2004 Cook Islands general election

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004.^[1] Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin,^[2] but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed,^[3] 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.^[4] This led to a split within the Democrats, with Woonton and four other MPs leaving to form the Demo Tumu Party.^[5] With 14 MPs, the coalition had a comfortable majority in Parliament.

2004 Cook Islands general election

← 1999 7 September 2004 2006 →

24 seats in the Parliament 13 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Democratic Terepai Maoate 47.36 14 +4 Cook Islands Geoffrey Henry 43.79 9 −2 Independents Piho Rua 6.47 1 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Robert Woonton Democratic Robert Woonton Democratic

The results of the electoral petitions saw the seat of Titikaveka change hands^[6] while Woonton's seat was a dead tie. Woonton subsequently resigned in order to fight a by-election,^[7] causing his government to be dissolved. He was succeeded by his deputy, Jim Marurai.^[8]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Alliance Party	3,944	47.36	14	+4
	Cook Islands Party	3,647	43.79	9	–2
	Tumu Enua	198	2.38	0	New
	Independents	539	6.47	1	+1
Total		8,328	100.00	24	–1
Source: Cook Islands News,[9] IFES[1]

By electorate

Akaoa

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Teariki Heather	188	54.3
	Democratic	Teremoana Tapi Taio	158	45.7
Turnout			346	75.5

Amuri-Ureia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Terepai Maoate Jnr	185	50.7
	Cook Islands	Teokotai Herman	175	47.9
	Independent	Kiria Kiria	5	1.4
Turnout			365	97.0

Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Teina Bishop	178	57.6
	Democratic	Ronald Henry	131	42.4
Turnout			309	92.8

Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Albert (Peto) Nicholas	315	52.7
	Democratic	Poko Keu	283	47.3
Turnout			598	80.9

Ivirua

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Marurai	Unopposed

Manihiki

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Woonton	142	50.7
	Cook Islands	Henry Puna	138	49.3
Turnout			280	100.0

Matavera

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Peri Vaevae Peri	221	49.3
	Cook Islands	Kiriau Turepu	200	44.6
	Independent	Mereana Taikoko	27	6.0
Turnout			448	88.9

Mauke

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mapu Taia	124	61.4
	Cook Islands	George Cowan	87	43.1
	TE	Taratoa Rouru Metuariki	17	8.4
Turnout			202	83.1

Mitiaro

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Tangata Vavia	65	52.4
	Cook Islands	Travel Tou Ariki	59	47.6
Turnout			124	96.9

Murienua

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Tom Marsters	180	47.0
	Democratic	William Pera	99	25.8
	Independent	Brett Porter	86	22.5
	TE	Rouru Metuariki	18	4.7
Turnout			383	74.8

Ngatangiia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Terepai Maoate	269	57.2
	Cook Islands	Metuatini Tangaroa	170	36.2
	Independent	Maru Ben	31	6.6
Turnout			470	87.5

Nikao-Panama

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ngamau Munokoa	442	71.9
	Cook Islands	Mamapo Manuela	173	28.1
Turnout			615	74.5

Oneroa

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Winton Pickering	132	55.9
	TE	Taata Tangatakino	96	40.7
	Cook Islands	Papamama Pokino	8	3.4
Turnout			236	99.6

Penrhyn

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Wilkie Rasmussen	103	52.3
	Democratic	Tepure Tapaitau	94	47.7
Turnout			197	102.1

Pukapuka-Nassau

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Tiaki Wuatai	181	51.4
	Cook Islands	Tiera Mataora	171	48.6
Turnout			352	98.1

Rakahanga

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Piho Rua	42	56.8
	Democratic	Pupuke Robati	32	43.2
Turnout			74	89.2

Ruaau

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Vaine Iriano Wichman	315	55.1
	Democratic	Geoffrey Heather	257	44.9
Turnout			572	87.5

Takuvaine-Tutakimoa

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Geoffrey Henry	243	46.1
	Democratic	Ngai Tupa	202	38.3
	Independent	Jessie Sword	82	15.6
Turnout			527	83.4

Tamarua

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Mii Parima	43	68.3
	Democratic	Andy Matapo	20	31.7
Turnout			63	82.9

Teenui-Mapumai

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Upokomaki Simpson	71	54.6
	Cook Islands	Tangaina Tanga	59	45.4
Turnout			130	92.2

Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Eugene Tatuava	73	35.6
	TE	Norman George	67	32.7
	Cook Islands	Nooroa Tou	65	31.7
Turnout			205	97.6

Titikaveka

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Wigmore	270	42.5
	Cook Islands	Tiki Matapo	264	41.6
	Independent	Tere Carr	101	15.9
Turnout			635	86.9

Tupapa-Maraerenga

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Cook Islands	Tupou Faireka	353	43.7
	Democratic	John Tangi	290	35.9
	Independent	Elizabeth Ponga	165	20.4
Turnout			808	87.8

Vaipae-Tautu

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Kete Ioane	203	55.9
	Cook Islands	Tiraa Arere	160	44.1
Turnout			363	82.1