The United Cook Islanders was a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...

in the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

. It was established on 16 February 1968 in order to challenge the then-dominant

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 ...

and provide a more organised opposition. The party was organised by David Hosking and Taira Rere. Prominent members included former CIP cabinet ministers

Manea Tamarua Manea may refer to: * Manea, Cambridgeshire, a village in the District of Fenland, Cambridgeshire, England * Manea (name), both a surname and a given name * MANEA, an enzyme * Manea River, a tributary of the Crasna River in Romania * a singular ...

and

Mana Strickland Te Ariki Terau Mana Strickland BEM (22 June 1918 – 8 December 1996) was a Cook Island educator and politician. He was the Minister of Education in the first Cook Islands government after self-government was obtained in 1965. Strickland was ...

. The party did not initially have a formal leader, though Hosking served as "campaign leader" At the 1968 election, the party ran on a platform of economic development, increased pensions, and

good governance Good governance is the process of measuring how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption and with due regard for th ...

. It promised to end the autocratic style of government practiced by the CIP's Albert Henry, end family and party appointments to the public service, and ensure public service neutrality. The party won six seats, becoming the parliamentary

opposition Opposition may refer to: Arts and media * ''Opposition'' (Altars EP), 2011 EP by Christian metalcore band Altars * The Opposition (band), a London post-punk band * '' The Opposition with Jordan Klepper'', a late-night television series on Com ...

.Stone (1970), p. 165.

Leaders

Ngatupuna Matepi Ngatupuna Matepi (1909–1977) was a Cook Islands politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1958 until his death, had two spells in the cabinet between 1962 and 1965, and became the first official Leader of the Oppositio ...

(1968–1969) #

Tangaroa Tangaroa Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa (6 May 1921 – 23 May 2009) was a Cook Islands politician. Born as the only child to Akaruke and Puna, he helped raise his wife's children. He started his professional life as a government radio operator (1939–1954). In ...

(1969–1970) #

Vainerere Tangatapoto Vainerere Tangatapoto (1 July 1912 – 19 January 1986) was a Cook Islands chief, educator and politician. He served as member of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, Legislative Assembly in two spells between 1958 and 1983. Biography Tangatapot ...

(1970–1971)

References

Defunct political parties in the Cook Islands Political parties established in 1968 * {{CookIslands-stub