A general election was held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The Cook Islands Party won 16 seats, a two-thirds majority. 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.
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.
By electorate Constituency Candidate Party Votes %NotesAkaoa Teariki Heather 203 53.42Re-electedTeremoana Tapi Taio 177 46.58Amuri-Ureia Toanui Isamaela 172 48.86ElectedTerepai Maoate Jnr 143 40.63UnseatedNgatuaine Tutai Tom 27 7.67John Tini 10 2.84Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara Teina Bishop 186 55.52Re-electedMay Kavana 84 25.07Harold Arthur Browne 65 19.40Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston John Henry 269 46.86ElectedAlbert (Peto) Nicholas 160 27.87UnseatedSam Crocombe 135 23.52Mike Tavioni 10 1.74Ivirua Jim Marurai 69 93.24Re-electedMoe Lucre 5 6.76Manihiki Henry Puna 100 54.64ElectedApii Piho 73 39.89UnseatedRangi Mitaera 10 5.46Matavera Kiriau Turepu 324 57.96ElectedCassey Eggelton 235 42.04UnseatedMauke Tai Tura 124 59.33ElectedHugh Richard Graham 85 40.67Mitiaro Tangata Vavia 65 60.19Re-electedTuakeu Tangatapoto 43 39.81Murienua Tom Marsters 193 42.70Re-electedJames Vini Beer 127 28.10Teariki Unuka 75 16.59Angeline Tuara 54 11.95Tepaki Nooapii Tepaki 3 0.66Ngatangiia Atatoa Herman 218 40.15ElectedMann Moetarauri Short 175 32.23Terepai Maoate 150 27.62UnseatedNikao-Panama Ngamau Munokoa 255 39.97Re-electedTangee Tangi Kokaua 202 31.66Philip Vakariti Rongo Nicholas 181 28.37Oneroa Winton Pickering 123 56.94Re-electedTangatataia Vavia 54 25.00Junior Areai Enoka 39 18.06Penrhyn Wilkie Rasmussen 71 50.00Re-electedWillie John 61 42.96Tini Ford 10 7.04Pukapuka-Nassau Tekii Lazaro 88 35.34ElectedVai Peua 84 33.73UnseatedTai Ravarua 77 30.92Rakahanga Taunga Toka 30 51.72ElectedToka Hagai 28 48.28Ruaau William (Smiley) Heather 383 64.70Re-electedDavid Akanoa 169 28.55Ngamau-O-Rongo Tou 40 6.76Takuvaine-Tutakimoa Mark Brown 344 63.70ElectedNgai Tupa 196 36.30UnseatedTamarua Pukeiti Pukeiti 31 50.82Re-electedAndy Matapo 30 49.18Mimau Tom 0 0.00Teenui-Mapumai Norman George 79 69.91Re-electedPukeiti Ngametua 34 30.09Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua Nandi Glassie 90 56.60Re-electedEugene Tatuava 69 43.40Titikaveka Robert Wigmore 328 45.81Re-electedTaivero Isamaela 228 31.84Teariki Matenga Jnr 94 13.13Teava Iro 66 9.22Tupapa-Maraerenga George Angene 430 44.51ElectedNooroa Tupa 263 27.23Timothy Paul Arnold 181 18.74John Tangi 92 9.52UnseatedVaipae-Tautu Mona Ioane 163 46.70ElectedKete Ioane 159 45.56UnseatedSimiona Teva Robert 21 6.02Punua Marsters 6 1.72
See also 2010 Cook Islands Member of Parliament reduction referendum
References