General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 13 October 1958,[1] the first under universal suffrage.
Following the recommendations of the 1955 Belshaw-Stace Report, the 23-member Legislative Council was replaced by a 27-member Legislative Assembly.[2] [1]
Of the 27 members, 15 were directly elected; 14 from ten general constituencies and one from a European voter constituency.[2] Seven members were indirectly elected by Island Councils (four from Rarotonga and one from Aitutaki, Atiu and Mangaia).[2] The remaining five members were officials, including the Resident Commissioner as President of the Assembly, the Administration Secretary, the Treasurer and two members appointed by the Resident Commissioner.[2]
A total of 65 candidates contested the directly elected seats, including former Legislative Council member Willie Watson, who ran under the name Viri Vokotini in one of the general constituencies.[1]
Frank Bateson and former Chief Judge Alfred McCarthy contested the European seat.[1]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| align=left rowspan=8 | Tuakeu Puna | 545 | |
| Urikore Cummings | 340 | ||
| Kiikoro Kaoki | 202 | ||
| Tere Kainuku | 186 | ||
| Rave Pitomaki | 129 | ||
| Ruatangi Daniela | 85 | ||
| Rima Tamatoa | 77 | ||
| Ponoua Raki | 48 | ||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Vainerere Tangatapoto | 141 | |
| Ngamaru Ariki | 70 | ||
| Mana Ariki | 51 | ||
| Nono Tearapo | 46 | ||
| Tangata Poto | 41 | ||
| Michael Toki | 34 | ||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Ngatupuna Matepi | 408 | |
| Maarateina Atatoa | 267 | ||
| Edwin Gold | 17 | ||
| Puati Ngatama | 11 | ||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Tihau Napara | 56 | |
| Adamu Toka | 51 | ||
| Ben Ellis Jr. | 47 | ||
| Tekake William | 45 | ||
| John Dean | 20 | ||
| Apii Karaponga | 11 | ||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Dave Niovara | 108 | |
| 107 | |||
| Tangata Taia | 26 | ||
| Auru Tairea | 20 | ||
| Temana Ngatama | 14 | ||
| Aitu Rairi | 9 | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Tama Tetava | 71 | |
| Taia | 27 | ||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Tangaroa Tangaroa | 238 | |
| Parekaa Tereora | 48 | ||
| Tiavare Tini Josepha | 26 | ||
| Tinirau Tata | 15 | ||
| Nikau Mita | 8 | ||
| Mahutapiki Pange | 8 | ||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Ine Rutera | 138 | |
| Arona Tariau | 77 | ||
| Paata Eliu | 69 | ||
| Henry Winau | 63 | ||
| Taumaina Utarenga | 28 | ||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Toka Mataio | 37 | |
| Umutai George Greig | 32 | ||
| Ngametua | 16 | ||
| Tupou Piho | 6 | ||
| align=left rowspan=15 | William Hugh Watson | 1,628 | |
| Glassie Strickland | 723 | ||
| Tamarua Joseph Browne | 620 | ||
| Napa Tauei Napa | 548 | ||
| Teariki Tuavera | 496 | ||
| Frederick Aratiri Rennie | 473 | ||
| Manea Tamarua | 434 | ||
| 418 | |||
| Tui Pori Makea | 376 | ||
| Ngaeikura Tou | 367 | ||
| Ernest Taripo | 339 | ||
| Naea Teariki Maurangi | 318 | ||
| Teariki Puia | 220 | ||
| Pu Tamaiva | 190 | ||
| Tita Enoka Anautoa | 112 | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Frank Bateson | 94 | |
| Alfred McCarthy | 59 | ||
| Aitutaki Island Council | Kau Mapu | — | |
| Atiu Island Council | Teariki Vaine | — | |
| Mangaia Island Council | Pokino Aberahama | — | |
| align=left rowspan=4 | Rarotonga Island Council | Makea Nui Teremoana Ariki | — |
| Margaret Makea Karika Ariki | — | ||
| Dick Charles Brown | — | ||
| Areora Ira | — | ||
| align=left colspan=3 | Source:[3] [4] | ||