General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the

Cook Islands Party The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the islands' politics since 1965. From 1999 until 2005 it sometimes ...

, which won 16 of the 24 seats. 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. Parliament will sit for the first time following the election in February 2011.

Background

The

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

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 Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen (born 21 March 1958) is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. From 2013 to 2015 he was leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party. Early life Rasmussen was born in Omoka on Penrhyn Island. He att ...

as his deputy. However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate and former President

John Tangi John David Tangi (13 November 1950 – 1 August 2018) was a Cook Islands politician, MP, and Clerk of the Cook Islands Parliament. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Tangi was born in Alofi, Niue. He was educated at Nikao and Avarua prima ...

subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents. In the leadup to the election two sitting MPs announced their retirement:

Piho Rua Piho Rua (born 15 November 1954) is a Cook Islands politician and former member of the Cook Islands Parliament. Rua was born on Rakahanga and educated at Aitutaki Junior High School and Tereora College. He had a twenty-year career as a police o ...

and Speaker of the House

Mapu Taia Mapu Tangatatutai Taia (28 April 1939 - October 2015) was a Cook Islands politician. He served as Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament from 2006 to 2010. He was a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party and held the traditional title of K ...

. 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

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

, 8% Prime Minister Jim Marurai, 5% Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna, 2% CIP deputy

Teina Bishop Teina Bishop (born 11 April 1959) is a Cook Islands politician, former Cabinet Minister, and leader of the One Cook Islands Movement. He was jailed for corruption in 2016. Bishop was born in Aitutaki and was educated at Araura Primary school, ...

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, Rakahanga,

Tamarua Tamarua (previously Mangonui) is one of the six traditional districts of the island of Mangaia in the Cook Islands. It is located in the southeast of the island, to the south of the District of Ivirua and east of the District of Veitatei. The dis ...

and Vaipae-Tautu. The petitions were heard in January and February 2011. The results in Rakahanga and Tamarua were upheld.

By electorate

Preliminary results

References

{{Cook Islands elections Elections in the Cook Islands

Cook Cook or The Cook may refer to: Food preparation * Cooking, the preparation of food * Cook (domestic worker), a household staff member who prepares food * Cook (professional), an individual who prepares food for consumption in the food industry * ...