2004 Cook Islands general election
{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Cook Islands
| previous_election = 1999
| next_election = 2006
| election_date = 7 September 2004
| seats_for_election = 24 seats in the Parliament
| majority_seats = 13
| party1 = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
| leader1 = Terepai Maoate
| percentage1 = 47.36
| seats1 = 14
| last_election1 = 10
| party2 = Cook Islands Party
| leader2 = Geoffrey Henry
| percentage2 = 43.79
| seats2 = 9
| last_election2 = 11
| party3 = Independents
| leader3 = Piho Rua
| percentage3 = 6.47
| seats3 = 1
| last_election3 = 0
| title = Prime Minister
| before_election = Robert Woonton
| before_party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
| after_election = Robert Woonton
| after_party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
}}{{Politics of the Cook Islands}}
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004.{{Cite web |title=IFES Election Guide: Cook islands |url=https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/1391/ |access-date=2009-03-21}} Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/150661/democratic-party-in-cook-islands-consolidates-election-lead |title=Democratic party in Cook Islands consolidates election lead |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2004-09-13 |accessdate=2009-04-12}} but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/150841/cook-islands-election-petition-period-ends |title=Cook Islands election petition period ends |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2004-09-23 |accessdate=2009-04-12}} delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December. In the interim, Prime Minister Robert Woonton announced that he was forming a coalition government with the rival Cook Islands Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13211 |title=Woonton announces new Cook Islands government |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2004-11-15 |accessdate=2009-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516055914/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13211 |archive-date=2012-05-16 |url-status=dead }} This led to a split within the Democrats, with Woonton and four other MPs leaving to form the Demo Tumu Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13516 |title=Cook Islands prime minister forms new party |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2004-12-01 |accessdate=2009-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516055928/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13516 |archive-date=2012-05-16 |url-status=dead }} With 14 MPs, the coalition had a comfortable majority in Parliament.
The results of the electoral petitions saw the seat of Titikaveka change hands{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152211/cook-islands-party-candidate-wins-petition-against-election-result-in-titikaveka |title=Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2004-12-10 |accessdate=2009-04-12}} while Woonton's seat was a dead tie. Woonton subsequently resigned in order to fight a by-election,{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13735 |title=Cooks to vote for new Prime Minister after election draw leads to by-election |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2004-12-12 |accessdate=2009-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524011855/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=13735 |archive-date=2012-05-24 |url-status=dead }} causing his government to be dissolved. He was succeeded by his deputy, Jim Marurai.{{cite web |url=http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=731 |title=New Cook Islands PM and Cabinet sworn in |publisher=Cook Islands Government |date=2004-12-15 |accessdate=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326004505/http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=731 |archivedate=2009-03-26 }}
Results
{{Election results
|image=File:Cook Islands Parliament 2004.svg
|party1=Democratic Alliance Party|votes1=3944|seats1=14|sc1=+4
|party2=Cook Islands Party|votes2=3647|seats2=9|sc2=–2
|party3=Tumu Enua|votes3=198|seats3=0|sc3=New
|party4=Independents|votes4=539|seats4=1|sc4=+1
|total_sc=–1
|source=Cook Islands News,{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/results.htm |title=General election preliminary results: State of the parties – to 13 September 2004 |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=13 September 2004 |accessdate= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041015084208/http://www.cinews.co.ck/results.htm |archive-date=15 October 2004 }} IFES
}}
=By electorate=
{{Election box begin| title=Akaoa}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Teariki Heather
|votes = 188
|percentage = 54.3
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Teremoana Tapi Taio
|votes = 158
|percentage = 45.7
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 346
|percentage = 75.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Amuri-Ureia}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Terepai Maoate Jnr
|votes = 185
|percentage = 50.7
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Teokotai Herman
|votes = 175
|percentage = 47.9
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Kiria Kiria
|votes = 5
|percentage = 1.4
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 365
|percentage = 97.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Teina Bishop
|votes = 178
|percentage = 57.6
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Ronald Henry
|votes = 131
|percentage = 42.4
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 309
|percentage = 92.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Albert (Peto) Nicholas
|votes = 315
|percentage = 52.7
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Poko Keu
|votes = 283
|percentage = 47.3
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 598
|percentage = 80.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Ivirua}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Jim Marurai
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage =
|change = }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Manihiki}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Robert Woonton
|votes = 142
|percentage = 50.7
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Henry Puna
|votes = 138
|percentage = 49.3
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 280
|percentage = 100.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Matavera}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Peri Vaevae Peri
|votes = 221
|percentage = 49.3
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Kiriau Turepu
|votes = 200
|percentage = 44.6
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Mereana Taikoko
|votes = 27
|percentage = 6.0
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 448
|percentage = 88.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Mauke}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Mapu Taia
|votes = 124
|percentage = 61.4
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = George Cowan
|votes = 87
|percentage = 43.1
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Tumu Enua
|candidate = Taratoa Rouru Metuariki
|votes = 17
|percentage = 8.4
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 202
|percentage = 83.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Mitiaro}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Tangata Vavia
|votes = 65
|percentage = 52.4
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Travel Tou Ariki
|votes = 59
|percentage = 47.6
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 124
|percentage = 96.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Murienua}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Tom Marsters
|votes = 180
|percentage = 47.0
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = William Pera
|votes = 99
|percentage = 25.8
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Brett Porter
|votes = 86
|percentage = 22.5
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Tumu Enua
|candidate = Rouru Metuariki
|votes = 18
|percentage = 4.7
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 383
|percentage = 74.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Ngatangiia}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Terepai Maoate
|votes = 269
|percentage = 57.2
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Metuatini Tangaroa
|votes = 170
|percentage = 36.2
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Maru Ben
|votes = 31
|percentage = 6.6
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 470
|percentage = 87.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Nikao-Panama}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Ngamau Munokoa
|votes = 442
|percentage = 71.9
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Mamapo Manuela
|votes = 173
|percentage = 28.1
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 615
|percentage = 74.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Oneroa}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Winton Pickering
|votes = 132
|percentage = 55.9
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Tumu Enua
|candidate = Taata Tangatakino
|votes = 96
|percentage = 40.7
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Papamama Pokino
|votes = 8
|percentage = 3.4
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 236
|percentage = 99.6
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Penrhyn}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Wilkie Rasmussen
|votes = 103
|percentage = 52.3
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Tepure Tapaitau
|votes = 94
|percentage = 47.7
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 197
|percentage = 102.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Pukapuka-Nassau}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Tiaki Wuatai
|votes = 181
|percentage = 51.4
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Tiera Mataora
|votes = 171
|percentage = 48.6
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 352
|percentage = 98.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Rakahanga}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Piho Rua
|votes = 42
|percentage = 56.8
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Pupuke Robati
|votes = 32
|percentage = 43.2
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 74
|percentage = 89.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Ruaau}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Vaine Iriano Wichman
|votes = 315
|percentage = 55.1
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Geoffrey Heather
|votes = 257
|percentage = 44.9
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 572
|percentage = 87.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Takuvaine-Tutakimoa}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Geoffrey Henry
|votes = 243
|percentage = 46.1
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Ngai Tupa
|votes = 202
|percentage = 38.3
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Jessie Sword
|votes = 82
|percentage = 15.6
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 527
|percentage = 83.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Tamarua}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Mii Parima
|votes = 43
|percentage = 68.3
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Andy Matapo
|votes = 20
|percentage = 31.7
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 63
|percentage = 82.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Teenui-Mapumai}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Upokomaki Simpson
|votes = 71
|percentage = 54.6
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Tangaina Tanga
|votes = 59
|percentage = 45.4
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 130
|percentage = 92.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Eugene Tatuava
|votes = 73
|percentage = 35.6
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Tumu Enua
|candidate = Norman George
|votes = 67
|percentage = 32.7
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Nooroa Tou
|votes = 65
|percentage = 31.7
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 205
|percentage = 97.6
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Titikaveka}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Robert Wigmore
|votes = 270
|percentage = 42.5
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Tiki Matapo
|votes = 264
|percentage = 41.6
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Tere Carr
|votes = 101
|percentage = 15.9
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 635
|percentage = 86.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Tupapa-Maraerenga}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Tupou Faireka
|votes = 353
|percentage = 43.7
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = John Tangi
|votes = 290
|percentage = 35.9
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Elizabeth Ponga
|votes = 165
|percentage = 20.4
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 808
|percentage = 87.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=Vaipae-Tautu}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
|candidate = Kete Ioane
|votes = 203
|percentage = 55.9
|change = }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Cook Islands Party
|candidate = Tiraa Arere
|votes = 160
|percentage = 44.1
|change = }}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 363
|percentage = 82.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cook Islands elections}}
Category:Elections in the Cook Islands
Category:2004 in the Cook Islands
Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results