| Country: | Cook Islands |
| Previous Election: | 1965 |
| Next Election: | 1972 |
| Election Date: | 1 May 1968 |
| Seats For Election: | All 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 13 |
| Party1: | Cook Islands Party |
| Leader1: | Albert Henry |
| Percentage1: | 65.12 |
| Seats1: | 16 |
| Last Election1: | 14 |
| Party2: | UCI |
| Colour2: |
|
| Leader2: | Ngatupuna Matepi |
| Percentage2: | 32.91 |
| Seats2: | 6 |
| Last Election2: | new |
| Premier | |
| Before Election: | Albert Henry |
| Before Party: | Cook Islands Party |
| After Election: | Albert Henry |
| After Party: | Cook Islands Party |
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 1 May 1968. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP), which won 16 seats, a gain of two from the 1965 elections. The newly formed United Cook Islanders won the other six seats to become the parliamentary opposition. CIP leader Albert Henry continued as Prime Minister.
In February a new party, the United Cook Islanders (UCI), was formed. Its members included former cabinet members Mana Strickland and Manea Tamarua. The new party launched its manifesto on 8 April.[1]
A total of 55 candidates contested the elections; 23 from the CIP (two candidates from the party ran against each other in Pukapuka, and four candidates from the party contested the three seats in Takitumu), 18 from the UCI and six independents.[2] Former Leader of Government Business Dick Charles Brown had intended to run as an independent, but withdrew. The CIP candidates were returned unopposed in Mauke and Mitiaro.[2]
The campaign period during April saw meetings held almost every night, with CIP meetings initially drawing crowds of several hundred, rising to over 1,300 by the end of the campaign. In contrast, UCI meetings were usually attended by fewer than 100 people.
The CIP won all nine seats in Rarotonga, and gained the three Aitutaki seats, which had been won by the Independent Group in 1965. The UCI's former ministers, Strickland and Tamarua, both lost their seats.[3]
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left rowspan=6 | William Estall | 890 | |||
| Joseph Williams | 888 | ||||
| Ngaa Upu | 816 | ||||
| Dora Harrington | 146 | ||||
| John Robert George Dick | 89 | ||||
| Rata Toa | 72 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Vainerere Tangatapoto | 314 | |||
| Tangata Simiona | 280 | ||||
| Mariri Paratainga | 185 | ||||
| Pakari Tutai | 135 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Ngatupuna Matepi | 594 | |||
| Pokino Aberahama | 587 | ||||
| Turaraiti Pekepo | 164 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Nato Temu | 115 | |||
| Mareko Mareko | 53 | ||||
| Ben Pukerua | 33 | ||||
| Glassie Strickland | 29 | ||||
| Tupui Ariki Henry | Unopposed | ||||
| Raui Pokoati | Unopposed | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Tangaroa Tangaroa | 219 | |||
| Tuauri Hakaoro | 42 | ||||
| Fred Ford | 10 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Taru Moana | 550 | |||
| Tamataia Pera Maurangi | 547 | ||||
| Alexander Munro | 287 | ||||
| Napa Tauei Napa | 282 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Inatio Akaruru | 233 | |||
| John Tariau | 134 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Pupuke Robati | 90 | |||
| Howard Howard | 32 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=7 | Apenera Short | 574 | |||
| Tiakana Numanga | 532 | ||||
| Samuela Samuela | 396 | ||||
| Jean Domonique Upoko Crummer Peyroux | 305 | ||||
| Kamate Areora Ira | 301 | ||||
| William Cowan | 276 | ||||
| Taramai Tetonga | 198 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=8 | Albert Henry | 1,682 | |||
| Teanua Kamana | 1,568 | ||||
| Teaukura Roi | 1,470 | ||||
| Kamate Nangaiti | 1,418 | ||||
| Manea Teariki Tamarua | 717 | ||||
| Mana Strickland | 694 | ||||
| David Marama Hosking | 679 | ||||
| Marama Tepou Nicholas | 674 | ||||
| align=left colspan=5 | Source: Cook Islands Gazette,[4] [5] Stone, Pacific Islands Monthly[6] | ||||