1968 Cook Islands general election

1968 Cook Islands general election
Cook Islands
← 1965 1 May 1968 1972 →
All 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly
13 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats +/–
Cook Islands Albert Henry 65.12 16 +2
UCI Ngatupuna Matepi 32.91 6 New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Premier before Premier after
Albert Henry
Cook Islands		 Albert Henry
Cook Islands
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General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 1 May 1968. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP), which won 16 seats, a gain of two from the 1965 elections. The newly formed United Cook Islanders won the other six seats to become the parliamentary opposition. CIP leader Albert Henry continued as Prime Minister.

Campaign

In February a new party, the United Cook Islanders (UCI), was formed. Its members included former cabinet members Mana Strickland and Manea Tamarua. The new party launched its manifesto on 8 April.[1]

A total of 55 candidates contested the elections; 23 from the CIP (two candidates from the party ran against each other in Pukapuka, and four candidates from the party contested the three seats in Takitumu), 18 from the UCI and six independents.[2] Former Leader of Government Business Dick Charles Brown had intended to run as an independent, but withdrew.[3] The CIP candidates were returned unopposed in Mauke and Mitiaro.[2]

The campaign period during April saw meetings held almost every night, with CIP meetings initially drawing crowds of several hundred, rising to over 1,300 by the end of the campaign.[3] In contrast, UCI meetings were usually attended by fewer than 100 people.[3]

Results

The CIP won all nine seats in Rarotonga, and gained the three Aitutaki seats, which had been won by the Independent Group in 1965. The UCI's former ministers, Strickland and Tamarua, both lost their seats.[3]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Cook Islands Party12,56965.1216+2
United Cook Islanders6,35232.916New
Independents3791.9600
Total19,300100.00220
Valid votes6,85899.23
Invalid/blank votes530.77
Total votes6,911100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,60390.90
Source: Stone[4]

By electorate

Constituency Candidate Party Votes
Aitutaki–Manuae William Estall Cook Islands 890
Joseph Williams Cook Islands 888
Ngaa Upu Cook Islands 816
Dora Harrington Independent 146
John Robert George Dick Independent 89
Rata Toa Independent 72
Atiu Vainerere Tangatapoto United Cook Islanders 314
Tangata Simiona United Cook Islanders 280
Mariri Paratainga Cook Islands 185
Pakari Tutai Cook Islands 135
Mangaia Ngatupuna Matepi United Cook Islanders 594
Pokino Aberahama United Cook Islanders 587
Turaraiti Pekepo Cook Islands 164
Manihiki Nato Temu Cook Islands 115
Mareko Mareko United Cook Islanders 53
Ben Pukerua Independent 33
Glassie Strickland Independent 29
Mauke Tupui Ariki Henry Cook Islands Unopposed
Mitiaro Raui Pokoati Cook Islands Unopposed
Penrhyn Tangaroa Tangaroa United Cook Islanders 219
Tuauri Hakaoro Cook Islands 42
Fred Ford Independent 10
Puaikura Taru Moana Cook Islands 550
Tamataia Pera Maurangi Cook Islands 547
Alexander Munro United Cook Islanders 287
Napa Tauei Napa United Cook Islanders 282
Pukapuka–Nassau Inatio Akaruru Cook Islands 233
John Tariau Cook Islands 134
Rakahanga Pupuke Robati United Cook Islanders 90
Howard Howard Cook Islands 32
Takitumu Apenera Short Cook Islands 574
Tiakana Numanga Cook Islands 532
Samuela Samuela Cook Islands 396
Jean Domonique Upoko Crummer Peyroux United Cook Islanders 305
Kamate Areora Ira United Cook Islanders 301
William Cowan United Cook Islanders 276
Taramai Tetonga Cook Islands 198
Te-au-o-Tonga Albert Henry Cook Islands 1,682
Teanua Kamana Cook Islands 1,568
Teaukura Roi Cook Islands 1,470
Kamate Nangaiti Cook Islands 1,418
Manea Teariki Tamarua United Cook Islanders 717
Mana Strickland United Cook Islanders 694
David Marama Hosking United Cook Islanders 679
Marama Tepou Nicholas United Cook Islanders 674
Source: Cook Islands Gazette,[5][6] Stone,[4] Pacific Islands Monthly[7]

References

  1. ^ Breakaways seek power in Cooks' elections Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1968, p24
  2. ^ a b David Stone (1970). "Parties and politics in Polynesia: Political trends in the self-governing Cook Islands". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 79 (2): 179.
  3. ^ a b c d Albert Henry back in the Cooks with a bang Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1968, p24
  4. ^ a b Stone, David Joseph (January 1971). Self Rule in the Cook Islands: The Government and Politics of a New Micro-State (PDF). Canberra. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ "The Cook Islands Gazette No. 33/1968". Library of Congress. 9 July 1968.
  6. ^ "The Cook Islands Gazette No. 36/1968". Library of Congress. 25 July 1968.
  7. ^ Pacific Islands Monthly

Further reading

  • Haas, Anthony (1969). "Three Years after Internal Self-Government: The Cook Islands General Election 1968". Journal of Pacific History. 4 (1): 136–145. doi:10.1080/00223346908572152.