1974 Cook Islands general election

1974 Cook Islands general election

3 December 1974

22 seats in the Legislative Assembly 13 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader Seats +/– Cook Islands Albert Henry 14 −1 Democratic Thomas Davis 8 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Premier before Premier after Albert Henry Cook Islands Albert Henry Cook Islands

Early general elections were held in the Cook Islands on 3 December 1974. The result was a victory for the ruling Cook Islands Party (CIP), which won 14 of the 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly with 64% of the vote. The Democratic Party won the remaining eight seats. CIP leader Albert Henry remained Premier.

Background

The early elections were called by Henry following a visit to New Zealand for the funeral of Prime Minister Norman Kirk, stating that he also wanted to hold a vote on self-government or integration into New Zealand. A planned referendum would have seen voters given the options of independence, self-government or integration. However, the referendum plans were later dropped.

Campaign

Henry's government refused to allow the three thousand Cook Islanders living in New Zealand to vote by post, most of whom were expected to vote for the Democratic Party. Henry also obstructed attempts to charter an Air New Zealand plane for voters to fly home. However, the Democratic Party was able to charter an Air Nauru Boeing 727 to fly in some voters. Voters paid their own fares, and the flights were open to all regardless of party affiliation. The tactic was copied by the government at the next election, though with public money.

Democratic Party attempts to distribute leaflets to outer islands were also stopped by Henry.

Results

Party		Seats	+/–
	Cook Islands Party	14	–1
	Democratic Party	8	+1
Total		22	0
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

By electorate

Constituency	Candidate	Party		Votes
Aitutaki–Manuae	Geoffrey Henry		Cook Islands	644
	William Estall		Cook Islands	628
	Joseph Williams		Cook Islands	628
	Moeua Raela			188
	Timote Turu			164
	Tutai Mataiti			158
Atiu	Vainerere Tangatapoto		Democratic	267
	Paul Tangata		Democratic	259
	Teariki Franco Mateariki			198
	Mataki Kaiaruna			195
Mangaia	Pokino Aberahama		Democratic	427
	Ngatupuna Matepi		Democratic	414
	Ngamokopuna Tomokino			143
	Pukeiti Uritua			130
Manihiki	George Frederick Ellis Jr.		Cook Islands	108
	Tihau Napara			76
Mauke	Tupui Ariki Henry		Cook Islands	196
	Tupuna Ngaoire			54
Mitiaro	Raui Pokoati		Cook Islands	98
	Ta Ngatoko			16
Penrhyn	Tangaroa Tangaroa		Democratic	186
	Ben Samuel			38
	Fred Ford			26
Puaikura	William Heather		Democratic	410
	Tamataia Pera		Cook Islands	409
	Harry Napa			401
	Taru Moana			388
Pukapuka–Nassau	Inatio Akaruru		Cook Islands	307
	Mataora Tutai			56
Rakahanga	Pupuke Robati		Democratic	84
	Turuta Temu			50
Takitumu	Apenera Short		Cook Islands	484
	Tiakana Numanga		Cook Islands	475
	Taramai Tetonga		Cook Islands	465
	William Cowan			395
	William Robert Hosking			395
	Moerai Kekena			391
Te-au-o-Tonga	Albert Henry		Cook Islands	1,107
	Thomas Davis		Democratic	1,080
	Eric Man Browne		Cook Islands	1,055
	Teanua Kamana		Cook Islands	1,041
	Tamarua Joseph Browne			1,031
	Mana Strickland			1,026
	Mani Browne			1,015
	Tuoro Rangi Anguna			1,000
Source:

Aftermath

After the CIP lost their two-thirds majority and ability to amend the constitution, Henry threatened to take action against Democratic Party supporters working in the islands' civil service.

When the newly elected Assembly convened, Marguerite Story was re-elected as Speaker.

1977 Takitumu by-election

An election was held on 22 December 1977 to fill the vacancy after the death of Tiakana Numanga.

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Iaveta Short	Democratic Party	485	51.49
	Matapo Matapo	Cook Islands Party	457	48.51
Total			942	100.00
Source: The Cook Islands Gazette