General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 1 August 2022 to determine the composition of the 18th Parliament. A referendum on legalising medical cannabis was held on the same day.Final vote count next week, says chief electoral officer

Background In the 2018 general election the Democratic Party won a plurality with 11 seats but fell short of the 13 required to form a government. The incumbent Cook Islands Party (CIP), led by then-prime minister Henry Puna won 10 seats; the One Cook Islands Movement (OCI) secured a single seat, and independents won the remaining two. The CIP remained in government due to the support of the OCI and independents.

In October 2020, Puna resigned as prime minister to run for secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. Deputy prime minister Mark Brown succeeded Puna as prime minister and leader of the Cook Islands Party. Brown appointed Robert Tapaitau deputy prime minister.

Electoral system The 24 members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands were elected from single-member electorates by first-past-the-post voting.

Campaign The Progressive Party of the Cook Islands was launched in October 2019 to contest the election.

The One Cook Islands Movement (OCI) announced its candidates in November 2021. However, they caused controversy by claiming Toanui Isamaela and Teina Bishop would stand as joint OCI–Democratic Party candidates; this was denied by the Democratic Party, which stated it would be announcing its own candidates and there was no alliance with the OCI.

In December 2021 the new Cook Islands United Party, founded by former Deputy Prime Minister Teariki Heather in 2018, announced eleven candidates for the elections.

Opinion polls Preferred prime minister PollsterDateSample sizeBrownBrowneHeatherOthersUndecided Cook Islands News July 2022 120 44.2% 10.8% 16.7% 14.2% 8.3%

Results Initial projections showed the Cook Islands Party with 10 seats, the Democrats with 6, the new Cook Islands United Party with 4, and independents with 3. The seat of Ngatangiia was tied, with the CIP and United candidates on 171 votes each. The final vote count showed the CIP with 12 seats, after it won Ngatangiia and Titikaveka, where the United Party candidate originally had had a six vote lead. The Democrats won five seats, United three, the One Cook Islands Movement one and independents three.

By electorate

Constituency Candidate Party Votes %Akaoa Robert Stanley Heather 195 49.24Nooroa Baker 144 36.36Doreen Tuainekore Boggs 57 14.39Amuri–Ureia Toanui Isamaela 126 35.90Terepai Maoate 123 35.04Nicholas Royle Henry 102 29.06Arutanga–Reureu–Nikaupara Tereapii Maki-Kavana 206 57.38Teinakore Bishop 111 30.92 Atina Currie 42 11.70Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston Albert Nicholas 358 60.68Teina Rongo 195 33.05Makiroa Tutai-Louis Mitchell 37 6.27Ivirua Agnes Armstrong 57 72.15Marouna Pakuru 12 15.19Ngametua Angai Peraua 10 12.66Manihiki Akaiti Puna 89 72.95Mokoha Johnson 24 19.67Apolo Miria 9 7.38Matavera Vaitoti Tupa 261 43.57Taneao Ngamata 183 30.55Harriet Tangi Williams 93 15.53Saula Atera 62 10.35Mauke Stephen Matapo 92 50.83Eileen Story 62 34.25Tungane Williams 16 8.84Lotiola Mateariki 11 6.08Mitiaro Tuakeu Tangatapoto 62 69.66Paul Raui Pokoati Allsworth 26 29.21Louise Akerongo Utanga 1 1.12Murienua Teariki Heather 265 55.09Patrick Akaiti Arioka 169 35.14Piltz Tetevano Napa 47 9.77Ngatangiia Tukaka Ama 202 36.86Mapi Ioteva 191 34.85Tamaiva Tuavera 155 28.28Nikao–Panama Vaine Mokoroa 543 70.43Ngamau Mere Munokoa 210 27.24Te Tuhi Tauratumaru Kelly 18 2.33Oneroa Wesley Kareroa 84 42.21Poroaiti Arokapiti 69 34.67Travel Tangimokopuna Moeara 46 23.12Penrhyn Robert Tapaitau 91 75.21Tex Teakaau Tangimetua 23 19.01Jimmy Temu Marsters 7 5.79Pukapuka–Nassau Tingika Elikana 199 69.58Willie Pareura Katoa 87 30.42Rakahanga Tina Browne 44 58.67Toka Hagai 31 41.33Ruaau Tim Tunui Varu 291 41.04Arama Wichman 267 37.66William Heather 151 21.30Takuvaine–Tutakimoa Mark Brown 277 61.01Davina Hosking-Ashford 124 27.31Teokotai-O-George George 53 11.67Tamarua Tetangi Matapo 30 57.69Lana Aitau 22 42.31Teenui–Mapumai Rose Toki-Brown 87 73.73Nooroa Paratainga 31 26.27Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua Te-Hani Brown 104 82.54Vainetutai Boaza 22 17.46Titikaveka Sonny Williams 231 31.22Margharet Matenga 228 30.81Selina Napa 212 28.65Teava Iro 69 9.32Tupapa–Maraerenga George Angene 570 56.60Lee Harmon 261 25.92Kervin Tetutamaiti Aroita 176 17.48Vaipae–Tautu Teokotai Herman 178 47.59Teinakore Manuela 125 33.42Teariki George 71 18.98

Aftermath The CIP began coalition talks on 4 August, and announced that it planned to continue its arrangements with two independents. The United Party ruled out working with the CIP. On 5 August the CIP announced they had secured the support of independents Te-Hani Brown and Rose Toki-Brown for a governing coalition. On 12 August Mark Brown was reappointed Prime Minister. On 25 August 2022 independent MP Stephen Matapo joined the Cook Islands Party, giving the government a total of 15 seats.

Following the election, electoral petitions were filed challenging the results in Mitiaro, Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua, Teenui–Mapumai, Titikaveka and Amuri–Ureia, as well as an application for a recount in Tupapa–Maraerenga. Due to the time taken to resolve the petitions, the Cook Islands Parliament did not sit for the rest of the year, and will not sit until at least March 2023.

The final electoral petition was not resolved until 11 March 2023, when the High Court confirmed that Sonny Williams had won the seat of Titikaveka. Parliament sat for the first time and new MPs were sworn in on 21 March 2023.

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