Cook Islands First Party

The Cook Islands First Party (originally known as the Demo Tumu Party, translatable as "Original/True Democratic Party") was a political party in the Cook Islands. The party was originally a faction within the Cook Islands Democratic Party which supported Prime Minister Robert Woonton over Terepai Maoate. The 2004 elections saw the Democrats win a clear majority, but it was not clear whether Woonton would have the numbers within the party to remain Prime Minister. Woonton's announcement on 15 November 2004 that he was forming a coalition with the rival Cook Islands Party with himself as Prime Minister.[1] This touched off a bitter struggle within the Democrats, which ultimately saw Woonton and his Health Minister Peri Vaevae Pare expelled from the party. Woonton responded by launching his own party, the Demo Tumu Party, on 1 December 2004.[2]

Initially the party consisted of 4 MPs: Woonton, Pare, then-education minister Jim Marurai and Democratic backbenchers Teenui Mapumai and Poko Simpson.[3] The party maintained its coalition agreement with the Cook Islands Party and the support of independent MP Piho Rua, and Woonton remained Prime Minister. Woonton subsequently resigned his seat in order to fight a by-election,[4] causing his government to be dissolved. The coalition held,[5] with Woonton's deputy Jim Marurai replacing him as Prime Minister as part of a deal which would see CIP leader Geoffrey Henry replace him after two years.[3][6]

The coalition deal was dissolved in September 2005, and the party, now calling itself "Cook Islands First," formed a new coalition with the Democrats.[7] The parties re-united shortly before the 2006 election, and the party is now defunct.

  1. ^ "Woonton announces new Cook Islands government". Radio New Zealand International. 15 November 2004. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  2. ^ "Cook Islands prime minister forms new party". Radio New Zealand International. 1 December 2004. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  3. ^ a b Jonassen, Jon Tikivanotau M (2006). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events: Cook Islands". The Contemporary Pacific. 18: 128–133. doi:10.1353/cp.2005.0087.
  4. ^ "Cooks to vote for new Prime Minister after election draw leads to by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 12 December 2004. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  5. ^ "Cook Islands Party believes existing coalition deal will hold". Radio New Zealand International. 14 December 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Jim Marurai is new Cook Islands prime minister". Radio New Zealand International. 15 December 2004. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Cook Islands PM sacks two more ministers". Radio New Zealand International. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2009.