2004 Cook Islands general election

2004 Cook Islands general election
Cook Islands
← 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
Politics of the Cook Islands

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.

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]

  1. ^ "IFES Election Guide: Cook islands". Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  2. ^ "Democratic party in Cook Islands consolidates election lead". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-13. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  3. ^ "Cook Islands election petition period ends". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  4. ^ "Woonton announces new Cook Islands government". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-11-15. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  5. ^ "Cook Islands prime minister forms new party". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-01. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  6. ^ "Cook Islands Party candidate wins petition against election result in Titikaveka". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-10. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  7. ^ "Cooks to vote for new Prime Minister after election draw leads to by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 2004-12-12. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  8. ^ "New Cook Islands PM and Cabinet sworn in". Cook Islands Government. 2004-12-15. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-12.