# 2004 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004. Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin, but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed, delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December. In the interim, Prime Minister Robert Woonton announced that he was forming a coalition government with the rival Cook Islands Party. This led to a split within the Democrats, with Woonton and four other MPs leaving to form the Demo Tumu Party. With 14 MPs, the coalition had a comfortable majority in Parliament.
The results of the electoral petitions saw the seat of Titikaveka change hands while Woonton's seat was a dead tie. Woonton subsequently resigned in order to fight a by-election, causing his government to be dissolved. He was succeeded by his deputy, Jim Marurai.

## Results

| | Democratic Alliance Party | 3,944 | 47.36 | 14 | +4 |
| | Cook Islands Party | 3,647 | 43.79 | 9 | –2 |
| | Tumu Enua | 198 | 2.38 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 539 | 6.47 | 1 | +1 |
| Total | Total | 8,328 | 100.00 | 24 | –1 |
| Source: Cook Islands News, IFES ||||||

### By electorate

Akaoa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Teariki Heather | 188 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Teremoana Tapi Taio | 158 | 45.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 346 | 75.5 |
Amuri-Ureia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Terepai Maoate Jnr | 185 | 50.7 |
| | Cook Islands | Teokotai Herman | 175 | 47.9 |
| | Independent | Kiria Kiria | 5 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 365 | 97.0 |
Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Teina Bishop | 178 | 57.6 |
| | Democratic | Ronald Henry | 131 | 42.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 309 | 92.8 |
Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Albert (Peto) Nicholas | 315 | 52.7 |
| | Democratic | Poko Keu | 283 | 47.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 598 | 80.9 |
Ivirua :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Jim Marurai | Unopposed | | |
Manihiki :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Woonton | 142 | 50.7 |
| | Cook Islands | Henry Puna | 138 | 49.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 280 | 100.0 |
Matavera :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Peri Vaevae Peri | 221 | 49.3 |
| | Cook Islands | Kiriau Turepu | 200 | 44.6 |
| | Independent | Mereana Taikoko | 27 | 6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 448 | 88.9 |
Mauke :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mapu Taia | 124 | 61.4 |
| | Cook Islands | George Cowan | 87 | 43.1 |
| | TE | Taratoa Rouru Metuariki | 17 | 8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 202 | 83.1 |
Mitiaro :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tangata Vavia | 65 | 52.4 |
| | Cook Islands | Travel Tou Ariki | 59 | 47.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 124 | 96.9 |
Murienua :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Tom Marsters | 180 | 47.0 |
| | Democratic | William Pera | 99 | 25.8 |
| | Independent | Brett Porter | 86 | 22.5 |
| | TE | Rouru Metuariki | 18 | 4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 383 | 74.8 |
Ngatangiia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Terepai Maoate | 269 | 57.2 |
| | Cook Islands | Metuatini Tangaroa | 170 | 36.2 |
| | Independent | Maru Ben | 31 | 6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 470 | 87.5 |
Nikao-Panama :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ngamau Munokoa | 442 | 71.9 |
| | Cook Islands | Mamapo Manuela | 173 | 28.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 615 | 74.5 |
Oneroa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Winton Pickering | 132 | 55.9 |
| | TE | Taata Tangatakino | 96 | 40.7 |
| | Cook Islands | Papamama Pokino | 8 | 3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 236 | 99.6 |
Penrhyn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Wilkie Rasmussen | 103 | 52.3 |
| | Democratic | Tepure Tapaitau | 94 | 47.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 197 | 102.1 |
Pukapuka-Nassau :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tiaki Wuatai | 181 | 51.4 |
| | Cook Islands | Tiera Mataora | 171 | 48.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 352 | 98.1 |
Rakahanga :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Piho Rua | 42 | 56.8 |
| | Democratic | Pupuke Robati | 32 | 43.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74 | 89.2 |
Ruaau :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Vaine Iriano Wichman | 315 | 55.1 |
| | Democratic | Geoffrey Heather | 257 | 44.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 572 | 87.5 |
Takuvaine-Tutakimoa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Geoffrey Henry | 243 | 46.1 |
| | Democratic | Ngai Tupa | 202 | 38.3 |
| | Independent | Jessie Sword | 82 | 15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 527 | 83.4 |
Tamarua :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Mii Parima | 43 | 68.3 |
| | Democratic | Andy Matapo | 20 | 31.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63 | 82.9 |
Teenui-Mapumai :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Upokomaki Simpson | 71 | 54.6 |
| | Cook Islands | Tangaina Tanga | 59 | 45.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 130 | 92.2 |
Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Eugene Tatuava | 73 | 35.6 |
| | TE | Norman George | 67 | 32.7 |
| | Cook Islands | Nooroa Tou | 65 | 31.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 205 | 97.6 |
Titikaveka :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Wigmore | 270 | 42.5 |
| | Cook Islands | Tiki Matapo | 264 | 41.6 |
| | Independent | Tere Carr | 101 | 15.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 635 | 86.9 |
Tupapa-Maraerenga :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Cook Islands | Tupou Faireka | 353 | 43.7 |
| | Democratic | John Tangi | 290 | 35.9 |
| | Independent | Elizabeth Ponga | 165 | 20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 808 | 87.8 |
Vaipae-Tautu :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kete Ioane | 203 | 55.9 |
| | Cook Islands | Tiraa Arere | 160 | 44.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 363 | 82.1 |