| Country: | Cook Islands |
| Previous Election: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2014 |
| Election Date: | 17 November 2010 |
| Seats For Election: | All 24 seats in the Parliament |
| Majority Seats: | 13 |
| Party1: | Cook Islands Party |
| Leader1: | Henry Puna |
| Percentage1: | 43.80 |
| Seats1: | 16 |
| Last Election1: | 7 |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (Cook Islands) |
| Leader2: | Robert Wigmore |
| Percentage2: | 38.54 |
| Seats2: | 8 |
| Last Election2: | 14 |
| Prime Minister | |
| Before Election: | Jim Marurai |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (Cook Islands) |
| After Election: | Henry Puna |
| After Party: | Cook Islands Party |
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010[1] in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats.[2] Voter turnout was 78%.[3]
A binding referendum on whether the number of MPs should be reduced from 24 was held at the same time as the election.[4]
Parliament will sit for the first time following the election in February 2011.[5]
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,[6] [7] the expulsion of Marurai and his supporters, and the withdrawal of support for the government.[8] Marurai then refused to reconvene Parliament in order to forestall a confidence vote.[9] 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.[10] However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate and former President John Tangi subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents.[11] [12]
In the leadup to the election two sitting MPs announced their retirement: Piho Rua[13] and Speaker of the House Mapu Taia.[12] Both were members of the Democratic Party.
Parliament was dissolved on 24 September.[14] 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.[15] Of the 70 candidates, eight were women.[16]
The Democratic Party launched its campaign on October 7 in vaka Takitumu[17] with the campaign slogan "Our Future. Now."[18] The party promised stability,[18] benefit increases, and public service cuts.[19] It contested every electorate except Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu.[17]
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.[20] They also promised to prevent "reckless" public spending by making Ministers and public servants personally liable for any misspent funds.[21]
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%.[22] The margin of error of the poll was 7%.[23]
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.[24]
The election resulted in a two-thirds majority for the Cook Islands Party.[25] Following the election, CIP leader Henry Puna was sworn in as Prime Minister.[26]
Four electoral petitions were subsequently lodged, challenging the results in the electorates of Pukapuka-Nassau, Rakahanga, Tamarua and Vaipae-Tautu.[27] The petitions were heard in January and February 2011. The results in Rakahanga[28] and Tamarua[29] were upheld. Pukapuka-Nassau held a new election in 2011.
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left rowspan=2 | Teariki Heather | 203 | 53.42 | Re-elected | ||
| 177 | 46.58 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Toanui Isamaela | 172 | 48.86 | Elected | ||
| 143 | 40.63 | Unseated | ||||
| Ngatuaine Tutai Tom | 27 | 7.67 | ||||
| John Tini | 10 | 2.84 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Teina Bishop | 186 | 55.52 | Re-elected | ||
| May Kavana | 84 | 25.07 | ||||
| Harold Arthur Browne | 65 | 19.40 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | John Henry | 269 | 46.86 | Elected | ||
| 160 | 27.87 | Unseated | ||||
| Sam Crocombe | 135 | 23.52 | ||||
| 10 | 1.74 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Jim Marurai | 69 | 93.24 | Re-elected | ||
| Moe Lucre | 5 | 6.76 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Henry Puna | 100 | 54.64 | Elected | ||
| 73 | 39.89 | Unseated | ||||
| Rangi Mitaera | 10 | 5.46 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Kiriau Turepu | 324 | 57.96 | Elected | ||
| 235 | 42.04 | Unseated | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Tai Tura | 124 | 59.33 | Elected | ||
| Hugh Richard Graham | 85 | 40.67 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Tangata Vavia | 65 | 60.19 | Re-elected | ||
| 43 | 39.81 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Tom Marsters | 193 | 42.70 | Re-elected | ||
| James Vini Beer | 127 | 28.10 | ||||
| Teariki Unuka | 75 | 16.59 | ||||
| Angeline Tuara | 54 | 11.95 | ||||
| Tepaki Nooapii Tepaki | 3 | 0.66 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Atatoa Herman | 218 | 40.15 | Elected | ||
| Mann Moetarauri Short | 175 | 32.23 | ||||
| 150 | 27.62 | Unseated | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Ngamau Munokoa | 255 | 39.97 | Re-elected | ||
| Tangee Tangi Kokaua | 202 | 31.66 | ||||
| Philip Vakariti Rongo Nicholas | 181 | 28.37 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Winton Pickering | 123 | 56.94 | Re-elected | ||
| Tangatataia Vavia | 54 | 25.00 | ||||
| Junior Areai Enoka | 39 | 18.06 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Wilkie Rasmussen | 71 | 50.00 | Re-elected | ||
| Willie John | 61 | 42.96 | ||||
| Tini Ford | 10 | 7.04 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Tekii Lazaro | 88 | 35.34 | Elected | ||
| 84 | 33.73 | Unseated | ||||
| Tai Ravarua | 77 | 30.92 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Taunga Toka | 30 | 51.72 | Elected | ||
| 28 | 48.28 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | William (Smiley) Heather | 383 | 64.70 | Re-elected | ||
| David Akanoa | 169 | 28.55 | ||||
| Ngamau-O-Rongo Tou | 40 | 6.76 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Mark Brown | 344 | 63.70 | Elected | ||
| 196 | 36.30 | Unseated | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Pukeiti Pukeiti | 31 | 50.82 | Re-elected | ||
| Andy Matapo | 30 | 49.18 | ||||
| Mimau Tom | 0 | 0.00 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Norman George | 79 | 69.91 | Re-elected | ||
| Pukeiti Ngametua | 34 | 30.09 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Nandi Glassie | 90 | 56.60 | Re-elected | ||
| Eugene Tatuava | 69 | 43.40 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Robert Wigmore | 328 | 45.81 | Re-elected | ||
| Taivero Isamaela | 228 | 31.84 | ||||
| Teariki Matenga Jnr | 94 | 13.13 | ||||
| Teava Iro | 66 | 9.22 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | George Angene | 430 | 44.51 | Elected | ||
| Nooroa Tupa | 263 | 27.23 | ||||
| Timothy Paul Arnold | 181 | 18.74 | ||||
| 92 | 9.52 | Unseated | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Mona Ioane | 163 | 46.70 | Elected | ||
| 159 | 45.56 | Unseated | ||||
| Simiona Teva Robert | 21 | 6.02 | ||||
| Punua Marsters | 6 | 1.72 | ||||