2010 Cook Islands general election

The Democratic Party 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,{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=51125 |title=Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2009-12-24 |accessdate=2009-12-24}}{{cite web |url=http://www.democookislands.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129:cabinet-ministers-resign-in-support-of-party-leader&catid=1:latest-news |title=Cabinet Ministers Resign in Support of Party Leader |publisher=Democratic Party - Cook Islands |date=2009-12-23 |accessdate=2009-12-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709011911/http://www.democookislands.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129%3Acabinet-ministers-resign-in-support-of-party-leader&catid=1%3Alatest-news |archivedate=2011-07-09 }} the expulsion of Marurai and his supporters, and the withdrawal of support for the government.{{cite web |url=http://www.democookislands.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133:marurai-wilkie-coalition-falling-apart&catid=1:latest-news |title=Marurai Wilkie coalition falling apart |publisher=Democratic Party - Cook Islands |date=2009-12-31 |accessdate=2010-01-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006221419/http://www.democookislands.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133%3Amarurai-wilkie-coalition-falling-apart&catid=1%3Alatest-news |archivedate=October 6, 2011 }} Marurai then refused to reconvene Parliament in order to forestall a confidence vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=52101 |title=Cooks PM holds off parliament for another seven months |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-02-23 |accessdate=2010-11-18}} 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 as his deputy.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53968 |title=New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-06-03 |accessdate=2010-06-05}} However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate and former President John Tangi subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=56311 |title=Former Cook Islands Prime Minister to run as independent |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-10-07 |accessdate=2010-10-07}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed08/other.htm#1009021009 |title=Already on the campaign trail |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-09-02 |accessdate=2010-09-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055309/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed08/other.htm#1009021009 |archivedate=2011-07-16 }}

In the leadup to the election two sitting MPs announced their retirement: Piho Rua{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed08/other.htm#1009021013 |title=Rua stands down |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-09-02 |accessdate=2010-09-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055309/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed08/other.htm#1009021013 |archivedate=2011-07-16 }} and Speaker of the House Mapu Taia. Both were members of the Democratic Party.

Parliament was dissolved on 24 September.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=56066 |title=Cook Islands parliament dissolved as country heads for November elections |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-09-24 |accessdate=2010-09-26}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/local.htm#1010160103 |title=70 standing |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-10-16 |accessdate=2010-10-21}} Of the 70 candidates, eight were women.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/other.htm#1010160908 |title=Most candidates we’ve ever seen |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-10-16 |accessdate=2010-10-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026023743/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/other.htm#1010160908 |archivedate=2010-10-26 }}

The Democratic Party launched its campaign on October 7 in vaka Takitumu{{cite web|url=http://www3.cookislandsnews.com/2010/October/Wed06/local.htm#1010060102 |title=Demo campaign kicks off |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-10-06 |accessdate=2010-10-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708191449/http://www3.cookislandsnews.com/2010/October/Wed06/local.htm |archivedate=2011-07-08 }} with the campaign slogan "Our Future. Now."{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/other.htm#1010160903 |title=Demos bill manifesto as ‘playbook’ |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-10-16 |accessdate=2010-10-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026023743/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/other.htm#1010160903 |archivedate=2010-10-26 }} The party promised stability, benefit increases, and public service cuts.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=56558 |title=Democratic Party launches manifesto, vowing public sector cuts |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-10-20 |accessdate=2010-10-21}} It contested every electorate except Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu.

The Cook Islands Party 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed13/local.htm#1010090101 |title=Election about shared dreams: CIP |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-10-09 |accessdate=2010-10-14}} They also promised to prevent "reckless" public spending by making Ministers and public servants personally liable for any misspent funds.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed13/local.htm#1010110105 |title=No reckless spending: CIP |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-10-11 |accessdate=2010-10-14}}

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%.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed15/local.htm#1009110106 |title=76% want seats cut |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-09-11 |accessdate=2010-09-16 |archive-date=2012-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605035238/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed15/local.htm#1009110106 |url-status=dead }} The margin of error of the poll was 7%.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/September/Wed15/features.htm#1009110804 |title=Pollsters ready for the numbers game |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2010-09-11 |accessdate=2010-09-16}}

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 Wilkie Rasmussen, 8% Prime Minister Jim Marurai, 5% Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna, 2% CIP deputy Teina Bishop and 10% others, with 33% undecided.{{cite web |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h536b.htm |title=Top three choices all Demos |publisher=Cook Islands Herald |date=2010-11-03 |accessdate=2010-11-09}}

The election resulted in a two-thirds majority for the Cook Islands Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=57312 |title=Final results give Cook Islands Party two-thirds majority |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-11-29 |accessdate=2010-11-29}} Following the election, CIP leader Henry Puna was sworn in as Prime Minister.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=57367 |title=New Cook Islands PM sworn in |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=2010-11-30 |accessdate=2010-12-01}}

Four electoral petitions were subsequently lodged, challenging the results in the electorates of Pukapuka-Nassau, Rakahanga, Tamarua and Vaipae-Tautu.{{cite web |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h541c.htm |title=Range of issues tackled in hearings on electoral petitions |publisher=Cook Islands Times |date=2010-12-08 |accessdate=2010-12-12}} The petitions were heard in January and February 2011. The results in Rakahanga{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2011/February/Wed02/other.htm#1101280709 |title=Court upholds Rakahanga result |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2011-02-02 |accessdate=2011-02-13}} and Tamarua{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2011/February/Wed02/local.htm#1102020104 |title=CIP retains Tamarua seat |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=2011-02-02 |accessdate=2011-02-13}} were upheld. Pukapuka-Nassau held a new election in 2011.

{{Election results

|image=File:Cook Islands Parliament 2010.svg

|party1=Cook Islands Party|votes1=3753|seats1=16|sc1=+9

|party2=Democratic Party|votes2=3302|seats2=8|sc2=–6

|party3=Party Tumu|votes3=160|seats3=0|sc3=New

|party4=Te Kura O Te ʻAu People's Movement|votes4=145|seats4=0|sc4=New

|party5=Independents|votes5=1208|seats5=0|sc5=–2

|invalid=

|electorate=10346

|total_sc=0

|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110816132057/https://www.cookislands.de/files/Sat_27_Nov_2010-pg_17.pdf ESG Cook-Islands], [https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/1573/ IFES]

}}

• 2010 Cook Islands Member of Parliament reduction referendum

{{reflist}}

{{Cook Islands elections}}

Category:Elections in the Cook Islands

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Category:2010 in the Cook Islands

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