17th Cook Islands Parliament

The 17th Cook Islands Parliament is a previous term of the Parliament of the Cook Islands. Its composition was determined by the 2018 elections on 14 June 2018.

Officeholders Presiding officers Speaker of the House: Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) from March 2021 Niki Rattle until 15 February 2021 Deputy Speaker of the House: Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) from April 2019 until March 2021

Other parliamentary officers Clerk: Tangata Vainerere, from April 2021 Jeannine Daniel, acting clerk from March 2020 until April 2021 Tangata Vainerere, from October 2018 until March 2020 Helen Maunga, acting clerk from August 2018 to October 2018 Pastor John Tangi, until 1 August 2018 Deputy Clerk: Tai Manavaroa, from April 2021 Jeannine Daniel, from November 2019 until March 2020 Helen Maunga, until November 2019

Party leaders Prime Minister: Hon. Mark Brown (Cook Islands Party) from 1 October 2020 Hon. Henry Puna (Cook Islands Party) until 1 October 2020 Deputy Prime Minister: Hon. Robert Tapaitau (Independent) from 1 October 2020 Hon. Mark Brown (Cook Islands Party) until 1 October 2020 Leader of the Opposition: Tina Browne (Democratic Party)

Members Initial party standings PartyVotes%Seats+/–Democratic Party 11+2Cook Islands Party 10–3One Cook Islands Movement 1–1Titikaveka Oire83 00Independents 2+2Invalid/blank votes –––Total 240Registered voters/turnout10,917 ––Source: Radio NZ Justice minister

Initial MPs Name Party Electorate TermGeorge AngeneOCITupapa–MaraerengaThirdPatrick AriokaCIPMurienuaFirstAnthony Toruariki ArmstrongDPIviruaFirstNooroa o Teariki BakerDPAkaoaFirstMark BrownCIPTakuvaine–TutakimoaThirdTe-Hani BrownDPTengatangi–Areora–NgatiaruaFirstTingika ElikanaCIPPukapuka–NassauFirstToka HagaiCIPRakahangaSecondWilliam (Smiley) HeatherDPRuaauSecondWesley KareroaDPOneroaSecondTereapii Maki-KavanaCIPArutanga–Reureu–NikauparaFirstTerepai Maoate JnrDPAmuri–UreiaThirdTetangi MatapoDPTamaruaThirdVaine MokoroaCIPNikao–PanamaFirstSelina NapaDPTitikavekaThirdAlbert NicholasCIPAvatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston SecondHenry PunaCIPManihikiFourthTuakeu TangatapotoCIPMitiaroFirstRobert TapaitauIndPenrhynFirstKitai TeinakoreDPVaipae–TautuFirstRose Toki-BrownIndTeenui–Mapumai SecondTamaiva TuaveraDPNgatangiiaSecondVaitoti TupaDPMataveraFirstTai TuraCIPMaukeThird

Summary of changes Toka Hagai resigned on 1 November 2018 after allegations of treating. In December 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that Tina Browne had won the seat. Tony Armstrong died in November 2018. A by-election for the vacant Ivirua seat was held on 21 January 2019, and was won by Agnes Armstrong. Te-Hani Brown resigned from the Democratic party to support the government in January 2019. She was subsequently re-elected in a by-election. Henry Puna resigned on 24 March 2021 to take up the position of Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Akaiti Puna was elected in the resulting by-election.

References