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17th Cook Islands Parliament

{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox legislative term

|name=17th Parliament of the Cook Islands

|image= File:PARLIAMENT BUILDING OF THE COOK ISLANDS, RAROTONGA.jpg

|image_size=

|caption=Parliament House, Avarua

|body=Parliament of the Cook Islands

|election=2018 general election

|government=Fourth Cook Islands Party Government

|opposition=

|term_start=

|term_end=

|before= 16th Parliament

|after= 18th Parliament

|chamber1=House of Representatives

|chamber1_image=Cook Island 2018.svg

|chamber1_image_size=

|chamber1_alt=

|membership1=24

|chamber1_leader1_type=Speaker of the House

|chamber1_leader1=Tai Tura
— Niki Rattle until 15 February 2021

|chamber1_leader2_type=Leader of the House

|chamber1_leader2=

|chamber1_leader3_type=Prime Minister

|chamber1_leader3=Mark Brown
— Henry Puna until 1 October 2020

|chamber1_leader4_type=Leader of the Opposition

|chamber1_leader4=Tina Browne

|chamber2=House of Ariki

|chamber2_image=

|chamber2_image_size=

|chamber2_alt=

|membership2=24

|chamber2_leader1_type=President of the House of Ariki

|chamber2_leader1=Tou Travel Ariki

|chamber3=Sovereign

|chamber3_leader1_type=Monarch

|chamber3_leader1=Elizabeth II

|chamber3_leader2_type={{nowrap|King's Representative}}

|chamber3_leader2=Tom Marsters

|website=[https://parliament.gov.ck parliament.gov.ck]

}}

{{Politics of the Cook Islands}}

The 17th Cook Islands Parliament is a previous term of the Parliament of the Cook Islands.{{cite web |title=Members of Parliament (1958 - present) |url=https://parliament.gov.ck/our-people/members/ |website=parliament.gov.ck |publisher=Parliament of the Cook Islands |access-date=14 January 2024}} Its composition was determined by the 2018 elections on 14 June 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/354929/cook-island-elections-to-be-held-on-june-14 |title=Cook Island elections to be held on June 14 |publisher=Radio NZ International |date=13 April 2018 |accessdate=18 June 2018}}

Officeholders

=Presiding officers=

  • Speaker of the House:
  • Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) from March 2021{{cite web |title=Speakers |url=https://parliament.gov.ck/our-people/speakers/ |website=parliament.gov.ck |publisher=Parliament of the Cook Islands |access-date=17 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=17TH PARLIAMENT |url=https://parliamentci.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2018.pdf |website=parliamentci.wpenginepowered.com |publisher=Parliament of the Cook Islands |access-date=17 May 2025}}
  • Niki Rattle until 15 February 2021{{cite news |last1=Samoglou |first1=Emmanuel |title=Speaker's resignation catches MPs off-guard |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/politics/speakers-resignation-catches-mps-off-guard/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=Cook Islands News |date=16 February 2021 |language=en}}
  • Deputy Speaker of the House:
  • Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) from April 2019{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Rashneel |title=Tura appointed deputy Speaker |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/politics/tura-appointed-deputy-speaker/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=Cook Islands News |date=18 August 2020 |language=en}} until March 2021

==Other parliamentary officers==

  • Clerk:
  • Tangata Vainerere, from April 2021{{cite web |title=Clerks |url=https://parliament.gov.ck/our-people/speakers-of-parliament/ |website=parliament.gov.ck |publisher=Parliament of the Cook Islands |access-date=17 May 2025}}
  • Jeannine Daniel, acting clerk from March 2020 until April 2021
  • Tangata Vainerere, from October 2018 until March 2020{{cite news |last1=Etches |first1=Melina |title=Vainerere is back in the House |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/politics/vainerere-is-back-in-the-house/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=Cook Islands News |date=22 April 2021 |language=en}}
  • 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=

Members

=Initial party standings=

class=wikitable style=text-align:right

!Party

!Votes

!%

!Seats

!+/–

align=left|Democratic Party11+2
align=left|Cook Islands Party10–3
align=left|One Cook Islands Movement1–1
align=left|Titikaveka Oire8300
align=left|Independents2+2
align=left|Invalid/blank votes–––
align=left|Total240
align=left|Registered voters/turnout10,917––
align=left colspan=5|Source: [https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/359705/puna-retains-his-seat-as-all-cooks-preliminary-election-results-are-in Radio NZ] [http://www.justice.gov.ck/index.php/2-uncategorised/74-elections-14th-june-2018 Justice minister]

=Initial MPs=

class="sortable wikitable"
------------------

! width=1% |

! width=30% | Name

! width=20% | Party

! width=29% | Electorate

! width=20% | Term

------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|One Cook Islands Movement}}|

|George Angene

align=center|OCIalign=center|Tupapa–Maraerengaalign=center|Third
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Patrick Arioka

align=center|CIPalign=center|Murienuaalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Anthony Toruariki Armstrong

align=center|DPalign=center|Iviruaalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Nooroa o Teariki Baker

align=center|DPalign=center|Akaoaalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Mark Brown

align=center|CIPalign=center|Takuvaine–Tutakimoaalign=center|Third
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Te-Hani Brown

align=center|DPalign=center|Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiaruaalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Tingika Elikana

align=center|CIPalign=center|Pukapuka–Nassaualign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Toka Hagai

align=center|CIPalign=center|Rakahangaalign=center|Second
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|William (Smiley) Heather

align=center|DPalign=center|Ruaaualign=center|Second
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Wesley Kareroa

align=center|DPalign=center|Oneroaalign=center|Second
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Tereapii Maki-Kavana

align=center|CIPalign=center|Arutanga–Reureu–Nikauparaalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Terepai Maoate Jnr

align=center|DPalign=center|Amuri–Ureiaalign=center|Third
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Tetangi Matapo

align=center|DPalign=center|Tamaruaalign=center|Third
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Vaine Mokoroa

align=center|CIPalign=center|Nikao–Panamaalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Selina Napa

align=center|DPalign=center|Titikavekaalign=center|Third
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Albert Nicholas

align=center|CIPalign=center|Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerstonalign=center|Second
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Henry Puna

align=center|CIPalign=center|Manihikialign=center|Fourth
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Tuakeu Tangatapoto

align=center|CIPalign=center|Mitiaroalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Independent}}|

|Robert Tapaitau

align=center|Indalign=center|Penrhynalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Kitai Teinakore

align=center|DPalign=center|Vaipae–Tautualign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Independent}}|

|Rose Toki-Brown

align=center|Indalign=center|Teenui–Mapumaialign=center|Second
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Tamaiva Tuavera

align=center|DPalign=center|Ngatangiiaalign=center|Second
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Cook Islands)}}|

|Vaitoti Tupa

align=center|DPalign=center|Mataveraalign=center|First
------------------

|bgcolor={{party color|Cook Islands Party}}|

|Tai Tura

align=center|CIPalign=center|Maukealign=center|Third

=Summary of changes=

  • Toka Hagai resigned on 1 November 2018 after allegations of treating.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/375334/cook-islands-mp-resigns-amid-legal-action |title=Cook Islands MP resigns amid legal action |publisher=RNZI |date=7 November 2018 |accessdate=7 November 2018}} In December 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that Tina Browne had won the seat.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378387/browne-wins-cook-islands-election-petition-on-appeal |title=Browne wins Cook Islands election petition on appeal |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=17 December 2018 |accessdate=9 January 2019}}
  • Tony Armstrong died in November 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/376555/cook-islands-democratic-party-mourns-death-of-mp |title=Cook Islands Democratic Party mourns death of MP |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=22 November 2018 |accessdate=9 January 2019}} A by-election for the vacant Ivirua seat was held on 21 January 2019, and was won by Agnes Armstrong.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/380713/cook-islands-democratic-party-looks-to-have-secured-ivirua-seat |title=Cook Islands Democratic Party looks to have secured Ivirua seat |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=23 January 2019 |accessdate=20 March 2019}}
  • Te-Hani Brown resigned from the Democratic party to support the government in January 2019. She was subsequently re-elected in a by-election.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/385147/te-hani-brown-wins-cook-islands-by-election |title=Te-Hani Brown wins Cook Islands by-election |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=20 March 2019 |accessdate=20 March 2019}}
  • Henry Puna resigned on 24 March 2021 to take up the position of Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/puna-bids-farewell-with-some-words-of-advice/ |title=Puna bids farewell with some words of advice |author=Losirene Lacanivalu |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=24 March 2021 |access-date=8 April 2021}} Akaiti Puna was elected in the resulting by-election.{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/outer-islands/akaiti-puna-wins-manihiki-by-election-cip-majority-intact/ |title=Akaiti Puna wins Manihiki by-election, CIP majority intact |publisher=Cook Islands News |author=Rashneel Kumar |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=6 May 2021}}

References

{{reflist}}

Category:Politics of the Cook Islands

Category:2018 in the Cook Islands