15th Cook Islands Parliament explained

The 15th Cook Islands Parliament is the previous term of the Parliament of the Cook Islands.^[1] Its composition was determined by the 2010 elections on 17 November 2010.^[2]

Due to an electoral petition declaring the election of Tekii Lazaro invalid,^[3] the 15th Parliament initially consisted of only 23 members. A by-election was held for the vacant Pukapuka-Nassau seat.

The Parliament sat for the first time on 18 February 2011.^[4] It was dissolved on 17 April 2014.^[5]

The Speaker of the 15th Parliament was initially former Prime Minister Geoffrey Henry.^[6] Following Henry's death in May 2012, Niki Rattle was appointed Speaker.^[7]

Members

Initial MPs

width=1%		width=30% align=center	Name	width=20% align=center	Party	width=29% align=center	Electorate	width=20% align=center	Term
bgcolor=		George Angene	CIP	Tupapa/Maraerenga	First
bgcolor=		Teina Bishop	CIP	Arutanga/Nikaupara/Reureu	Fourth
bgcolor=		Mark Brown	CIP	Takuvaine/Tutakimoa	First
bgcolor=		Norman George	CIP		Seventh
bgcolor=		Nandi Glassie	CIP	Tengatangi/Areora/Ngatiarua	Second
bgcolor=		Teariki Heather	CIP	Akaoa	Third
bgcolor=		William (Smiley) Heather	DP	Ruaau	Second
bgcolor=		John Henry	CIP	Avatiu/Ruatonga	First
bgcolor=		Atatoa Herman	CIP	Ngatangiia	First
bgcolor=		Moana Ioane	CIP	Vaipae/Tautu	First
bgcolor=		Toanui Isamaela	CIP	Amuri/Ureia	First
bgcolor=		Tom Marsters	CIP	Murienua	Sixth
bgcolor=		Jim Marurai	DP	Ivirua	Fifth
bgcolor=		Ngamau Munokoa	DP	Nikao/Panama	Fifth
bgcolor=		Winton Pickering	DP	Oneroa	Third
bgcolor=		Pukeiti Pukeiti	CIP	Tamarua	Second
bgcolor=		Henry Puna	CIP	Manihiki	Second
bgcolor=		Wilkie Rasmussen	DP	Penrhyn	Fourth
bgcolor=		Taunga Toka	DP	Rakahanga	First
bgcolor=		Tai Tura	CIP	Mauke	First
bgcolor=		Kiriau Turepu	CIP	Matavera	First
bgcolor=		Tangata Vavia	DP	Mitiaro	Fifth
bgcolor=		Robert Wigmore	DP	Titikaveka	Third

New members

width=1%		width=30% align=center	Name	width=20% align=center	Party	width=29% align=center	Electorate	width=20% align=center	Term
bgcolor=		Tekii Lazaro	CIP	Pukapuka-Nassau	First
bgcolor=		Selina Napa	DP	Titikaveka	First
bgcolor=		James Beer	DP	Murienua	First

Summary of changes

• On 8 March 2011 Norman George resigned from the Cook Islands Party and became an independent.^[8]
• Tekii Lazaro was elected to the seat of Pukapuka on 8 June 2011 following the byelection.^[9]
• Robert Wigmore died on 13 April 2012.^[10]
• Selina Napa was elected to the seat of Titikaveka on 21 June 2012 following the 2012 Titikaveka by-election.^[11]
• Tetangi Matapo was elected to the seat of Tamarua on 29 January 2013 following the 2013 Tamarua by-election.^[12]
• Tom Marsters resigned from Parliament on 25 September 2013 following his appointment as Queen's Representative.^[13] He was eventually replaced by James Beer after the 2014 Murienua by-election.^[14]

External links

• Members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands

Notes and References

1. Web site: Members of Parliament (1958 - present) . parliament.gov.ck . Parliament of the Cook Islands . 14 January 2024.
2. Web site: Cook Islands leader announces election date . RNZ . 13 August 2010 . 27 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100815225628/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=55297 . 15 August 2010 . live .
3. Web site: Pukapuka election result void . Cook Islands News . 18 February 2011 . 27 January 2021.
4. Web site: Opposition back confidence vote . Cook Islands News . 19 February 2011 . 27 January 2021.
5. Web site: Cooks parliament dissolved for July election . Radio New Zealand International . 2014-04-17 . 2014-04-17.
6. Web site: Sir Geoffrey back in parliament . Cook Islands News . 19 February 2011 . 27 January 2021.
7. Web site: Opposition decries speaker’s appointment . Cook Islands News . 23 May 2012 . 27 January 2021 .
8. Web site: Cook Islands Party MP resigns from party . RNZ . 9 March 2011 . 27 January 2021.
9. Web site: Lazaro confident before final count . Cook Islands News . 9 June 2011 . 27 January 2021.
10. Web site: ‘Man of wisdom’ honoured . Cook Islands News . 14 April 2012 . 27 January 2021.
11. Web site: Selina Napa wins Cooks by-election . RNZ . 29 June 2012 . 27 January 2021.
12. Web site: Teacher wins Tamarua . Moana Moeka’a . Cook Islands News . 7 February 2013 . 27 January 2021.
13. Web site: By-election next month . Cook Islands News . 1 August 2013 . 27 January 2021.
14. Web site: By-election win was ‘sweet’ for Demos . Emmanuel Samoglou . Cook Islands News . 25 February 2014 . 20 October 2018.