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March 1983 Cook Islands general election
	24 seats in the Parliament; 13 seats needed for a majority
Thomas Davis; DP	Geoffrey Henry; CIP

General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 30 March 1983.^[1] The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP) of Geoffrey Henry, who became prime minister. However, the CIP lost their majority by the end of July, eventually resulting in Parliament being dissolved and new elections called in November 1983.

Electoral system

Previously the Legislative Assembly had 22 members elected from 12 constituencies of between one and four seats in size. Following constitutional reforms, the Assembly was renamed Parliament and the number of members was increased to 24, with the country split into 23 single-member constituencies and an additional constituency for overseas voters.

Campaign

Campaigning was much milder than in the 1978 elections, with the government – now controlled by the Democratic Party – having introduced limits on radio airtime and newspaper advertising by parties.^[2]

Results

Prime Minister Thomas Davis and Minister Iaveta Short both lost their seats.^[2]



Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Cook Islands Party		50.1	13	–2
	Democratic Party		44.9	11	+4
	Unity Party		5.0	0	0
Total				24	+2

Registered voters/turnout			89
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

By electorate

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%
Amuri–Ureia	Kura Strickland	174	56.86
	Paora Teiti	104	33.99
	Banaba Samuela	28	9.15

Arutanga–Reureu–Nikaupara	Ngereteina Puna	201	62.23
	Tepaki Nooapii Tepaki	106	32.82
	George Kurariki George	13	4.02
	Marraeara Teikii	3	0.93

Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston	Rei Jack	225	50.79
	Thomas Davis	201	45.37
	Michael Tavioni	17	3.84

Ivirua	Papamama Pokino	116	70.73
Ivirua	Taataiti Tangatakino	48	29.27

Manihiki	George Frederick Ellis Jr.	109	52.91
	Ebinisa Ben Toma	95	46.12
	Takai Ngatipa	2	0.97

Matavera	William Papa Cowan	159	57.19
	Maru Taramai	112	40.29
	Akaiti Tamarua Ama	7	2.52

Mauke	Tupui Ariki Henry	161	60.07
	Mana Strickland	82	30.60
	Pokoina Tommy	17	6.34
	Ngatangata Rairi	8	2.99

Mitiaro	Tiki Tetava	62	52.99
	Ngatupuna David	49	41.88
	Tungane-apekore Pokoati	6	5.13

Murienua	Jimmy Mareiti	279	51.29
	William Heather	179	32.90
	Sadaraka Metuakore Sadaraka	50	9.19
	Exham Wichman	36	6.62

Ngatangiia	Terepai Maoate	173	51.64
	Iaveta Short	151	45.07
	Tuainekore-o-Turepu Teariki Tamaroia Keenan	11	3.28

Nikao–Panama	Vincent Ingram	270	51.14
	Richard Pare Browne	207	39.20
	Percy Frederick Hendeson	51	9.66

Oneroa	Matepi Toru Matepi	225	73.05
Oneroa	Maarateina Atatoa	83	26.95

Penrhyn	Tangaroa Tangaroa	187	67.51
	Walter Benedito	85	30.69
	Aileen Mustonen	5	1.81

Pukapuka–Nassau	Inatio Akaruru	238	68.39
	Waleeu Wuatai	88	25.29
	Kautoki Katoa	22	6.32

Rakahanga	Pupuke Robati	103	70.07
Rakahanga	Arahu Tuteru	44	29.93

Ruaau	Harry Tauei Napa	176	40.84
	Raymond Pirangi	174	40.37
	Joseph Williams	81	18.79

Takuvaine–Tutakimoa	Geoffrey Henry	330	51.81
	Frederick Tutu Goodwin	275	43.17
	Eric Man Browne	32	5.02

Tamarua	Tearapiri Teaurima	56	65.88
Tamarua	Pukeiti Pukeiti	29	34.12

Teenui–Mapumai	Tangata Simiona	94	53.11
Teenui–Mapumai	Metuaangai Teritaiti	83	46.89

Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua	Norman George	185	58.18
	Tepou Boaza	132	41.51
	Piri Puruto	1	0.31

Titikaveka	Matapo Matapo	232	50.54
	Teariki Matenga	201	43.79
	Teariki Tiakana Numanga	26	5.66

Tupapa–Maraerenga	Teanua Dan Kamana	318	50.88
	Teariki Piri	269	43.04
	Kautai Tata Strickland	38	6.08

Vaipae–Tautu	Bill Paiti	258	76.11
	Maramotoa Turi	76	22.42
	William Ioane Estall	5	1.47

Overseas	Fanaura Kingstone	244	52.47
	Iaveta Arthur	183	39.35
	Tauei Solomona	38	8.17
Source:^[3]

Aftermath

Following the elections, Henry appointed a seven-member cabinet, including the first female minister, Fanaura Kingstone. Kingstone had been elected from the overseas constituency with the intention of resigning in protest at the creation of the constituency. However, she later changed her mind as the CIP failed to win a significant majority.^[4]

Portfolio	Member
Prime Minister, External Affairs, Finance, Immigration, Ombudsman, Parliamentary Services, Police, Tourism	Geoffrey Henry
Agriculture, Health	Terepai Maoate
Broadcasting, Fisheries, Justice, Local Government, Marine Resources, Newspaper Corporation, Outer Islands, Survey	Tupui Henry
Corrective Services, Education, Public Services, Religion	Ngereteina Puna
Development, Energy, Labour, Planning, Statistics, Trade, Transport	George Ellis
Electrical Office, Hurricane Safety, Public Works, Water Commission	Inatio Akaruru
Internal Affairs, Postmistress General	Fanaura Kingstone

Shortly after the elections, the Democratic Party MP for Atiu lost their seat after a successful petition against the result in the constituency, increasing the CIP majority to three. A court case also began as Henry had failed to resign from office within the first seven days of the parliamentary session and seek re-appointment, as required by the constitution. This was initially viewed as a technicality due to the CIP majority in Parliament. However, in July CIP MP Matapo Matapo died and Tupui Henry left the CIP to sit with the Democratic Party, leaving an 11–11 tie. The final verdict of the Court of Appeal was announced on 29 July, requiring Henry to resign.

Without a majority, Henry resigned on 2 August. Queen's Representative Gaven Donne convened a series of votes to determine who could attain a parliamentary majority, with the vote on 10 August ending as 11 each for Geoffrey and Tupui Henry. With the Atiu by-election – almost certain to be won by the Democratic Party – due on 12 August, Donne asked the two leaders to wait until the by-election for Matapo's seat before a government was appointed. Tupui Henry and Leader of the Opposition Vincent Ingram agreed in the belief that they could win Matapo's former constituency. However, Geoffrey Henry declined. This resulted in Donne dissolving Parliament on 17 August, calling fresh elections for November, and appointing Geoffrey Henry as caretaker prime minister with restricted powers.^[5]