National

GPC referendum clarification

Lynnsay Francis yesterday clarified the position of the Group for Political Change on the referendum question, after an article in Thursday’s paper said that the GPC asked the Government to ask 12 questions in Wednesday’s referendum. She said the GPC were invited to a meeting at the PM’s office along with Teina McKenzie of Mou […]

Royal message

Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin has sent congratulations to Prince William on his engagement to Catherine Middleton on behalf of the government and the people of the Cook Islands. The QR’s official secretary Harry Ivaiti advised CI News that Government House received a message from Clarence House in London announcing the engagement on Tuesday. “Their […]

Beer vows to continue fight

First time candidate James Beer is vowing to remain active within the Democratic Party to ensure the Cook Islands recovers from its “frightening” economic position. Beer – the Democratic Party’s Murienua candidate – lost the battle to represent the constituency in parliament to Cook Islands Party MP and leader of the opposition Tom Marsters. Constituents […]

Analysis of an election loss

Toagate and the potential for Tom Marsters to become the Cook Islands’ prime minister impacted voting in the Murienua constituency, Democratic Party candidate James Beer says. Beer lost the battle to represent Murienua in parliament to Marsters – the electorate’s defending candidate and leader of the opposition. Marsters, a Cook Islands Party candidate, received 171 […]

Results 'startling': Tepaki

Losing Murienua candidate Tepaki (Tim) Tepaki – who polled two votes – said that the preliminary election results were “startling” and “typical” at the same time. “We were thinking we were a bit more modernised now but we ain’t,” he said with a laugh. “We still go back to our party politics – it will […]

MP pays tribute

Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen issued a message of condolence yesterday after the sudden passing of the island’s former MP Tepure Tapaitau on Sunday. “It is with great sadness that I, together with the families and people of Tongareva, received the notice of the passing of Tepure Tapaitau, a great son and leader of Tongareva. His […]

Result set to stand

The final results for Manihiki are not expected to change once the 28 special votes are added to Wednesday’s preliminary results, giving CIP leader Henry Puna an almost definite win. Puna, who looks set to become the country’s next Prime Minister, was 28 votes ahead of Piho’s 55 votes on election night. Independent Rangi Mitaera, […]

Independents helped CIP success: George

Winning Teenui-Mapumai CIP candidate Norman George said that the preliminary general election results fulfil the prophecy he made weeks ago: that the CIP would sweep the election, and the independents would help them do it. “I predicted it right from the start that independents are novices – good for amusement purposes and that’s all,” George […]

Final count of results begins

The Electoral Office began sorting special votes yesterday and expects to be issuing final results as they come to hand each day. Chief Electoral Officer Taggy Tangimetua said the office was not sure when all the votes would be counted and their task complete but they will be working to get the final results out […]

La Railleuse welcomes kids aboard

Avatea students were this week invited aboard the 55-metre patrol boat La Railleuse to look around and meet the French Marine Nationale sailors who just returned from a week-long mission to the High Sea Pocket. Captain Blonce Alexandre, four officers, 18 petty officers and a number of seamen aboard the French navy vessel just returned […]

GENERAL ELECTION PRELIMINARY RESULTS

CIP's Kiriau Turepu takes Matavera

Another Democratic Party seat fell to the CIP as Cassey Eggelton lost Matavera to Kiriau Turepu. Turepu and his supporters, pictured here, were in an uproarious mood after the win, leaping and punching the air as the results were announced. In one of the few seats without independents or candidates from non-traditional parties, Turepu polled […]

Who won – at a glance

Tupapa-Maraerenga CIP’s George Maggie Angene shut his critics up as he pulled away to a resounding victory, clearing away from the rest of the pack with 386 votes. His nearest rival was Demo’s Nooroa Tupa who got 241. Sitting MP John Tangi who stood as an independent got a mere 82 votes. Takuvaine-Tutakimoa Mark Brown […]

Marsters back and ahead

Leader of the opposition Tom Marsters has retained his seat with 171 of the 408 votes cast in the Murienua electorate. Closest rival James Beer, of the Democratic Party, received 118 votes according to preliminary results announced last night. Murienua’s result was the last to be counted, giving the Cook Islands Party 15 seats to […]

Support but no seats for independents

Some of the independent candidates scored a surprising number of votes at the election, despite not winning any of the 13 seats they were vying for. Nikao independent Philip Nicholas secured the most votes out of the independents with 162 votes. He wasn’t too disappointed with the result. Tupapa-Maraerenga independent Tim Arnold was perhaps the […]

Wigmore trumps rivals

Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore was in a jubilant mood after sweeping back in to the Titikaveka seat with a convincing win. Wigmore polled 293 against the Cook Islands Party’s 204. The independent candidates failed to have an impact in this seat – following the pattern across the nation – with Teariki Matenga polling 80 […]

Crushing Demo defeat

2 cabinet ministers dumped, Rasmussen ahead by 2 votes Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore is not yet accepting defeat saying the battle to win seats is not over yet. The party now holds on to just 8 seats of the 24 seats in parliament. The results seem to mirror the 2006 election results in reverse […]

New MP wants to unite electorate

RAPPA CIP candidate John Henry believes that his character was the reason people voted for him and not the party. The mood was relaxed in his camp after he was announced the winner of the Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston seat. Henry had 237 votes – 107 votes more than Party Tumu candidate Albert Peto Nicholas (130 votes) while […]

Mark Brown brings 'fresh blood'

The marquee behind FBI erupted in cheers and shrieks of joy as scores of Takuvaine and Tutakimoa residents learned of Cook Islands Party candidate Mark Brown’s victory. Supporters and friends rushed to congratulate Brown, bubbling over with enthusiasm – one supporter couldn’t contain his excitement, repeating the mantra “I’m so happy, I’m so happy, I’m […]

Marurai denies he called the Demo defeat

It seems Mangaia MP and outgoing PM Jim Marurai may have called the Democratic Party’s defeat just prior to voters going to the polls. However, he has now claimed he was misquoted in a Radio Australia report yesterday that said he expected the party to be defeated at the election. Marurai won back his seat […]