# 2010 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 78%.
A binding referendum on whether the number of MPs should be reduced from 24 was held at the same time as the election.
Parliament will sit for the first time following the election in February 2011.

## Background

The Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Jim Marurai, which had governed since 2004, effectively collapsed in December 2009 after Finance Minister Terepai Maoate was sacked for his mishandling of a bid to buy the Toa fuel tank farm. This resulted in a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members, the expulsion of Marurai and his supporters, and the withdrawal of support for the government. Marurai then refused to reconvene Parliament in order to forestall a confidence vote. A formal split in the Democratic Party was averted in June 2010 when a party conference readmitted Marurai and the other Cabinet members, and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Robert Wigmore as party leader, with Wilkie Rasmussen as his deputy. However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate and former President John Tangi subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents.
In the leadup to the election two sitting MPs announced their retirement: Piho Rua and Speaker of the House Mapu Taia. Both were members of the Democratic Party.
Parliament was dissolved on 24 September. Candidate registration closed on 15 October. 70 candidates registered, including 24 from the Cook Islands Party, 23 from the Democrats, 6 from the Te Kura O Te ‘Au People's Movement and 16 independents. Of the 70 candidates, eight were women.

## Campaign

The Democratic Party launched its campaign on October 7 in vaka Takitumu with the campaign slogan "Our Future. Now." The party promised stability, benefit increases, and public service cuts. It contested every electorate except Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu.
The Cook Islands Party launched their campaign on October 8, promising an increased child benefit, a $1000 "baby bonus", water tanks for every household and to address the cost of living. They also promised to prevent "reckless" public spending by making Ministers and public servants personally liable for any misspent funds.

## Opinion polls

On 11 September 2010, a poll of 182 voters conducted by the Cook Islands News reported that the Democratic Party had 33% support, the Cook Islands Party 26%, and independents 14%. The margin of error of the poll was 7%.
A poll of 100 Rarotongans conducted by the Cook Islands Herald on 1 November found that 24% named Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore as their preferred Prime Minister, 18% preferred Wilkie Rasmussen, 8% Prime Minister Jim Marurai, 5% Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna, 2% CIP deputy Teina Bishop and 10% others, with 33% undecided.

## Results

The election resulted in a two-thirds majority for the Cook Islands Party. Following the election, CIP leader Henry Puna was sworn in as Prime Minister.
Four electoral petitions were subsequently lodged, challenging the results in the electorates of Pukapuka-Nassau, Rakahanga, Tamarua and Vaipae-Tautu. The petitions were heard in January and February 2011. The results in Rakahanga and Tamarua were upheld. Pukapuka-Nassau held a new election in 2011.
| | Cook Islands Party | 3,753 | 43.80 | 16 | +9 |
| | Democratic Party | 3,302 | 38.54 | 8 | –6 |
| | Party Tumu | 160 | 1.87 | 0 | New |
| | Te Kura O Te ʻAu People's Movement | 145 | 1.69 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 1,208 | 14.10 | 0 | –2 |
| Total | Total | 8,568 | 100.00 | 24 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 10,346 | – | | |
| Source: ESG Cook-Islands, IFES ||||||

### By electorate

| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Notes |
| Akaoa | Teariki Heather | Cook Islands | 203 | 53.42 | Re-elected |
| Akaoa | Teremoana Tapi Taio | Democratic | 177 | 46.58 |
| Amuri-Ureia | Toanui Isamaela | Cook Islands | 172 | 48.86 | Elected |
| Amuri-Ureia | Terepai Maoate Jnr | Democratic | 143 | 40.63 | Unseated |
| Amuri-Ureia | Ngatuaine Tutai Tom | Te Kura O Te ʻAu | 27 | 7.67 |
| Amuri-Ureia | John Tini | Independent | 10 | 2.84 |
| Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara | Teina Bishop | Cook Islands | 186 | 55.52 | Re-elected |
| Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara | May Kavana | Te Kura O Te ʻAu | 84 | 25.07 |
| Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara | Harold Arthur Browne | Independent | 65 | 19.40 |
| Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston | John Henry | Cook Islands | 269 | 46.86 | Elected |
| Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston | Albert (Peto) Nicholas | Party Tumu | 160 | 27.87 | Unseated |
| Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston | Sam Crocombe | Democratic | 135 | 23.52 |
| Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston | Mike Tavioni | Te Kura O Te ʻAu | 10 | 1.74 |
| Ivirua | Jim Marurai | Democratic | 69 | 93.24 | Re-elected |
| Ivirua | Moe Lucre | Cook Islands | 5 | 6.76 |
| Manihiki | Henry Puna | Cook Islands | 100 | 54.64 | Elected |
| Manihiki | Apii Piho | Democratic | 73 | 39.89 | Unseated |
| Manihiki | Rangi Mitaera | Independent | 10 | 5.46 |
| Matavera | Kiriau Turepu | Cook Islands | 324 | 57.96 | Elected |
| Matavera | Cassey Eggelton | Democratic | 235 | 42.04 | Unseated |
| Mauke | Tai Tura | Cook Islands | 124 | 59.33 | Elected |
| Mauke | Hugh Richard Graham | Democratic | 85 | 40.67 |
| Mitiaro | Tangata Vavia | Democratic | 65 | 60.19 | Re-elected |
| Mitiaro | Tuakeu Tangatapoto | Cook Islands | 43 | 39.81 |
| Murienua | Tom Marsters | Cook Islands | 193 | 42.70 | Re-elected |
| Murienua | James Vini Beer | Democratic | 127 | 28.10 |
| Murienua | Teariki Unuka | Independent | 75 | 16.59 |
| Murienua | Angeline Tuara | Independent | 54 | 11.95 |
| Murienua | Tepaki Nooapii Tepaki | Te Kura O Te ʻAu | 3 | 0.66 |
| Ngatangiia | Atatoa Herman | Cook Islands | 218 | 40.15 | Elected |
| Ngatangiia | Mann Moetarauri Short | Democratic | 175 | 32.23 |
| Ngatangiia | Terepai Maoate | Independent | 150 | 27.62 | Unseated |
| Nikao-Panama | Ngamau Munokoa | Democratic | 255 | 39.97 | Re-elected |
| Nikao-Panama | Tangee Tangi Kokaua | Cook Islands | 202 | 31.66 |
| Nikao-Panama | Philip Vakariti Rongo Nicholas | Independent | 181 | 28.37 |
| Oneroa | Winton Pickering | Democratic | 123 | 56.94 | Re-elected |
| Oneroa | Tangatataia Vavia | Cook Islands | 54 | 25.00 |
| Oneroa | Junior Areai Enoka | Independent | 39 | 18.06 |
| Penrhyn | Wilkie Rasmussen | Democratic | 71 | 50.00 | Re-elected |
| Penrhyn | Willie John | Independent | 61 | 42.96 |
| Penrhyn | Tini Ford | Cook Islands | 10 | 7.04 |
| Pukapuka-Nassau | Tekii Lazaro | Cook Islands | 88 | 35.34 | Elected |
| Pukapuka-Nassau | Vai Peua | Independent | 84 | 33.73 | Unseated |
| Pukapuka-Nassau | Tai Ravarua | Democratic | 77 | 30.92 |
| Rakahanga | Taunga Toka | Democratic | 30 | 51.72 | Elected |
| Rakahanga | Toka Hagai | Cook Islands | 28 | 48.28 |
| Ruaau | William (Smiley) Heather | Democratic | 383 | 64.70 | Re-elected |
| Ruaau | David Akanoa | Cook Islands | 169 | 28.55 |
| Ruaau | Ngamau-O-Rongo Tou | Independent | 40 | 6.76 |
| Takuvaine-Tutakimoa | Mark Brown | Cook Islands | 344 | 63.70 | Elected |
| Takuvaine-Tutakimoa | Ngai Tupa | Democratic | 196 | 36.30 | Unseated |
| Tamarua | Pukeiti Pukeiti | Cook Islands | 31 | 50.82 | Re-elected |
| Tamarua | Andy Matapo | Democratic | 30 | 49.18 |
| Tamarua | Mimau Tom | Te Kura O Te ʻAu | 0 | 0.00 |
| Teenui-Mapumai | Norman George | Cook Islands | 79 | 69.91 | Re-elected |
| Teenui-Mapumai | Pukeiti Ngametua | Democratic | 34 | 30.09 |
| Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua | Nandi Glassie | Cook Islands | 90 | 56.60 | Re-elected |
| Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua | Eugene Tatuava | Democratic | 69 | 43.40 |
| Titikaveka | Robert Wigmore | Democratic | 328 | 45.81 | Re-elected |
| Titikaveka | Taivero Isamaela | Cook Islands | 228 | 31.84 |
| Titikaveka | Teariki Matenga Jnr | Independent | 94 | 13.13 |
| Titikaveka | Teava Iro | Independent | 66 | 9.22 |
| Tupapa-Maraerenga | George Angene | Cook Islands | 430 | 44.51 | Elected |
| Tupapa-Maraerenga | Nooroa Tupa | Democratic | 263 | 27.23 |
| Tupapa-Maraerenga | Timothy Paul Arnold | Independent | 181 | 18.74 |
| Tupapa-Maraerenga | John Tangi | Independent | 92 | 9.52 | Unseated |
| Vaipae-Tautu | Mona Ioane | Cook Islands | 163 | 46.70 | Elected |
| Vaipae-Tautu | Kete Ioane | Democratic | 159 | 45.56 | Unseated |
| Vaipae-Tautu | Simiona Teva Robert | Te Kura O Te ʻAu | 21 | 6.02 |
| Vaipae-Tautu | Punua Marsters | Independent | 6 | 1.72 |