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Democratic Party (Cook Islands)

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Cook Islands Democratic Party
LeaderTina Browne
PresidentLee Harmon
Secretary-GeneralAngeline Tuara
FounderThomas Davis
Founded1971
HeadquartersAvarua, Rarotonga, Avatiu, Cook Islands
IdeologySocial liberalism[citation needed]
Political positionCentre[1] to centre-left[2]
Seats in the Cook Islands Parliament
0 / 24
Website
Facebook page

The Democratic Party (also known for a time as the Democratic Alliance Party) is a political party in the Cook Islands. As a result of the 2026 Cook Islands election, it is currently in extra-parliamentary opposition, holding no seats in the Cook Islands Parliament.

History

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Early years

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The Democratic Party was founded by Tom Davis in 1971, in opposition to the Cook Islands Party (CIP) of Albert Henry. In the 1972 election, it won eight seats, breaking the two-thirds majority of the CIP.[3] In 1978, it won power, with Davis becoming Prime Minister. It became one of the two primary parties of the Cook Islands, alternating in power with the CIP. Davis served as prime minister of the Cook Islands from 1978 to 1987, with a brief interruption in 1983 when the Cook Islands briefly returned to power. The Democratic Party remained in power until 1989. In the late 1990s, the party experienced a split, with the majority of the party renamed as the Democratic Alliance Party. A breakaway faction led by Norman George was named the New Alliance Party. Despite this, the Democratic Party became the largest political party in the 1999 elections, winning 11 of 25 seats. The New Alliance Party, with 4 seats, made a coalition with the Cook Islands party to keep that party in power for several more months, but the coalition soon broke down, and the New Alliance Party formed a coalition party with the Democrats, allowing Democratic party leader Terepai Maoate to become prime minister. The Democratic Alliance Party and the New Alliance Party later reunited under the old Democratic Party name.

In 2002 Maoate was overthrown in a no confidence vote and replaced by his deputy Robert Woonton, also a member of the DAP. It formed a coalition with the Cook Islands Party which broke down in 2003.

2004 and 2006 elections

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At the next elections, 7 September 2004, the Democratic Alliance won 47.2% of popular votes and 12 out of 24 seats. Prime Minister Robert Woonton, though initially believed to have retained his seat, which would have allowed the Democratic Party to have a majority, was determined in a recount to have received an equal number of votes as his opponent, and he lost a revote. The new party leader, Jim Marurai, became prime minister. In 2005, however, Marurai left the party due to internal disputes, founding his own Cook Islands First Party. Marurai continued to govern with the help of the CIP. Later, however, the agreement with the CIP broke down, and Marurai allied himself with the Democrats again. He has since rejoined the party, continuing to serve as prime minister but not party leader. Terepai Maoate became deputy prime minister and party leader. At the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party gained a majority of seats, winning 15 of the 24 seats.

2010 election campaign

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Party logo from the 2010 election campaign

The party suffered from internal strife in the leadup to the 2010 election. In December 2009, Prime Minister Jim Marurai sacked his Deputy Prime Minister, Terepai Maoate, sparking a mass-resignation of Democratic Party cabinet members[4][5] He and new Deputy Prime Minister Robert Wigmore were subsequently expelled from the Democratic Party,[6] and the party withdrew its support.[7] A formal split was averted in June 2010 when a party conference readmitted Marurai, Wigmore, and the other Cabinet members, and appointed Wigmore as party leader, with Wilkie Rasmussen as his deputy.[8] However, several senior MPs, including former leader Terepai Maoate and former President John Tangi subsequently failed to win reselection and ran as independents.[9][10]

The party launched its campaign on 7 October in vaka Takitumu[11] with the campaign slogan "Our Future. Now."[12] The party promised stability,[12] benefit increases, and public service cuts.[13] It contested every electorate except Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu.[11] The party was unsuccessful in the elections, winning only 8 of 24 seats.[14]

Since 2010

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After the death of Robert Wigmore from cancer in April 2012, Wilkie Rasmussen was appointed acting leader.[15] His leadership of the party was confirmed at the party's annual conference in August 2012.[16]

At the 2026 general election, the party lost all of its seats in parliament, including those of leader Tina Pupuke-Browne and deputy leader Vaitoti Tupa.[17] Pupuke-Browne has pledged a campaign review following the party's poor performance in the election.[18]

Electoral performance

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Legislative Assembly

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Election Votes % Seats +/– Rank Government
1972 N/A
7 / 22
 New Increase 2nd Opposition
1974
8 / 22
 Increase 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
1978
7 / 22
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
March 1983 44.9
11 / 24
 Increase 4 Steady 2nd Opposition
Nov 1983 48.5
13 / 24
 Increase 2 Increase 1st Majority
1989
9 / 25
 Decrease 4 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1994 15.4
3 / 25
 Decrease 6 Decrease 3rd Opposition
1999
10 / 25
 Increase 7 Increase 2nd Opposition
2004 3,944 45.3
14 / 24
 Increase 4 Increase 1st Majority
2006 4,420 52.0
14 / 24
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Majority
2010 3,302 44.5
8 / 24
 Decrease 6 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2014 3,909 46.72
7 / 24
 Decrease 1 Increase 1st Opposition
2018 3,620 41.91
11 / 24
 Increase 4 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2022 2,377 26.93
5 / 24
 Decrease 6 Steady 2nd Opposition
2026 1,116 12.11
0 / 24
 Decrease 5 Decrease 3rd Extra-parliamentary

Leaders

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No. Name Term of office
1 Tom Davis 1971[19][3] 1987[20]
2 Pupuke Robati 1987[citation needed] October 1991[21]
3 Terepai Maoate October 1991[21] 20 November 2003[22]
4 Robert Woonton 20 November 2003[22] 10 May 2004[citation needed]
(3) Terepai Maoate 10 May 2004[citation needed] 2 June 2010[8]
5 Robert Wigmore 2 June 2010[8] 13 April 2012[15]
– Wilkie Rasmussen (acting) 14[citation needed] April 2012[16] 14 August 2012[16]
6 Wilkie Rasmussen 14 August 2012[16] 9 April 2015[23]
7 William (Smiley) Heather 14 April 2015[24] 13 April 2017[citation needed]
8 Tina Pupuke-Browne 13 April 2017[25] incumbent

Deputy leaders

[edit]
Name Term of office Leader
Tangata Vavia ? c. November 2003[22] Maoate
Ngamau Munokoa 20 November 2003[22] ? Woonton
Tepure Tapaitau fl.December 2004[26] – 8 August 2007[27] Maoate
Wilkie Rasmussen 8 August 2007[27] ?
Wilkie Rasmussen 2 June 2010[8] April 2012[16] Wigmore
Position vacant (April 2012 – 14 August 2012) Rasmussen (acting)
William (Smiley) Heather 14 August 2012[16] c. 14 April 2015 Rasmussen
Ngamau Munokoa 4 November 2014[28] ?
Tama Tuavera c. May 2015[29] ? Heather
James Beer fl.May 2018[30] Pupuke-Browne
Tama Tuavera fl.December 2018[31]
Terepai Maoate Jnr ? 5 March 2021[32]
William (Smiley) Heather 5 March 2021[32] ?
Vaitoti Tupa[33] ? present

Party presidents

[edit]
Name Term of office Name Term of office
Iavete Sharp ? c. May 2004[34]
Makiuti Tongia c. June 2004[35] 3 June 2010[36]
Sean Willis 3 June 2010[36][a] ? Tina Pupuke-Browne 13 April 2017[a] ?
Lee Harmon 30 March 2023[41] incumbent

Notes

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  1. 1 2 In Pupuke-Brown's leadership announcement, the Cook Islands News stated that she was the new president and leader of the party. On 19 June 2018, Radio New Zealand referred to Pupuke-Brown as the president and leader of the party, whereas, on the same day, The Fiji Times referred to Sean Willis as 'co-president' of the party. In December 2018 and February 2019, The Fiji Times referred to Willis as the president of the party, with no mention of co-presidency.[25][37][38][39][40]

References

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  1. ↑ The statesman's yearbook 2011 : the politics, cultures and economies of the world. Barry Turner. Basingstoke. 2010. p. 933. ISBN 978-1-349-58635-6. OCLC 968706249.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ MacLean-McMahon, L. (2011). Political Campaigning in a Developing Country: A case study of the Cook Islands (Thesis, Master of Arts). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/1864
  3. 1 2 "Kopu Tangata Demo - About Us". Cook Islands Democratic Party. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Cooks Deputy Prime Minister replaced, prompting a walkout". Radio New Zealand International. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. ↑ "Cabinet Ministers Resign in Support of Party Leader". Democratic Party - Cook Islands. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  6. ↑ "PM sacked by Demo Party". Cook Islands Herald. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  7. ↑ "Marurai Wilkie coalition falling apart". Democratic Party - Cook Islands. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "New leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  9. ↑ "Former Cook Islands Prime Minister to run as independent". Radio New Zealand International. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  10. ↑ "Already on the campaign trail". Cook Islands News. 2 September 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  11. 1 2 "Demo campaign kicks off". Cook Islands News. 6 October 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Demos bill manifesto as 'playbook'". Cook Islands News. 16 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Democratic Party launches manifesto, vowing public sector cuts". Radio New Zealand International. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Preliminary results show Democrats ousted in Cook Islands election". Radio New Zealand International. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  15. 1 2 "Salute to Wigmore". Cook Islands News. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Demos confirm leader, plan ahead". Cook Islands News. 15 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Mark Brown's Cook Islands Party set to govern for historic fifth consecutive term". RNZ. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Kumar, Rashneel (18 August 2026). "Cook Islands election: Democratic Party pledges 'honest review' after preliminary election wipeout". Cook Islands News. RNZ. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "All the fun of party politics in the Cooks". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 43, no. 3. 1 March 1972. p. 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026 – via Trove.
  20. ↑ Crocombe, Ron; Crocombe, Marjorie Tuainekore (1990). "The Cook Islands and Niue". The Journal of Pacific History. 25 (3). Taylor & Francis: 35 – via JSTOR.
  21. 1 2 Hatcher, Christine (1 March 1993). "Bad Boy George". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 63, no. 3. p. 17. Retrieved 28 August 2026 – via Trove.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Change of leadership for Cook Islands Democratic Party". Radio New Zealand. 21 November 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Webb, Phillipa (10 April 2015). "Cook Islands Democratic Party Leader Steps Down". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Wilson, Matariki (17 April 2015). "Cook Islands Democratic Party Chooses New Leader". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Browne new leader of the Demo Party". Cook Islands News. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Occupation of Cook Islands government offices ends". Radio New Zealand. 7 December 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Cook Islands Democratic Party elects a new deputy leader". Radio New Zealand. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "Aunty Mau elected Demo Deputy Leader". Cook Islands News. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "'Captain Tama' new Demo deputy". Cook Islands News. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "Cooks opposition questions Chinese presence ahead of election". Radio New Zealand. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "'Great' wrong word for TMV: Tuavera". Cook Islands News. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Heather replaces Maoate as Demos deputy leader". Cook Islands News. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Kumar, Rashneel (18 August 2026). "Cook Islands election: Democratic Party pledges 'honest review' after preliminary election wipeout". Radio New Zealand. Cook Islands News. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Cook Islands Democratic party takes contested constituency to caucus". Radio New Zealand. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  35. ↑ "Veteran Cooks MP dumped from his party". Radio New Zealand. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  36. 1 2 Gonschor, Lorenz; Jonassen, Jon Tikivanotau M; Mutu, Margaret (2011). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010". The Contemporary Pacific. 23 (1): 213 – via ScholarSpace.
  37. ↑ "Discussions to begin to forge Cooks coalition". Radio New Zealand. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "Democratic Party still hoping for Cooks' first woman Prime Minister". The Fiji Times. Pacnews. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "Cook Islands Democratic Party confident of returning to government: Party President". The Fiji Times. Pacnews. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "Te-Hani quits Cook Islands Democratic Party". The Fiji Times. Pacnews. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  41. ↑ Littlewood, Matthew (5 April 2023). "Term limits eased for Cook Islands Democratic party leaders". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
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