General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 20 April 1965 to elect 22 MPs to the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party and saw Albert Henry become the Cook Islands' first Premier.

Background The holding of an election was necessary to elect members to approve the proposed constitution. If approved, the new constitution would institute self-government for the Cook Islands.

Because the election had the potential to result in removing the Cook Islands from the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories, the election was observed by representatives of the UN.

The Cook Islands Amendment Act contained a clause limiting candidacy for the elections to people who had lived in the Cook Islands for at least three years before the election. This barred Albert Henry from running, as he had only lived in the Cook Island for a year preceding the vote.Independents Walk Out Of Cook Islands Assembly Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1965, p31

Campaign A total of 66 candidates contested the 22 seats, 19 from the Cook Islands Party, 16 from the United Political Party (led by Leader of Government business Dick Charles Brown), 12 from the Independent Group, 7 from the Labour Party, and 12 independents. also fielding candidates. Two seats had only one candidate – Tangaroa Tangaroa in Penrhyn and Pupuke Robati in Rakahanga – both of whom were returned unopposed

Results Leader of Government business Brown, Agriculture Minister Napa Tauei Napa and Speaker Teariki Tuavera were amongst the nine incumbents that lost their seats.Albert Henry Sweeps To Victory In Cook Islands Poll Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1965, p7

By electorate Constituency Candidate Party VotesAitutaki–Manuae William Estall 534Matai Simiona 438Geoffrey Henry 403Joseph Williams 360Ngaa Upu 352Maria Henderson 325Tukua Cameron 313Tanga Mitiau Dick 69Benioni Joseph 55Atiu Tangata Simiona 293Mariri Paratainga 186Vainerere Tangatapoto 143Michael Toki 127Mataio Kea 88Tutai Pakari Vaine 45Mangaia Ngatupuna Matepi 558Pokino Aberahama 554Maarateina Atatoa 153Edwin Gold 32Manihiki Nato Temu 133Glassie Strickland Jr. 46Tuatai Tupou 26Adamu Toka 17Tihau Napara 9Mauke Julian Dashwood 198Ngaoire Torea 47Mitiaro Raui Pokoati 75Tiki Tetava 24Penrhyn Tangaroa Tangaroa UnopposedPuaikura Taru Moana 476Pera Maurangi 459Napa Tauei Napa 271Rere Wichman 185George Robati 56Pukapuka–Nassau John Tariau 173Mangere Maro 113Arona Tariau 93Rakahanga Pupuke Robati UnopposedTakitumu Apenera Short 532Tiakana Numanga 501Samuela Samuela 487Teariki Tuavera 251Areora Ira 181David Hosking 155Tupai Ama 123Manea Turepu 104William Cowan 61Te-au-o-Tonga Manea Tamarua 1,405Mana Strickland 1,321Marguerite Story 1,225Teaukura Roi 1,152Dick Charles Brown 535R. W. Rapley 472S. M. Sadaraka 456Stuart Kingan 240John Numa 230Tetauru Jim Moerua 213Jack Best 188Mary Paitai 175Koa Ioaba 159Paiere Mokoroa 149Anthony Utanga 132Araiti Tupuariki 119John Dugall Taripo 94Tongia Unuia 82Amana Upu Pere 33Source: Cook Islands Gazette, Stone, Pacific Islands MonthlyPacific Islands Monthly

Aftermath The newly elected Assembly met for the first time on 10 May. With Henry still ineligible for election, Manea Tamarua was elected Leader of Government Business. He subsequently announced appointed Julian Dashwood, Tiakana Numanga, Apenera Short, Marguerite Story and Mana Strickland to the Executive Council.

On 11 May Cook Islands Party MPs attempted to amend the Cook Islands Amendment Act to reduce the residency requirement and allow Henry to become an MP. The opposition independents walked out of the legislature, meaning it was not quorate due to the absence of two Cook Islands Party MPs. However, they returned the following day and an amendment to reduce the residency requirement to three months (providing the candidate had previously lived in the Cook Islands for at least a year) was passed. Henry's sister Marguerite Story subsequently resigned from the Assembly to allow him to contest the by-election for Te-au-o-Tonga on 9 July. Henry was challenged by Dick Charles Brown, winning by 1,353 votes to 523.Albert Henry Has Easy Win In Cook Is. By-Election Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1965, p13

The Legislative Assembly later approved the constitution on 26 July by 20 votes to two. The two 'no' votes came from Pupuke Robati (who claimed that residents of Rakahanga did not wish for the Cook Islands to become self-governing) and Tangaroa Tangaroa (who claimed that Penrhyn wished to become part of New Zealand). The Cook Islands became self-governing on 4 August 1965 when Henry was sworn in as the first Premier.Era of Self-Government Begins In The Cook Islands Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1965, pp27–29 Henry formed a cabinet with Dashwood, Numanga, Short, Strickland and Tamarua as ministers. On the same day as Henry was sworn in, Marguerite Story was elected unopposed as the Assembly's first Speaker.

Henry cabinetPortfolioMemberPremierAlbert HenryAviation, Commerce, Economic Development,Emigration, Employment, External Affairs, Finance,Immigration, Justice, Labour, Tourism, TradeAgriculture, HealthManea TamaruaCooperativesApenera ShortEducationMana StricklandPolice, Social DevelopmentJulian DashwoodPublic Works, SurveyTiakana NumangaSource: Pacific Islands Monthly

Although Henry held numerous portfolios, the other members of the cabinet were Associate Ministers for several of his areas of responsibility; Dashwood was Associate Minister for the Post Office, Hotel and Printing Office, Numanga was Associate Minister of Labour, Short was Associate Minister of Economic Development, Strickland was Associate Minister for Finance, Aviation, Shipping and Immigration, Tamarua was Associate Minister of Economic Development, Finance and Justice.

In June 1966 Dashwood was convicted of attempting to obtain a bribe and was removed from the Assembly and cabinet. He was also struck off the voter roll and was unable to contest the subsequent by-election.Ex-minister seeks seat he lost in bribe case Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1966, p75 Albert Henry's nephew Tupui Henry was elected in the by-election, and was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Internal Affairs.People Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1967, p136

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