March 1983 Cook Islands general election explained

Country:Cook Islands
Previous Election:1978
Next Election:November 1983
Election Date:30 March 1983
Seats For Election:24 seats in the Parliament
Majority Seats:13
Party1:Cook Islands Party
Leader1:Geoffrey Henry
Percentage1:50.1
Seats1:13
Last Election1:15
Party2:Democratic Party (Cook Islands)
Leader2:Thomas Davis
Percentage2:44.9
Seats2:11
Last Election2:7
Prime Minister
Before Election:Thomas Davis
Before Party:DP
After Election:Geoffrey Henry
After Party:CIP

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 30 March 1983.[1] The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP) of Geoffrey Henry, who became Prime Minister. However, the CIP lost their majority by the end of July, eventually resulting in Parliament being dissolved and new elections called in November 1983.

Electoral system

Previously the Legislative Assembly had 22 members elected from 12 constituencies of between one and four seats in size. Following constitutional reforms, the Assembly was renamed Parliament and the number of members was increased to 24, with the country split into 23 single-member constituencies and an additional constituency for overseas voters.

Campaign

Campaigning was much milder than in the 1978 elections, with the government – now controlled by the Democratic Party – having introduced limits on radio airtime and newspaper advertising by parties.[2]

Results

Prime Minister Thomas Davis and Minister Iaveta Short both lost their seats.[2]

By electorate

Constituency Candidate Votes %
align=left rowspan=3Kura Strickland 174 56.86
Paora Teiti 104 33.99
Banaba Samuela 28 9.15
align=left rowspan=4Ngereteina Puna 201 62.23
Tepaki Nooapii Tepaki 106 32.82
George Kurariki George 13 4.02
Marraeara Teikii 3 0.93
align=left rowspan=3Rei Jack 225 50.79
201 45.37
Michael Tavioni 17 3.84
align=left rowspan=2Papamama Pokino 116 70.73
Taataiti Tangatakino 48 29.27
align=left rowspan=3George Frederick Ellis Jr. 109 52.91
Ebinisa Ben Toma 95 46.12
Takai Ngatipa 2 0.97
align=left rowspan=3William Papa Cowan 159 57.19
Maru Taramai 112 40.29
Akaiti Tamarua Ama 7 2.52
align=left rowspan=4Tupui Ariki Henry 161 60.07
Mana Strickland 82 30.60
Pokoina Tommy 17 6.34
Ngatangata Rairi 8 2.99
align=left rowspan=3Tiki Tetava 62 52.99
Ngatupuna David 49 41.88
Tungane-apekore Pokoati 6 5.13
align=left rowspan=4Jimmy Mareiti 279 51.29
William Heather 179 32.90
Sadaraka Metuakore Sadaraka 50 9.19
Exham Wichman 36 6.62
align=left rowspan=3Terepai Maoate 173 51.64
Iaveta Short 151 45.07
Tuainekore-o-Turepu Teariki Tamaroia Keenan 11 3.28
align=left rowspan=3Vincent Ingram 270 51.14
Richard Pare Browne 207 39.20
Percy Frederick Hendeson 51 9.66
align=left rowspan=2Matepi Toru Matepi 225 73.05
Maarateina Atatoa 83 26.95
align=left rowspan=3Tangaroa Tangaroa 187 67.51
Walter Benedito 85 30.69
Aileen Mustonen 5 1.81
align=left rowspan=3Inatio Akaruru 238 68.39
Waleeu Wuatai 88 25.29
Kautoki Katoa 22 6.32
align=left rowspan=2Pupuke Robati 103 70.07
Arahu Tuteru 44 29.93
align=left rowspan=3Harry Tauei Napa 176 40.84
Raymond Pirangi 174 40.37
Joseph Williams 81 18.79
align=left rowspan=3Geoffrey Henry 330 51.81
Frederick Tutu Goodwin 275 43.17
Eric Man Browne 32 5.02
align=left rowspan=2Tearapiri Teaurima 56 65.88
Pukeiti Pukeiti 29 34.12
align=left rowspan=2Tangata Simiona 94 53.11
Metuaangai Teritaiti 83 46.89
align=left rowspan=3Norman George 185 58.18
Tepou Boaza 132 41.51
Piri Puruto 1 0.31
align=left rowspan=3Matapo Matapo 232 50.54
Teariki Matenga 201 43.79
Teariki Tiakana Numanga 26 5.66
align=left rowspan=3Teanua Dan Kamana 318 50.88
Teariki Piri 269 43.04
Kautai Tata Strickland 38 6.08
align=left rowspan=3Bill Paiti 258 76.11
Maramotoa Turi 76 22.42
William Ioane Estall 5 1.47
align=left rowspan=3Fanaura Kingstone 244 52.47
Iaveta Arthur 183 39.35
Tauei Solomona 38 8.17
align=left colspan=4Source:[3]

Aftermath

Following the elections, Henry appointed a seven-member cabinet, including the first female minister, Fanaura Kingstone. Kingstone had been elected from the overseas constituency with the intention of resigning in protest at the creation of the constituency. However, she later changed her mind as the CIP failed to win a significant majority.[4]

PortfolioMember
Prime Minister, External Affairs, Finance, Immigration, Ombudsman, Parliamentary Services, Police, TourismGeoffrey Henry
Agriculture, HealthTerepai Maoate
Broadcasting, Fisheries, Justice, Local Government, Marine Resources, Newspaper Corporation, Outer Islands, SurveyTupui Henry
Corrective Services, Education, Public Services, ReligionNgereteina Puna
Development, Energy, Labour, Planning, Statistics, Trade, TransportGeorge Ellis
Electrical Office, Hurricane Safety, Public Works, Water CommissionInatio Akaruru
Internal Affairs, Postmistress GeneralFanaura Kingstone

Shortly after the elections, the Democratic Party MP for Atiu lost their seat after a successful petition against the result in the constituency, increasing the CIP majority to three. A court case also began as Henry had failed to resign from office within the first seven days of the parliamentary session and seek re-appointment, as required by the constitution. This was initially viewed as a technicality due to the CIP majority in Parliament. However, in July CIP MP Matapo Matapo died and Tupui Henry left the CIP to sit with the Democratic Party, leaving an 11–11 tie. The final verdict of the Court of Appeal was announced on 29 July, requiring Henry to resign.

Without a majority, Henry resigned on 2 August. Queen's Representative Gaven Donne convened a series of votes to determine who could attain a parliamentary majority, with the vote on 10 August ending as 11 each for Geoffrey and Tupui Henry. With the Atiu by-election – almost certain to be won by the Democratic Party – due on 12 August, Donne asked the two leaders to wait until the by-election for Matapo's seat before a government was appointed. Tupui Henry and Leader of the Opposition Vincent Ingram agreed in the belief that they could win Matapo's former constituency. However, Geoffrey Henry declined. This resulted in Donne dissolving Parliament on 17 August, calling fresh elections for November, and appointing Geoffrey Henry as caretaker Prime Minister with restricted powers.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hon. Sir Terepai MAOATE, KBE . Cook Islands Parliament . 2009-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101001070047/http://www.parliament.gov.ck/members/maote1.html . 2010-10-01 . dead .
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339760471/view?partId=nla.obj-339776244#page/n14/mode/1up Quiet election campaigning leads up to dramatic result
  3. Web site: 11 April 1983 . The Cook Islands Gazette No. 26/83 . Library of Congress.
  4. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339766360/view?partId=nla.obj-339780957#page/n11/mode/1up/search/elect Henry the Second's first government
  5. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339795163/view?partId=nla.obj-339842843#page/n18/mode/1up Cook Islands 1983: The year of voting repeatedly