434 |
| Rarotonga | Apenera Short | 418 |
| Rarotonga | Tui Pori Makea | 376 |
| Rarotonga | Ngaeikura Tou | 367 |
| Rarotonga | Ernest Taripo | 339 |
| Rarotonga | Naea Teariki Maurangi | 318 |
| Rarotonga | Teariki Puia | 220 |
| Rarotonga | Pu Tamaiva | 190 |
| Rarotonga | Tita Enoka Anautoa | 112 |
| European | Frank Bateson | 94 |
| European | Alfred McCarthy | 59 |
| Aitutaki Island Council | Kau Mapu | — |
| Atiu Island Council | Teariki Vaine | — |
| Mangaia Island Council | Pokino Aberahama | — |
| Rarotonga Island Council | Makea Nui Teremoana Ariki | — |
| Rarotonga Island Council | Margaret Makea Karika Ariki | — |
| Rarotonga Island Council | Dick Charles Brown | — |
| Rarotonga Island Council | Areora Ira | — |
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