Members of Parliament (1958 – present)

Members of Parliament (1958 – present)
Cook Islands Members of Parliament 2023
Members of Parliament 2023

The Cook Islands Legislative Assembly was established on October 25th, 1957 by the New Zealand Parliament.  Under the Cook Islands Amendment Act 1957 (Public Act No 103, Date of assent: 25 October 1957), the Legislative Council is reorganized by the New Zealand Parliament as the Legislative Assembly with 22 elected Members and 4 appointed Officials.

Fifteen of the Members were to be elected directly by secret ballot, and seven were to be elected by the Island Councils.  The very first General Election by universal suffrage in the Cook Islands was scheduled for October 13, 1958 to elect 27 Members to the new Legislative Assembly.

The Members of Parliament are elected by secret ballot on a “first-past the post” universal suffrage system.  In 1980-81, the Constitution was amended by redefining the Constituencies, thus increasing the number of Members to 24.

This was refined in 1991 where another Constituency in Rarotonga was further divided into two to reflect a 25 Members of Parliament.  The status quo remained until 2003 when the Overseas Constituency that was created under the 1980-81 Constitution Amendment, was abolished.

18th PARLIAMENT (2022) 

GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR THE 18TH PARLIAMENT – General Elections were held on August 1st to elect 24 Members to the 18th Parliament.  On Election night, the Cook Islands Party won 12 of the 24 seats in Parliament.  The Democratic Party won 5 seats, the Cook Islands United Party won 3 seats and the One Cook Islands Party won 1 seat.  The remaining 3 seats were won by Independent members.  A coalition arrangement between the CIP and the three independents was forged on July 1.

GOVERNMENT

Members of Parliament

Constituency

Party

Hon. Mark Brown

Takuvaine/Tutakimoa

Cook Islands Party

Hon. Robert Taimoe Tapaitau

Penrhyn

Cook Islands Party

Hon. Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown

Teenui/Mapumai

Cook Islands Party

Hon. Vaine Makiroa Mokoroa

Nikao/Panama

Cook Islands Party

Hon. George Angene

Tupapa/Maraerenga

Cook Islands Party

Hon. Albert Nicholas

Ruatonga/Avatiu/Panama/Palmerston/Atupa

Cook Islands Party

Mr Tingika Elikana

Pukapuka/Nassau

Cook Islands Party

Ms Tehani Brown

Areora/Ngatiarua/Tengatangi

Independent

Mr Tereapii Maki Kavana

Arutanga/Reureu/Nikaupara

Cook Islands Party

Mr Tuakeu Tangatapoto

Mitiaro

Cook Islands Party

Mrs Akaiti Puna

Manihiki

Cook Islands Party

Mr Sonny Williams

Titikaveka

Cook Islands Party

Mr Tukaka Ama

Ngatangiia

Cook Islands Party

Mr Teokotai Herman

Vaipae/Vaipeka/Tautu

Cook Islands Party

Mr Stephen Matapo

Mauke

Independent

OPPOSITION

Members of Parliament

Constituency

Party

Hon. Tina Pupuke Browne

Rakahanga

Democratic Party

Mr Vaitoti Tupa

Matavera

Democratic Party

Mrs Agnes Armstrong

Ivirua

Democratic Party

Mrs Tetangi Matapo

Tamarua

Democratic Party

Mr Wesley Kareroa

Oneroa

Democratic Party

Mr Teariki Heather

Murienua

Cook Islands United Party

Mr Robert Heather

Akaoa

Cook Islands United Party

Mr Tim Varu

Ruaau

Cook Islands United Party

Mr Toanui Isamaela

Amuri/Ureia

One Cook Islands