# 2015–16 Kiribati parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati on 30 December 2015, with a second round of voting for 25 seats on 7 January 2016. The result was a victory for the Pillars of Truth party, which won 26 of the 46 seats.

## Electoral system

The 46 member of the House of Assembly are elected by three methods; 44 are elected in 23 single- and multi-member constituencies using a modified two-round system. Voters had as many votes to cast as the number of seats in their constituencies, and a candidate was elected in the first round if they received more than 50% of the ballots cast. Where not all seats were filled, a second round was held with the number of candidates being equal to the number of remaining seats plus two. A tie in the second round would have resulted in a third round of voting. The other two members of the House consisted of one seat elected by the Rabi Council of Leaders, and the Attorney General, as an ex-officio member until the Change of Constitution in October 2016. The Speaker elected after the elections from outside the House of Assembly, is not an MP.

## Results

Of the 44 seats, 19 were won in the first round and 25 went to a run-off. In the first round, incumbent minister Tom Murdoch lost his seat. In the run-off, Labour Minister Martin Moreti and Environment Minister Tiarite Kwong lost their seats. Former President Teatao Teannaki also lost his seat on Abaiang. However, former presidents Ieremia Tabai and Teburoro Tito retained their seats.
On Onotoa, Kouraiti Beniato retained his seat, while on Maiana new MPs David Collins and Kaure Baabo were elected; In North Tarawa, two new MPs, Atarake Natara and Emile Schutz, were elected, while Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa, former leader of Maurin Kiribati and candidate for president, lost; on Kiritimati, Kirata Temwamwaka and Jacob Teem were elected; while Uriam Iabeta won her Teraina seat in the Line Islands.
| Party | Party | Seats | +/– |
| | Pillars of Truth | 26 | +11 |
| | United Coalition Party | 18 | – |
| | Maurin Kiribati Party | 18 | – |
| Appointed members | Appointed members | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 46 | 0 |
| Source: Adam Carr, IPU, Radio Kiribati ||||

### By constituency

| Constituency | Candidate | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| Abaiang | Kautu Tenaua | 1,129 | 23.78 |
| Abaiang | Teuea Toatu | 936 | 19.71 | 882 | 25.14 |
| Abaiang | Teatao Teannaki | 916 | 19.29 | 858 | 24.46 |
| Abaiang | Tekena Tiroa | 711 | 14.97 | 949 | 27.05 |
| Abaiang | Tetaake Kwong | 662 | 13.94 | 819 | 23.35 |
| Abaiang | Bwenata Baukin | 194 | 4.09 |
| Abaiang | Tooma Moote | 117 | 2.46 |
| Abaiang | Uakerita Kanoanie | 83 | 1.75 |
| Abemama | Natan Teewe | 789 | 35.57 |
| Abemama | Willie Tokataake | 671 | 30.25 | 596 | 43.76 |
| Abemama | Tiarite Kwong | 405 | 18.26 | 513 | 37.67 |
| Abemama | Bonoue Tabaka | 204 | 9.20 | 253 | 18.58 |
| Abemama | Kabuaua Uatao | 109 | 4.91 |
| Abemama | Kaewaniti Rutio | 40 | 1.80 |
| Aranuka | Martin Moreti | 232 | 39.66 | 226 | 38.11 |
| Aranuka | Tianeti Ioane | 179 | 30.60 | 239 | 40.30 |
| Aranuka | Riteti Maninraka | 151 | 25.81 | 128 | 21.59 |
| Aranuka | Rine Ueara | 14 | 2.39 |
| Aranuka | Bweniita Bename | 9 | 1.54 |
| Arorae | Teima Onorio | 431 | 92.29 |
| Arorae | Taing Ataia | 36 | 7.71 |
| Banaba | Tibanga Taratai | 171 | 56.44 |
| Banaba | Waqa Kirite | 132 | 43.56 |
| Beru | England Iuta | 458 | 23.88 | 574 | 33.22 |
| Beru | Tetabo Nakara | 408 | 21.27 | 438 | 25.35 |
| Beru | Batoromaio Kiritian | 366 | 19.08 | 398 | 23.03 |
| Beru | Mantaia Kaongotao | 212 | 11.05 | 318 | 18.40 |
| Beru | Tanua Pine | 191 | 9.96 |
| Beru | Kirabuke Teiaua | 172 | 8.97 |
| Beru | Miika Aram | 111 | 5.79 |
| Betio (BTC) | Tangariki Reete | 2,108 | 19.95 | 2,326 | 24.07 |
| Betio (BTC) | Tebao Awerika | 1,948 | 18.44 | 2,190 | 22.67 |
| Betio (BTC) | Ioteba Redfern | 1,500 | 14.20 | 2,076 | 21.49 |
| Betio (BTC) | Martin Tofinga | 1,320 | 12.49 | 1,704 | 17.64 |
| Betio (BTC) | Romano Reo | 1,200 | 11.36 | 1,366 | 14.14 |
| Betio (BTC) | Meaua Betiota | 947 | 8.96 |
| Betio (BTC) | Teurakai Ukenio | 511 | 4.84 |
| Betio (BTC) | Babera Taobura | 481 | 4.55 |
| Betio (BTC) | Kianteata Teabo | 440 | 4.16 |
| Betio (BTC) | Taua Eritai | 69 | 0.65 |
| Betio (BTC) | Mautaake Tannang | 42 | 0.40 |
| Butaritari | Alexanda Teabo | 1,185 | 44.04 |
| Butaritari | Tinian Reiher | 1,090 | 40.51 |
| Butaritari | Tikau Tamaere | 416 | 15.46 |
| Kiritimati | Mikarite Temari | 1,551 | 25.91 |
| Kiritimati | Kirata Temwamwaka | 1,295 | 21.63 | 1,648 | 36.39 |
| Kiritimati | Jacob Teem | 1,003 | 16.76 | 1,507 | 33.27 |
| Kiritimati | Tawita Temoku | 554 | 9.25 | 727 | 16.05 |
| Kiritimati | Wiriki Tooma | 289 | 4.83 | 647 | 14.29 |
| Kiritimati | Katevea Taoaba | 283 | 4.73 |
| Kiritimati | Kiang Shiu | 275 | 4.59 |
| Kiritimati | Tarere Ataia | 222 | 3.71 |
| Kiritimati | Naboreon Reo | 126 | 2.10 |
| Kiritimati | Timan Kaiteie | 118 | 1.97 |
| Kiritimati | Anami Raiati | 110 | 1.84 |
| Kiritimati | Tureta Baniera | 85 | 1.42 |
| Kiritimati | Teekua Tooma | 75 | 1.25 |
| Kuria | Banuera Berina | 415 | 50.67 |
| Kuria | Tom Murdoch | 385 | 47.01 |
| Kuria | Matang Tekitanga | 19 | 2.32 |
| Maiana | David Collins | 468 | 24.59 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Maiana | Kaure Baabo | 425 | 22.33 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Maiana | Tioera Baitika | 313 | 16.45 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Maiana | Miire Raieta | 248 | 13.03 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Maiana | Vincent Tong | 224 | 11.77 |
| Maiana | Aukitino Ioane | 190 | 9.98 |
| Maiana | Torote Kauongo | 35 | 1.84 |
| Makin | James Taom | 744 | 44.23 |
| Makin | Pinto Katia | 646 | 38.41 |
| Makin | Baraniko Ibeata | 204 | 12.13 |
| Makin | Karea Baireti | 88 | 5.23 |
| Marakei | Iotebwa Tebau | 672 | 29.17 |
| Marakei | Ruateki Tekaiara | 378 | 16.41 | 470 | 35.63 |
| Marakei | Patrick Tatireta | 359 | 15.58 | 445 | 33.74 |
| Marakei | Temate Ereateiti | 345 | 14.97 | 404 | 30.63 |
| Marakei | Kamatie Kautu | 214 | 9.29 |
| Marakei | Rutiano Benetito | 194 | 8.42 |
| Marakei | Dephew Kanono | 131 | 5.69 |
| Marakei | Kantera Tebwebwe | 11 | 0.48 |
| Nikunau | Tauanei Marea | 479 | 30.39 |
| Nikunau | Rimeta Beniamina | 468 | 29.70 |
| Nikunau | Ngutu Awira | 319 | 20.24 |
| Nikunau | Tabokai Kiritome | 121 | 7.68 |
| Nikunau | Moote Terukaio | 117 | 7.42 |
| Nikunau | Rakeiti Mackenzie | 72 | 4.57 |
| Nonouti | Ieremia Tabai | 588 | 30.88 | 611 | 32.60 |
| Nonouti | Waysang Kumkee | 582 | 30.57 | 628 | 33.51 |
| Nonouti | Karuaki Matia | 361 | 18.96 | 415 | 22.15 |
| Nonouti | Toromoa Katua | 194 | 10.19 | 220 | 11.74 |
| Nonouti | Kunei Maaka Etekiera | 179 | 9.40 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Boutu Bateriki | 1,181 | 23.72 | 1,318 | 27.28 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa | 865 | 17.38 | 775 | 16.04 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Emile Schutz | 851 | 17.10 | 1,020 | 21.11 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Atarake Nataara | 774 | 15.55 | 1,012 | 20.94 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Baraam Tetaeka | 679 | 13.64 | 707 | 14.63 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Inatio Tanentoa | 562 | 11.29 |
| North Tarawa (ETC) | Henry Kaake | 66 | 1.33 |
| Onotoa | Taaneti Mamau | 642 | 46.69 |
| Onotoa | Kouraiti Beniato | 347 | 25.24 | 399 | 52.36 |
| Onotoa | Baranite Kirata | 296 | 21.53 | 312 | 40.94 |
| Onotoa | Tetokiraa Kimereti | 90 | 6.55 | 51 | 6.69 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Teburoro Tito | 4,033 | 20.51 | 4,520 | 23.78 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Shiu Fung Kam-Ho | 3,495 | 17.77 | 4,553 | 23.95 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Kourabi Nenem | 3,281 | 16.68 | 4,254 | 22.38 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Arobati Teewe | 3,167 | 16.10 | 3,798 | 19.98 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Maere Tekanene | 1,752 | 8.91 | 1,885 | 9.92 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Teweiariki Teaero | 881 | 4.48 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Bantarawa Ietimeta | 646 | 3.28 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Tiiroa Roneti | 612 | 3.11 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Maria Kaiboia | 553 | 2.81 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Teramweai Itinraoi | 462 | 2.35 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Mareko Tofinga | 434 | 2.21 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Rabaere Matai | 266 | 1.35 |
| South Tarawa (TUC) | Paul Tatireta | 85 | 0.43 |
| Tabiteuea North | Taberannang Timeon | 1,092 | 44.48 |
| Tabiteuea North | Kobebe Taitai | 973 | 39.63 |
| Tabiteuea North | Takaria Ubwaitoi | 390 | 15.89 |
| Tabiteuea South | Titabu Tabane | 437 | 55.74 |
| Tabiteuea South | Tebuai Uaai | 347 | 44.26 |
| Tabuaeran | Tekiau Aretateta | 735 | 41.27 |
| Tabuaeran | Tewaaki Kobwae | 351 | 19.71 | 342 | 37.09 |
| Tabuaeran | Tetan Mweretaka | 254 | 14.26 | 330 | 35.79 |
| Tabuaeran | Bauro Kaneti | 190 | 10.67 | 250 | 27.11 |
| Tabuaeran | Tyrone Orme | 172 | 9.66 |
| Tabuaeran | Kokoria Arioka | 79 | 4.44 |
| Tamana | Matiota Kairo | 300 | 68.81 |
| Tamana | Eriati Kauongo | 103 | 23.62 |
| Tamana | Rooti Terubea | 33 | 7.57 |
| Teraina | Uriam Iabeta | 352 | 43.95 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Teraina | Rereao Tetaake | 263 | 32.83 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Teraina | Johnny Moote | 159 | 19.85 | [data missing] | [data missing] |
| Teraina | Taam Anre | 16 | 2.00 |
| Teraina | Erekannang Terakau | 11 | 1.37 |